Jewish
Frontier

Labor Zionists from 20 different countries including Israel were guests of the Palestinian Authority June 15-19 in an international seminar for peace. They met with Dr. Sufian Sultan, Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs in the Palestinian Authority, Bajis Ismail at the ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Abdelham Sedr, mayor of Jericho and Samech Kna'an, Deputy Commander of the Palestinian Preventative Security Service.

The guests were treated as VIPs and were accompanied by officers of the Palestinian Authority. The whole program was under the personal auspices of Jibril Rajoub, Commander in Chief of the Preventative Security Services. His deputy Samech Kna'an accompanied the group for most of the trip.

The purpose of the seminar was for participants to learn about the Palestinian experience through meeting with Palestinians and to have a frank exchange of views. Those exchanges were indeed frank, and searching questions were asked of the Palestinians. Such issues as the dangers of Hamas to the peace process were asked which was particularly important as participants saw children waving Hamas flags in Bethlehem. Other issues discussed were tourism, environmental issues and the peace process generally.

Dr. Sulfian Sultan, Deputy Minister in the Palestinian Authority said, most Palestinians support the peace process and Abdelharim Sedr, Mayor of Jericho said "we are turning a new page in our relations with Israel." Samech Kna'an said "meetings between Israelis, Palestinians and Jews are a way of getting to know one another and in the long term will advance the peace process." Michael Landsberg, Secretary General of the World Labor Zionist Movement based in Jerusalem said, "yesterday we saw the contradictions in Palestinian society at first hand. In Bethlehem, we saw Palestinian children waving the flags of Hamas and preparations for a Hamas concert — as the late Yitzhak Rabin said 'Hamas is not only the enemy of Israel, but of the whole peace process.'"

But, Landsberg added, "at the same time we met the Palestinians who believe in coexistence and peace. The silent majority in both of our societies have a moral responsibility to work together for peace. It is only by doing that, that we will enter into an era of peace and coexistence. And meetings of Palestinians, Israelis and Jews help facilitate that."