Jordanian artist wants to build statue in Sderot

[Phx_Dem]

Israel's embassy in Amman and the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem received an unusual requested this week: A Jordanian artist expressed his interest in visiting Sderot and building a statue of peace in the southern city along with local children.

The artist, Ahmed Khalifa, is a sculptor and painter known for his enthusiastic support for peace with Israel, despite the treaty's unpopularity in Jordan. Khalifa does not shy away from openly maintaining contacts with the Israeli embassy, and in the past built statues for the Peres Center for Peace.

Recently, Khalifa turned to the Jerusalem city hall and asked to place a statue in the capital in order to promote peace. Several days ago, he presented his work at a Jerusalem fair.

"It is important for me to convey a message against violence and the firing of Qassams through the statue," Khalifa said. "It hurts me to hear about every rocket that lands in the city. I want to come in order to bear a message of peace and support from Jordan. We must show that in the Arab world too there are voices that oppose the Qassams."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3583148,00.html

[LeftishBrit]

1. That's inspiring - hope he gets to build that statue!

The more voices for peace there are from everywhere, who get to be heard, the better! Whether they are heard through words; through music (e.g. Daniel Bahrenboim's mixed Jewish-Arab orchestra); through sport as in the Peace Team playing in Australia; or through art, as here.

[Vegasaurus]

2. Good. We need more people like Mr. Khalifa nt