Co-counseling work among Palestinians and Israeli Arab citizens

Co-counseling work among Palestinians and Israeli Arab citizens

The 'good news' of RC was initially brought to Israel from abroad more than three decades ago and took root first among Jewish individuals. More than two decades ago the first RC communities were formed in Arab villages of the Galilee. The strongest was in the Nazareth area founded by Avi Butavia with Diqla Allush's support. With the split of our RC organization, most of the local members joined "Dror" - our present organization.

About one decade ago, a series of systematic visits of large groups of counselors, Jewish and Arab, to the major Palestinian cities and refugee camps were organized, again, by Avi. Those visits were intended to 'contradict' Palestinian isolation and were conceived as one-sided listening sessions. But of course, Jewish isolation on the part of the counselors was radically contradicted as well. Sadly, the second Palestinian uprising in the nineties made it physically impossible to continue such visits.

One year ago I started a fundamentals class with Arab youth, and after having finished, they joined the local Dror community. It was a sublime spectacle to witness these beautiful and intelligent youngsters taking in their hands their growing liberation, showing friendship and respect between men and women, Moslem and Christian, teachers and students, and sharing an ardent desire for freedom and solidarity, recognition and peace. A couple of Jerusalem Arab veterans joined the venture and Janice Wasser from Tel Aviv was also an enthusiastic member and supporter.

As 'semi-Israeli' Arabs (inhabitants of some areas of East Jerusalem who don't enjoy full citizenship but only "municipal citizenship"), these students suffer not only inequality from the State but also scorn and de-legitimatization from the inhabitants of the territories' side. These youngsters know they carry intrinsic human dignity and they don't develop victims' patterns although they experience difficulties in their existence. The generational gap in a still very traditional society also puts stress on their lives. The very concept of "shame" that functions as a social behavior regulator (as among many kibbutz members) blocks full discharge.

The natural step forward will be to encourage these veterans to teach, and new members to become organizers, assistants and then teachers, thus creating from one side autonomous Arab counseling communities and making possible, on the other hand, for Arab teachers to become outstanding national leaders for both Jews and Arabs. I found difficulties in materializing this new stage. I connected, for example, some Jewish counselors from the Haifa Bay area and the Galilee with an Arab veteran there and he became the teacher at a continuation class with the intention of initiating a fundamentals class. This group met together for some months but dispersed because of every day pressures. I perceive the economic pressure put on by present social conditions in the lives of people and the acceleration of the 'globalization' process, as obstacles in these peoples’ progress towards becoming fully active counselors and leaders. That is true for the Jewish population and may be even moreso for the Arabs. Young people are working hard and long hours to get their studies finished. Incredible doses of resourcefulness and initiative are needed in order to keep the ascendant direction in this growing process. But keeping a clear vision in the leaders' eyes and our thoughts flexible by discharging, counseling others and thinking, and enjoying our lives through the counseling activities will hopefully make the difference.

With love and recognition from DANIEL KRICHMAR, Jerusalem area coordinator, "Dror" (freedom) Organization for the Liberation of Mankind

Jerusalem, September 26, 2005