Ten years ago whilst visiting Israel, Londoner Derek Davis and his then young family paid a call on Givat Haviva and also visited Barta'a village with International Department staff member Lydia Aisenberg – who also happens to be his cousin!
On a short break in Israel recently Derek – a former Civil Servant - once more visited the campus for a more serious look at Givat Haviva activities and also traveled to Barta'a and the northern Jewish settlement area of Shaked.
A decade ago there were few shops in the village of Barta'a and the village was relatively small. In the last ten years the village has become a commercial success with hundreds of thriving businesses up and running, an influx of Palestinian workers from all over the West Bank and buildings going up at a very fast rate.
Although a somewhat muggy day, visibility was sufficient to see over the security fence at Mei Ami and to the Palestinian village of Anin (a designated Area B under the Palestinian Authority as is East Barta'a) down below.
Also visiting the campus the same day was Dr. Stephen Arpadi, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Clinical Epidemiology whose daughter Adina is presently studying on the MASA Intensive Arabic Semester program of Givat Haviva.
Derek Davis and Stephen Arpadi toured the Arts Center and Peace Gallery and also visited the Yad Yaari exhibition halls where they both took a keen interest in the history of the Hashomer Hatzair movement displayed in photographs and artifacts.
Unfortunately Professor Arpadi was unable to join the tour of Wadi Ara & Barta'a but promised when he returns with his family for a visit in a few months time we have a date!
At the end of the Givat Haviva visit Derek Davis commented:
"Givat Haviva reaches back to early traditions of dealings between pioneers and their neighbors. Local relationships between individuals and local settling of differences have remained vital throughout years in which Israel has served as an institutionalized political distraction for others.
"They will remain the values that matter long after the international circus has moved on."
February 2009 |
