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October 10, 2003
Bridging gap of hatred
A young Israeli and Palestinian form a new group.
KYLE BERGER REPORTER
There have been many attempts made throughout the Diaspora to somehow
bridge the gap between Israelis and Palestinians and, in many cases,
Jews and Arabs. However, few have been initiated by two people as
close to the issue as the latest effort in the Lower Mainland.
Yuval Maduel, a Jewish Israeli who moved to Vancouver in 1998, is
working with his new friend Adri Hamael, a Palestinian who came
to Vancouver in 1996, to form a social group aimed at bridging the
gap between their peoples. They'll be kicking off their effort with
a concert at the end of November which will feature local Jewish
and Arab talent.
Maduel met Hamael just over a month ago through some contacts he
had made in Vancouver's Arab community. The two young men, both
32, began to talk and realized that they shared the same ideas –
that Israelis and Palestinians could happily co-exist with each
other once they had the chance to get to know each other.
"We met and we could see right away that we saw eye to eye,"
Maduel said in his heavy Israeli accent. "We both have our
opinions about what should be but we are putting them aside. We
just want to gather this glimpse of humanity in all of us because
we have to live together whether we like it or not.
"Growing up in Israel you have lots of stereotypes about the
other side and I was never able to have a talk with a Palestinian
person before in my life," he continued. "But sitting
with [Hamael] and having a civilized conversation, for me this was
a breakthrough, definitely."
While it was Maduel who initiated the contact for this new social
group, Hamael said that he also had been thinking about doing something
similar for a long time.
"I talked to my family who lives in Ramallah and I know how
difficult it is for them right now," he said. "Sitting
here in the beautiful city of Vancouver makes me feel guilty that
I'm enjoying the good life and it makes me want to do something
constructive and different to help create a peaceful solution."
Both men understand that bridging the gap between people who have
such a long history of hatred will be difficult. That's why they
are hoping to attract a lot of younger people to their programs.
"I do personally believe that targeting youth in this process
will be more effective," Hamael explained. "The youth
of today do not have the same amount of baggage as the older generations
have and, since they are the leaders of tomorrow, that is where
we have to make change."
Hamael said his motivation to focus on youth also comes from the
constant communication he's had with his younger brothers, aged
22 and 25, who also live in Ramallah.
"It's a challenge for youth [in Ramallah] not to be effected
by all the frustrations of the occupation," he said. "Unfortunately
the extremists and radicals are thriving on people's emotions and
sense of desperation and that's why I want to do whatever we can
to at least make a change within our own community, then go from
there."
After the concert, Maduel and Hamael plan to organize a series of
social functions. They also hope to include one activity they both
have a passion for: soccer.
The concert is set to take place Nov. 29, at 7 p.m., at the Canadian
Memorial Church on the corner of Burrard Street and West 15th Avenue.
They already have three bands confirmed, including Tzimmes, the
Arabic band Zeryab and Israeli musician Itamar Erez.
For more information about the concert, or to get involved with
the social group, call Maduel at 604-879-2286 or Hamael at 604-727-7038.
Kyle Berger is a freelance journalist and graphic designer
living in Richmond.
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