Jerusalem, Day 1

After a morning walking tour of Old Jerusalem and an afternoon at the Holocaust Museum, we met with representatives of the Bereaved Families Supporting Peace, Reconciliation and Tolerance.  This is a group of Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost relatives as a result of the violence.  Rami, an Israeli who was born in Israel, and Aziz, a Palestinian, each told their stories.  Rami's 10 year-old daughter was killed by a suicide bomber in 1997 and Aziz lost his brother who died from the severe beating he received after being arrested.   Their shared pain has made each man more understanding of the other.  They believe that one way to break the cycle of violence is to listen to the pain of the other.  

To promote the principles of the group they have a radio show on 107.2 FM and on the Internet at www.the parentscircle.org.  They have also staged a protest by placing coffins with Israeli and Palestinian flags on them in front of the UN.  In another action, Israeli's sneaked through the dividing wall to give blood to Palestinians.  They contend that the wall dividing Israel from the occupied Palestinian territory will not stop two kinds of people--those who make war and those who want to make peace.