Blogging. The peace rally
Photo: Udi Goldstein
Blogging for peace
Israelis, Palestinians joins forces in another initiative to further peace; launch mutual blog depicting everyday life in Sderot, Gaza
Dr. Akram Eijela from Gaza and Arik Levy from Sderot have decided to launch a unique, mutual blog in the name of peaceful coexistence.
The idea behind the blog was to voice a mutual call to put a stop to the violence, rooted in each side's recognition of the others' distress.
Eijela, known on the blog as "peaceman" and Levy – "hopeman" – also formed "Other Voice" which aims to find a civil solution in the Sderot-Gaza region.
In the first six months, the blog was made up mostly of the two's daily living experiences. The two planned to launch a special bicycle ride on both sides of the border, which was supposed to end in coinciding peace rallies.
Gaza riots led to the ride being canceled on the Palestinian side, while the Israeli side still held a 12-mile ride for peace.
During the peace rally, held after the ride near Israel's security fence with the Gaza Strip, Levy was able to get hold of Eijela over the telephone, and broadcasted his words to the participates via megaphone. "Tell people you do have a peace partner in Gaza. You do have someone to talk to," Eijela told those rallied near the security fence.
Zohar Avitan of the Sapir College and a member of Other Voice, told Ynet that "after eight years under fire, everyone knows the fortification may supply security, but it does nothing for the sense of community.
"When we started the group, some called us naïve, but we thing it's those who believe that this situation can be resolved only by force, who are the naïve ones."
