 | by Jennifer Young
Exclusive for Al Waref
Dr. Manuel Hassassian Palestinian ambassador, professor, and peace builder, and Dr. Edy Kaufman, Israeli activist, professor, peace builder, have long been working together to promote cooperative partnered education. . |
They both strive daily to promote peace within their own communities and between their communities through dialogue, consensus building, and co-teaching a course on Conflict Resolution: The Palestinian-Israeli Experiment at the Center for International Development and Conflict Resolution at the University of Maryland.These educators have continuously come together during the summer for 14 years, as living proof, that cooperation and partnership is possible and necessary if peace is to be attained for Israelis and Palestinians. Together Dr. Kaufman and Dr. Hassassian have developed a course to reach out to students interested in conflict resolution, but more importantly they represent the immense efforts of several Palestinian and Israeli scholars, activists, diplomats, and others from all professions who are willing to reach out a hand to the “other” and look for mutually beneficial alternatives to violence and distrust. Both of these men have led and continue to lead lives of service and dedication to humanity and peace. Dr. Manual Hassassian currently serves as the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and has lived his life serving as an academic, politician, and civil servant for the Palestinian people. He has held leadership roles at Bethlehem University, including Dean of Students, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Chair of the Humanities Department, and Executive Vice President. He has worked for a number of civil society organizations, UNESCO, and the Ministerial Commission on Refugees. Dr. Edy Kaufman directed the Harry S. Truman Institute at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and continues to teach courses on conflict resolution and human rights at the Interdisciplinary Center Hertziliyah in Israel and the University of Maryland in the United States. He has served in several leadership positions in civil society organizations including the International Executive Committee of Amnesty International, is the founder and former chair of B’tselem, the Israeli Information Center on Human rights in the Occupied Territories, the Advisory Board of Human Rights Watch, Middle East, and is a founding member of the Middle East Citizens Assembly. Both Dr. Hassassian and Dr. Kaufman have passionately adhered to the needs of their people, freely condemning violence and inaction on both sides. These community leaders have co-written articles and books together in addition to their co-teaching, to emphasize the importance of bringing together the voice and consideration of the parties concerned in conflict. In writing their articles they have presented to the international community potential solutions for overarching problems plaguing the peace process, such as prisoner release. They do not always have the same views on every topic, however they are willing to express their feelings and listen to those of the other in order to promote dialogue in conflict resolution. In class, they spoke about the different opinions they may have on certain aspects of Israeli-Palestinian relations, but they are differences that will help to promote the brainstorming of creative solutions, which will meet the demands and needs of both sides in order to ensure sustainability. Both of these men portray the material of the conflict historically, politically, and culturally; recognizing the differences of how they each interpret the events of the past and working to promote mutually beneficially potentials for the future. Dr. Kaufman and Dr. Hassassian have exemplified that it is possible to maintain loyalty to the needs of one’s community while working with the “other.” In this sense, they have provided a model for co-leadership, co-authorship, and co-professorship in this and other conflict situations where individuals at war are polarized from one another. By raising the voice of moderation to a shout, these men have taken great strides towards building bridges between Israelis and Palestinians at the grassroots level. Their continued dedication to offering this course and maintaining their relationship, despite immense violence and mounting distrust, provides unwavering hope for the future. These men remain committed to ending the injustices committed against both sides, while seeking eagerly for opportunities to mend the rifts on an individual level wherever possible. They have served their nations and their families loyally, by investing their efforts into developing forums for dialogue and education that will enable others to become active participants in the peace process. By looking to the future, and working towards sustainable and mutually beneficial solutions to the many problems facing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Dr. Hassassian and Dr. Kaufman are striving to serve the interests of their people and humanity. They should be recognized for their unwavering efforts in developing a culture of peace and a structure for grassroots empowerment and self-leadership. These men have both worked diligently to inspire the minds of young students eager to enter the field of conflict resolution, while devoting themselves entirely to finding mutually agreeable solutions for the future of Israelis and Palestinians. The large strides they have made and continue to make in the name of humanity has empowered citizens on the ground to take action, inspired students to work for peace, and emphasized the value of cooperation and dialogue in searching for peace.
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