THANK GIVAT HAVIVA FOR "WONDERFUL VISIT & TOUR."
American University, Washington D.C students outside the Givat Haviva Jewish-Arab Center for Peace and International Department offices on campus
A request for a seminar at Givat Haviva and tour of the area was received from Lauren Barr, School of International Service, American University, Washington, D.C.
Lauren, who is a student of Dr. Mohammad Abu-Nimr was one of 3 leaders of a student delegation from her university who visited Israel and the Palestinian areas on a fact finding mission May 6-22 and it was of importance to them to visit the area of Wadi Ara during their stay in the country.
A date and time set, Lauren and her co-leaders Anna Waterfield and Sepideah Mohsenian, an Iranian who grew up in California and currently pursuing a double major in Peace & Conflict Resolution and Religion, arrived with their fellow students to Givat Haviva.
American University faculty adviser Dr. Eleftherios Michael, who is originally from Cyprus and very knowledgeable with regard our region, also accompanied the group.
The students had already encountered in the Palestinian areas and in Israel, many folks, places and situations of different strokes as the saying goes and proved to be an extremely interesting group to come into contact with. International Department staff that came into contact with the group were only too sorry not to have had more time to be able to also hear more of their experiences in this region.
Following a talk from Lydia Aisenberg the students joined her for a tour of the Amir Mountain range and visited the village of Barta'a where they engaged in conversation with local Palestinian businessman Allam Abu Abead who hails from Jenin but who has been conducting business in West Barta'a for quite some time. Abu Abead is an able speaker regarding the reality of those who like him are living and working along the Green Line without permission from Israel to be on the Israeli side of the security fence running behind Barta'a village and he is always ready to discuss related topics with visiting groups coming to Barta'a on seminars with Givat Haviva.
Following their return to America, Lauren Barr emailed the following message:
"We safely arrived back in the US a few days ago and I'm just now settling back into a routine.
Thank you again for a wonderful visit and tour. Although it was short, we all gained so much from the brief time we had at Givat Haviva, the knowledge and experience shared having contributed greatly to our trip.
After 2-months of pre-departure sessions during which we studied history and politics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we traveled throughout the region to see for ourselves. We met with a variety of individuals and organizations on both sides of the Green Line, from West Bank settlers to Palestinian refugees. Upon our return, we will engage in a variety of post-trip activities to share our experiences and raise awareness of the complexity of the conflict."
The students stop for a photo looking over Barta'a village before entering and speaking with Allam Abu Abead (photographed below)) standing on a small bridge over the wadi that became the Green Line in 1949.
Lauren Barr (left) and fellow students speaking with Allam Abu Abead from Jenin
Photos & text: Lydia Aisenberg
May, 2010
