Soldiers give peace a chance (From This Is Cheshire)

Soldiers give peace a chance

5:10pm Friday 30th July 2010

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FORMER soldiers from Israel and Palestine have visited the Peace Centre to promote non-violence and put an end to war.

Sixteen members of Combatants for Peace, a movement made up of Israelis and Palestinians who put down their guns to engage in dialogue as a means of ending conflict in the Middle East, told their personal stories, staged theatrical events and took part in workshops.

They were in Old Hall on Saturday to give a Rainbow of Identities workshop during the day and a No Victory in Violence presentation in the evening.

Clare White, chief executive of the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace, said: “We were delighted to work with Combatants for Peace. Supporting them provided the chance to experience hearing about other conflicts and gain an insight into their world.

“We were pleased to welcome people affected by conflict across the world who are working towards peaceful reconciliation.”

The group, from Tel Aviv and Tul-Karem, which is in the occupied West Bank, regularly risked arrest and faced persecution from their own communities for their activities, including crossing into no-entry zones to meet supposed enemies.

Combatants for Peace’s Ben Yeger said: “We no longer believe that the conflict can be resolved through violence.

“We believe that the bloodbath will not end unless we act together to terminate the occupation and stop all forms of violence.

“We’re calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel and we will use only non-violent means to achieve our goals.”

The tour was hosted by community arts organisation Encounters and charity Amnesty International UK.

For further information visit amnesty.org.uk, encounters-arts.org.uk or foundation4peace.org

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