Fall / Winter 2006
'Seeds of Peace' Man Not Hopeless
Walid Hamed Abed El Hadi
“I don’t think this conflict will die,” was the ending quote in an Associated Press article on SPI 2006 that was published widely in the United States.
The person quoted was a Palestinian named Walid Hamed Abed El Hadi, who attended SPI in the company of his Seeds of Peace colleague, an Israeli man named Ariel Huler.
Seeds of Peace runs a summer camp in Maine for youth from all sides of the Mideast conflict and offers follow-up programs during the year from a Jerusalem base.
Walid and Ariel have become close friends over the years. They almost finish each other’s sentences.
Both are strong believers in the value of their efforts to find common ground and to facilitate greater empathy and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians.
Ariel Huler
In short, they may not believe the Mideast conflict will die, but they do believe it can be transformed into something more positive by the rising generation.
At a donor-appreciation dinner (both men received financial aid to attend SPI), Ariel said:
"Being here at the SPI program as part of a community of peacebuilders from all around the world has filled my batteries and made me realize that I’m only one of many, many strong people and that the feelings of loneliness that I sometimes feel while educating youngsters for peace, and while building bridges between Israelis and Palestinians, are not justified."
Walid concurred:
"Thank you for letting Ariel and myself learn as an Israeli and Palestinian together at SPI and then pass our knowledge to young people in Maine and then at home in Jerusalem."