Binational School for Jewish and Palestinian kids

Democracy is an important principle for a binational primary school.  Although even adults are sometimes hard-pressed to understand what democracy means and often fail in its practice, we try to explain it to our pupils through historical example, classroom discussions and student elections. 

Israeli schools teach children about democracy by looking at historical events in which democracy has been tested.  At our school this year we focused upon the Kafr Kassem Massacre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kafr_Qasim_massacre) and the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Yitzhak_Rabin).

The Kafr Kassem massacre gave us a framework for looking at the position of Arab citizens in Israel then and now.  Shortly after the massacre, Arab citizens were released from military rule and the inquiry resulted in a landmark legal decision was made, according to which a soldier is obligated not to obey orders if they are manifestly illegal.

On the Rabin assassination we discussed the rules according to which democracy functions and democratic alternatives to violence.  The school gathered for a commemoration that included a slide show presentation prepared by the children and teachers, narration by students, music and movement.

At the commemoration

The children continued their study of democracy by electing a student council.  Each class elected  Arab and a Jewish representatives and then elected two student leaders for the entire school.  Before the election, the candidates mounted an election campaign based on goals and promises.  On election day a ballot box was set up in the school lobby and all the students cast their vote.  The winners were a Jewish 6th grader and an Arab 5th grader, both girls.  We wish the new student leaders success in fulfilling their campaign promises, which were to organize more special activities for the students and more events for the school.  

Links:

• American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al Salam website
• Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam website

On June 7, in an apparent protest against the decision to evacuate an Israeli "outpost" settlement, Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam was attacked by thugs who crept into the village, slashed tires of many cars and spray-painted right-wing and anti-Arab slogans on cars and buildings, including the Primary School.

Graffitis read "Death to Arabs" or "Revenge;" a message on one of the 14 damaged cars said "Hi from Ulpana" (the outpost settlement that the government decided to evacuate).

Right after the attack happened, the community, along with parents of the school, organized the cleanup of the school building – so that the hateful graffitis would be erased before the children came back to school.

A few days later, the children and parents participated in a “Peace Brush” happening: together they created their own graffitis on the school's walls, helped by caricaturists Ahmad and Mohammed Abu Num. Their graffitis focused on expression of feelings on the subject of peace and coexistence. On the school entrance, we can now read “We will live together” (picture). The activity was followed by a soccer game between the school team and a team of Arab and Jewish children from Jerusalem, under the auspices of the New Israel Fund.

Links:

• Report on the attack in Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam
• American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam