OccupationalHazard.org 10.09.02

The Occupation - 10/09/02

Children in Nablus

Mohammad Sawalha, Shimon Malka,
Khaled Shorman, and Cynthia Cohen, Ph. D.

The following is a letter written by the participants of the Brandeis project, which Givat Haviva is a partner in.
We, a partnership of Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian and American educators and youth leaders, wish to draw the world's attention to the plight of the children of Nablus, the largest city in the West Bank. This September, when children all over the world returned to school, 50,000 Nablus schoolchildren remained restricted to their homes, living under a curfew that is now entering its 15th week. In addition, 12,000 of their older brothers and sisters are unable to reach the campus of An Najah University.
The curfew that has kept all of the families of Nablus locked in their homes is extremely severe. In over 107 days, it has been lifted for only 50 hours. As a result, the children of Nablus are missing not only their lessons. They are missing the vitamins and vaccinations they need to remain healthy, and the visits to doctors they need to recover from illnesses. They are missing the freedom they need to move about and play with their friends. They are sorely missing the sense of safety and security that they need to grow into adults who can make reasoned decisions and establish relationships of respect and trust.
We are writing in support of the courage of the children of Nablus, who have been making their way to neighborhood schools in spite of the on-going curfew.
We call upon the Israeli government, as a preliminary step to lifting the curfew and ending the occupation, to allow the children of Nablus to attend school. We ask all those who read this letter to lend their voices to our call.
Our concern is for the safety and security of all of the children in the region. Genuine peace requires an end to the occupation and the embracing of non-violent approaches to resolving the conflict.
We believe that education is every child's right. Higher education is every society's pathway toward economic well-being and tolerance.
Education is also the world's best hope for a peaceful future.
Mohammad Sawalha, Palestinian House of Friendship, Palestine
Shimon Malka, Givat Haviva, Israel
Khaled Shorman, Masar/Crossing Borders, Jordan
Cynthia Cohen, Ph.D., Brandeis University, United States(affiliation for identification purposes only)"

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Children in Nablus
Mohammad Sawalha, Shimon Malka, Khaled Shorman, and Cynthia Cohen, Ph. D.





The following is a letter written by the participants of the Brandeis project, which Givat Haviva is a partner in. We, a partnership of Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian and American educators and youth leaders, wish to draw the world's attention to the plight of the children of Nablus, the largest city in the West Bank. This September, when children all over the world returned to school, 50,000 Nablus schoolchildren remained restricted to their homes, living under a curfew that is now entering its 15th week. In addition, 12,000 of their older brothers and sisters are unable to reach the campus of An Najah University. The curfew that has kept all of the families of Nablus locked in their homes is extremely severe. In over 107 days, it has been lifted for only 50 hours. As a result, the children of Nablus are missing not only their lessons. They are missing the vitamins and vaccinations they need to remain healthy, and the visits to doctors they need to recover from illnesses. They are missing the freedom they need to move about and play with their friends. They are sorely missing the sense of safety and security that they need to grow into adults who can make reasoned decisions and establish relationships of respect and trust. We are writing in support of the courage of the children of Nablus, who have been making their way to neighborhood schools in spite of the on-going curfew. We call upon the Israeli government, as a preliminary step to lifting the curfew and ending the occupation, to allow the children of Nablus to attend school. We ask all those who read this letter to lend their voices to our call. Our concern is for the safety and security of all of the children in the region. Genuine peace requires an end to the occupation and the embracing of non-violent approaches to resolving the conflict. We believe that education is every child's right. Higher education is every society's pathway toward economic well-being and tolerance. Education is also the world's best hope for a peaceful future. Mohammad Sawalha, Palestinian House of Friendship, Palestine Shimon Malka, Givat Haviva, Israel Khaled Shorman, Masar/Crossing Borders, Jordan Cynthia Cohen, Ph.D., Brandeis University, United States(affiliation for identification purposes only)"
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