The Vacation from War campaign

In the last eleven years more than 17,000 children and young people from war zones and crisis areas have been invited-whenever possible with young people from among their enemies-to enjoy Vacations from War.
For the summer of 2002 we also planned similar meetings for young people from Israel and Palestine, although at the time it seemed unlikely that we would be able to realize this project since violence was escalating almost daily. During the six months of preparation, it was difficult to find partner organizations in Palestine and Israel because of the skepticism we met on both sides. The time for speaking and negotiating was said to be over. Young people especially would be taking big risks since they would be denounced by both sides for collaborating with the enemy. Or they would be denounced as traitors of the fatherland with very serious consequences. Then suddenly, despite the social difficulties and the risks, there were more young people than we could finance who wanted such dialogue meetings. Young Israelis who promised themselves never to visit Germany went there to meet the terrorists. And young Palestinians from the West Bank got around the curfew in a most risky and dangerous manner in order to meet their occupiers.
In the last three years a total of 370 participants from Israel and the West Bank met in summer camps and had an intense, painful and joyous time. While this year's last summer camp was taking place in a small German village, we heard about a discussion in Israel: The coalition Peace Now agreed with Mr. Peres not to call for dialogue with Palestinians any longer. In reaction, others objected and wrote to Peace Now saying that withdrawing the call to talk with the Palestinians is tantamount to surrendering to despair, because without talking, we will never be able to resolve the conflict. (Ha'aretz, August 13, 2004) I read this when I had just witnessed how important and productive such a dialogue can be, and I was motivated to make the unique experience public.
In some of the Vacation from War seminars we asked the participants on the last day to write down in 15 minutes and spontaneously, without names if they wished, a summary of their true impressions of the two weeks' meeting.

Some short examples from the 188 pleas for an Israelian - Palestinian Dialogue:

Eventhough it was not easy to meet young people -just like me- who oftenly see me as the "enemy, it eventually was very rewarding. These two weeks really affected me and truly I changed my point of view toward this conflict. It gave me the motivation really to try to make a difference. Thank you!

I'm writing by the name of the family of "Vacations from War. We spent here the most beautiful days in our life. It was a good experience for us because we learnt to live together side by side, Palestinians and Israelis -far away from the war stage. Like a family.We are discussing what's happening at home, the violence and destruction by each side and we pushed the peace-process forward. Thank for this sucessful program and for your good investment.

I'm 25 years old but until I came here I didn't know that I grew up in a settlement. It was confiscated from the Palestinians in 67. I really didn't know that.

In a world like we are living in, where the strong wants to eat the weak we have no hope. As a Palestinian who lives in Israel I often meet them but I never met an Israeli to whom I could talk about peace. But now after I met this group new hope blooms in my heart that there is still a chance to talk.

We suffered a lot here. This suffering was caused from both sides to both sides. I think that everyone should do his best to make a change of this miserable situation. This is the reason why I came here - believing in the power that we have in our hearts.

It was amazing since day one. But first I didn't notice that these would be the most wonderful days in my life...No fights, no hatred -nothing! This happiness grew more and more each day. I really won friends! Finally I hope we can keep in touch.

I came to this seminar with a message to the other side, but also to come to know many things about them. Really it was a hard experience for me but very useful at the same time as for each participant.

I grew up in Palestine, in the West Bank in a Jewish settlement near a Palestinian city. I lived there during the first Intifada and the Gulf war. I could never imagine as a child that I ever would sit in a room with Palestinians or what the life looks on the other side.

This seminar was the most significant time in my life; it will advance me and hopefully the others as well.

This wasn't a simple experience for me as I'm Jewish and the past of the Jews in Germany is something that I still have problems to cope with. I found out a lot about myself. I found out what it means to be a minority. I found out what a racist society we are living in...

I came with a plan to fight. I'm going back with a plan to love.