2011 Olive Harvest Delegation

Interfaith Peace-Builders and the Resource Center for Nonviolence Delegation Arrives in Israel/Palestine

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October 31, 2011 - Interfaith Peace-Builders (IFPB) and the Resource Center for Nonviolence are pleased to announce that our 23 member delegation to Israel/Palestine arrived at Ben-Gurion airport Monday morning and is now safely in Jerusalem.

The purpose of this delegation, the 39th to make the trip since 2001, is to educate North Americans about the region and deepen their understanding of its conflicts.

The delegation focuses on the Palestinian olive harvest which takes place each autumn. The olive harvest is an occasion of particular cultural and economic importance for Palestinian communities and a time when tensions between Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents of the West Bank run high.

As the United Nations considers Palestine's application for full membership, the US-brokered peace process continues to show few results and US military aid to the region continues to flow unabated. Participants on this delegation have the unique opportunity to hear directly from Palestinians and Israelis regarding their hopes for peace and the role of the United Nations, the US government, and other international actors, in promoting a resolution to the conflict.

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A photo of the delegates at orientation in Washington, DC.

The delegation includes the following people:

Wayne Arnason - Bay Village, Ohio (not pictured)
Maya Delucchi - Santa Cruz, California (not pictured)
John Eby -Dubuque, Iowa (not pictured)
Todd and Paula Endo - Arlington, Virginia
Ursula Gallagher - Snohomish, Washington
Sandra and Brad Gerrish - Snohomish, Washington
Bud Hensgen - Snohomish, Washington
Jo Hollingsworth - Fostoria, Ohio
Jean Keith - Providence, Rhode Island
Scott Kennedy - Santa Cruz, California
Mark Levine - San Juan Bautista, California
Elaine Meyrial - Providence, Rhode Island
Catina Negrete - Victorville, California
Lisa Nessan - Oakland, California
Allie Perry - New Haven, Connecticut
Kathleen Rolenz - Bay Village, Ohio (not pictured)
Andrew Schneider - Albuquerque, New Mexico
Pat and Bob Smythe - Corvallis, Oregon
Melinda Tuhus - Hamden, Connecticut


In addition to the reports linked from this page, IFPB delegation participants may be blogging and tweeting about their experiences. Like the trip reports posted here, individual blogs and tweets reflect the views of delegation participants only, and not necessarily Interfaith Peace-Builders or partners.

Blogs by delegation members:

• Lisa Nessan's Blog

Twitter streams by delegation members:

• Lisa Nessan's Twitter Stream (@hopeundersiege)

Interfaith Peace-Builders believes in the power of eye-witness experience and transformation. Given the opportunity to speak directly with Israelis and Palestinians, delegates return to the United States better informed, more energized, and with a deeper understanding of the possibilities for true justice in the Middle East.

Upon their return to the United States, delegates will share their experiences with the public, the media, and their political representatives.

Media interested in interviewing the participants when they return, and groups wanting information about speaking engagements, should contact Interfaith Peace-Builders at media@ifpb.org or 415.240.4607.

 

 

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