In my recent journey I have witnessed a massive imbalance in my life and in the world.
The rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer. It’s not natural and I know it.

Earlier this week I was watching CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour’s documentary about the muslim youngsters in Afghanistan and in Gaza, Israel. The entire film was portraying an almost complete turn-around in those kid’s desires, they all want a piece of the western freedom.
I saw 30000 students sitting outdoors in 120 degree heat learning to read and write with a craving and desire for knowledge, more that I have ever thought.
A situation greatly alarming for the terror organizations Taliban and Hamas, is that the message of hatred in the name of Allah and being a Martyr is no longer attractive to those youngsters. Schools for girls in Afghanistan are often being targeted with bombs by the Taliban, to stop them from gaining knowledge and freedom. Amanpour interviewed an american Doctor who has devoted his life to building schools for the kids, especially for girls. I was moved to tears when I saw the smiles and joy on those kid’s faces when they entered their newly built class rooms with actual desks. It was eye opening.
In Gaza she portrayed a more torn situation, one side hating more and more and vowing to teach their kids to hate, and the other side wanting peace and equality more than anything.
Nobel peace prize nominee Dr. Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish, a palestinian doctor who worked in an israeli hospital has lost three of his daughters in the latest war, yet he persisted in promoting peace, and has continued in his search for justice and equality. He explains that he is a “human being” and is committed to humanity. More than this, he is unable to hate people [in themselves] but hates their actions. This too was eye opening.

There are always two sides of a story, and I always claimed to be on one.
As a citizen of both Israel and Switzerland I always refused to take on the neutrality of the swiss and chose the patriotism of the israelis.
The world has been judging from day one, they could not understand the pain israelis endure on a daily basis.
The constant fear of a suicide bombing, the fact that sons go to the army at 18 and might never come back, all the yearly memorial days for the fallen soldiers and the thoughts of “what if it was my son”. The confinement within the freedom and the constant judgment from the world were no help in opening my heart.
There seemed to be no way out, israelis blame the palestinians and vice versa. It is clear that this circle of hatred must be broken, but who shall break it first?….

And here comes the peace seeker in me. I was raised by two unique hippies, we lived in northern Israel amongst israeli arabs in peace. Early on in my life I saw that it is possible.
My mother and father welcomed every culture in their lives and taught my brother and I to always seek peace and keep our hearts open with tolerance.

I have been inspired by the village Neve Shalom (Oasis of Peace) -Located mid-way between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam is a community of 55 families, half Palestinian and half Jewish, all with Israeli citizenship. Democratically governed by two elected committees (the Aguda for the administrative aspects; the Amuta for the educational ones), the village’s mission is to demonstrate that Jews and Palestinians can live together as equals.
Many threads of peace like this one exist, we just have to affiliate ourselves with the thread we feel most connected with.
There is a chance for peace by promoting it to the young generation.
They want it, here, in the middle-east and all around the world, they all still have the sparkle in their eyes, there is a way to maintain it and let it grow and evolve.

Peace is our true self, peace is our nature.

Om Shanti