Archive | Peace
Homeland’s Mandy Patinkin talks peace in Israel
‘Homeland’ star visits Israel to film scenes for hit show, says he wants his grandkids ‘to be able to have hummus with their neighbors in Hebron’
“Homeland” star Mandy Patinkin has made a small push for peace while filming episodes of the hit TV show in Israel.
Israel’s Channel 10 Sunday showed footage of the cast filming near Jaffa and actress Claire Danes leaving a restaurant.
Patinkin is a supporter of the Israeli left that advocates a two state solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict and an end to settlement building in the West Bank.
Patinkin said he wants his grandchildren “to be able to have Hummus with their neighbors in Hebron,” a West Bank town.
“Homeland” is based on an Israeli drama, “Prisoners of War.” It tells the story of an American soldier freed from captivity in Iraq and a CIA officer who suspects him of being an al-Qaeda turncoat.
Source: Ynetnews.com
Gilad Shalit to lead Cycling for Peace outing
Last year’s event was dedicated to captive soldier’s release; this year, he will take part in it
Participants at last year’s annual “Cycling for Peace” outing, which was dedicated to Gilad Shalit, scarcely expected that the then-captive IDF soldier would take part in this year’s race.
But on May 4, Shalit will be the one to lead 35-km ride, which is set to depart from his home in Mitzpe Hila and continue to the Lily Sharon Park in Acre.
This would be Shalit’s first opportunity to meet the crowds who closely followed the struggle for his release from Hamas captivity. After being jailed in Gaza for over five years, he was set free in a prisoner swap in October.
Gilad’s father, Noam Shalit, confirmed the soldier’s participation with the Acre Municipality, which is organizing the event. Acre’s sports department, the city’s International Center for Peace and other organizations are sponsoring the outing as well.
Shalit is to receive a honorary plaque at the conclusion of the event.
“Last year’s race called for Gilad’s release, so this year we’re proud to hold an event with his participation,” Acre Mayor Shimon Lankry said.
Source: Ynetnews.com
Controversial Israeli campaign wins UN award
Israeli advertising agency which sought creative solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict wins UN commendation
For the first time in history, the United Nations has granted an Israeli firm a gold medal for its efforts in seeking an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
The winner is Baumann Ber Rivnay (BBR Saatchi & Saatchi), an Israeli advertising company whose campaign, Blood Relations, offers a creative solution to the decades-long rift. The premise? Getting the two populations to share blood, instead of spilling it.
Developed in collaboration with the Peres Center for Peace and the Parents Circle – Families Forum, the campaign brought bereaved Israelis and Palestinians together for a blood drive.
The donated units from the Israelis then went to Palestinian patients, and vice versa. The project raised a simple question: Could you hurt someone with your blood running through their veins?
The project inspired similar blood drives that were held by Israeli and Muslim communities worldwide.
“Winning the award is a great honor for the firm and the state,” said Baumann Ber Rivnay CEO Yossi Lubaton. “In a time when we feel Israel’s isolation in the world and the UN, winning a prize doled out by the UN makes us proud.
“We wanted to raise awareness for the fact that beyond any political conflict, no matter how difficult and drawn-out, the people who live here are tired of bloodshed and violence. We are pleased over the recognition that the project is getting across the globe.”
Source: Ynetnews.com
Israeli President Shimon Peres to foreign diplomats: Peace worth the price
At reception marking Israel’s 64th anniversary, president says gaps between Jewish state and Palestinians surmountable
Signing a peace agreement with the Palestinians would give Israel more time focus on building a better future for its children, President Shimon Peres told foreign diplomats who gathered at his official residence in Jerusalem on Thursday to mark the Jewish state’s 64th Independence Day.
Peres said achieving peace would not be easy, as both sides must be convinced that it would be worth the price. However, he added, the gaps between Israel and the Palestinians, as he sees them, are very small.
The president said Israel must continue to initiate steps that promote peace.
During the reception, the president also addressed the so-called Arab Spring. He said he hoped regional changes would be accompanied by the least amount of bloodshed possible.
As for the ongoing violence in Syria, Peres told the diplomats that Israel views massacres carried out anywhere in the world as unacceptable.
Source: Ynetnews.com
Israeli Model/Actor features in Turkish Commercial
The relationship between Israel and Turkey may not be perfect yet, but it doesn’t bother Turkish clothing brand W Collection, which cast Israeli actor/model with the exotic name Angel Bonanni for their current TV commercial.
Bonanni, who’s proved lately that he can also sing, is presenting a several outfits of the clothing line, in a very urban-futuristic video where he is seen walking around a very posh apartment. This little Turkish gig of his kickstarts another round of meetings with agents and a few auditions for Angel, starting in Los Angeles next week, and continues in New York.
Bonanni is not the first Israeli actor to be cast to a Turkish commercial. Last year it was the Israeli pop artist Liran Notik, who starred in a Turkish candy TV ad.
Via AbbaNibi.com
Natural gas market to promote peace?
Water and Energy minister says exporting Israeli natural gas will help promote peace process
“We believe that exporting Israeli natural gas to our neighbors will promote trust that could promote regional peace,” Water and Energy Minister Uzi Landau said in a recent Athens conference on European energy challenges.
The conference, sponsored by the Economist, was also attended by Landua’s Greek and Cypriot counterparts. Landua and Greek Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Giorgos Papakonstantinou signed a collaboration agreement in the fields of water management, desalination, bio-gas production and increasing energy efficiency.
The ministers will also promote the future construction of an underwater power cable between Israel, Cyprus and Greece. The cable project, which will stretch 1,000 kilometers and run some 2,000 meters deep, is estimated at $660 million.
“The energy market is bound to expand the use of natural gas, in a way that would ease the dependency in Arab oil, Landau commented.
“We wholeheartedly believe that (exploring natural gas) in the Middle East will pave the way to a better future for our countries, as well as for our neighbors. For us, the Palestinians will be the market for our natural gas.
“We are sure that in the Middle East, which is in chaos at this moment, this partnership between Israel, Greece and Cyprus will promote regional stability,” he said.
Source: Ynetnews.com