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The group that is meeting in Yaad and Miaar now is the second group since the beginning of the dialogue in 2004. The process of getting together, sharing, listening, and coming up with common steps of action is lengthy, often painful, rocky and emotionally draining. Participants from both Jewish and Arab side are labeled as traitors and trouble-makers by some from their communities. Yet none of them budged, together they carry on. It's worth the effort. Both sides have strong attachment to the land around Yaad and Miaar and both have the same wish -- to find a way to enjoy it while minimizing the overall harm and conflict. The village of Yaad needs to expand, the descendants of Miaar want to preserve the ancient ruins of their village and cemetery. This group is working together on a practical solution.

Three meetings took place since the beginning of the year. Since then, the facilitators had accentuated more "action oriented" steps. They have also opened opportunities for members of the group to take responsibility for communication between the participants and for several group tasks.

Working Together

In the last session, March 10th, the participants of the first round of the dialogue joined those of the second round and they decided to meet all together as a single group in the future.

Most of the Jewish participants confirmed their support to the Miaaris claims to build a fence around the old cemetery and expressed their commitment to act in order to achieve that. The group has assigned tasks to some of its members to make it happen, hopefully in the next summer. Other members took responsibility to organize a social and dialogue activity, related to "60 years from the Nakba/Independence Day events", in next May.
Currently, it seems that things are moving forward in a climate of increased openness, more mutual trust and good will.

The dialogue in Yaad and Miaar has withstood many tests of strength and patience over the three years since its start. The group works together through strong emotions within group, through denunciaiton from outside, and also through bureaucratic obstacles - relying on the approval of Israeli governments for many of the things they want to achieve together. Neither these, nor the violence within Isreal, nor war with Lebanon, tore the group apart. In fact, the group grows closer through these tests. Therefore the model will be implemented in other areas of Israel this year. Similar dialogue will start in Pekiin, which has caught the attention of the world public due to the riots in October 2007. Another will be launched in the mixed neighborhood of Hadar, Haifa. We are hoping that these endeavors will meet with as much success as the Yaad and Miaar group had.