Jews, Palestinians seek conflict answers in Bosnia

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L17341095.htm

FEATURE-Jews, Palestinians seek conflict answers in Bosnia


SARAJEVO, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Jewish and Palestinian students, eager to understand the conflict in the Middle East, are looking for answers in Sarajevo, hopeful that lessons learned from Bosnia's 1992-95 war can help their region.

A group of 30 students spent a week in the capital last month studying comparative conflict analysis. They are part of a growing number of international students travelling to Bosnia for clues on how to resolve conflict.

The students, many of whom are now U.S. citizens, said Bosnia's experiences could help them understand how to bring peace to the turbulent Middle East, where Israeli troops and Hizbollah guerrillas have been at war for around four weeks, and an Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip is also under way.

"One of the tragedies in Bosnia was the fact that you had this multi-ethnic society that was just ripped apart and that's something I really don't want to happen in the Middle East," said Elias Ibrahim, 20, of mixed Russian and Palestinian origin.

...

"I really did not know the Palestinians' view on the conflict in Israel. For me, that has been the most eye-opening part of this trip as I am learning the perspective of Palestinians," said Matthew Barker-Benfild, a Jewish student from the University of Berkeley.
/div]

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Yep it is eye opening

what you have and part of the problem are TWO very different foundation myths... and two myths that in many ways exclude the other

that was my story over 20 years ago.... and why I advocate a truth and reconciliation commision in the ME