Young American Politicians Visit Givat Haviva
By Lydia Aisenberg
July 1, 2008
A visit to Givat Haviva was recently on the itinerary of a small delegation of up and coming American political leaders on a challenging study tour of Israel.
In a program made possible by a generous grant from the US Department of State, the youthful political leaders of the future hailed from different and very diverse areas of the United States - almost as diverse as the issues the political leaders in the making tackle in their public serving careers.
Prior to visiting Givat Haviva, one of the many meetings on their bursting itinerary was with the Young Israeli Forum for Cooperation, an Israeli NGO empowering young professionals to take a lead in shaping Israel’s relations with its neighbors, with an emphasis on the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Touring the Golan Heights and Galilee, the delegation met with local mayors and municipality members in Tiberias and Nazareth. While in Jerusalem, the heard representatives from across the Israeli political spectrum.
Arriving at Givat Haviva in the afternoon of a particularly hot day, the delegation took a brief walk across campus stopping to admire the results of and hear about the Arts Center’s Peace Pole project displayed on the central lawn.
The delegation was welcomed to Givat Haviva by Ahmad Bdair, Executive Director of the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace who described some of the projects undertaken by the JACP, some of which substantially supported by American government grants.
Mr. Bdair, Givat Haviva development officer Jodi Cnaan and Lydia Aisenberg of the International Department answered questions put forward by the delegation, some of whom already experienced in dealing with cross-cultural dilemmas and conflict resolution issues within the framework of their professions.
Discussing the Israeli school system where Jewish and Arab children are educated separately, Eric K. Hutchings, a member of the Utah House of Representatives sparked an interesting discussion following comments with regard different educational aspects in the assimilation - or lack of – the immigrant population in his State.
Attorney Cass Burton who works in the Policy Development Section, Legal Services Division of the Texas Department of Insurance, took a special interest in the "Face to Face" project which brings together Jewish and Arab 11th graders for facilitated 2-3 day encounters.
“I definitely would like to know more about this type of educational program involving high-school pupils,” he commented at the end of the visit, and said he would stay in touch once he returns home.
Before leaving Givat Haviva, Mr. Burton presented a small freedom bell (with a loud ring) to Ahmad Bdair in the name of the delegation.
“I came here today following a visit to a Jewish settlement in the West Bank which I found rather depressing,” Ms. Anne Im of the Directory of Community Programs and Advocacy, Asian Americans for Community Involvement told the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace director Ahmad Bdair, as she was departing.
“However, after visiting Givat Haviva I am buoyed by the knowledge there are educational peace programs of the nature you are involved with here,” she said.
Following the visit of the delegation – whose study tour was organized by The American Council of Young Political Leaders in conjunction with the Israel Youth Exchange Council – Ahmad Bdair commented on the importance of visits such as that of the young American professionals.
“It is of utmost importance for us to have the opportunity to explain the educational value and vision of our projects here in Givat Haviva to people from both Israel and abroad, particularly those individuals and delegations of the stature such as from The American Council of Young Political Leaders.
“I sincerely hope that we will continue to receive such interesting and influential delegations being as this is so beneficial to all those involved in attempting to move forward and truly make a difference in Jewish-Arab relations inside the State of Israel and between Israel and the Palestinians,” he concluded.
The American Council of Young Political Leaders aims at fostering relations between the next generation of political leaders in the United States and their counterparts around the world. Since its founding in 1966 emerging leaders from over ninety countries have participated in the ACYPL program and the organization can boast distinguished alumni in the U.S. Congress, Cabinet officials, diplomats, government ministers and parliamentarians around the world.
We are indeed honored to have been able to meet with ACYPL’s present delegation and hope they will be successful in their careers and also maintain contact with Givat Haviva.
Members of the delegation were:
Eric J. Beane, Trial Attorney, Federal Programs Bench U.S. Department of Justice (DC), Deb Sofield, Commissioner of Public Works Greenville Water System (SC), Cass Burton, Attorney, Policy Development Section, Legal Services Division, Texas Department of Insurance, Elesha Gayman, Member of the Iowa House of Representatives, Eric K. Hutchings, Member of the Utah House of Representatives, Anne Im, from the Directory of Community Programs and Advocacy, Asian Americans for Community Involvement (CA), and K. Mark Takai, Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives.