Debate for Peace

From February 8-11, Debate for Peace led a delegation of 18 students to the MEDIMUN conference in Nicosia, Cyprus. The delegation was planned with the help of the Embassy of Cyprus in Tel Aviv, and included a pre-trip briefing with Ambassador Shambos. Ambassador Shambos issued the follow remarks to the delegation on the occasion of their return:

Dear DfP participants,
I had the good  fortune to first  meet Steven and your  wonderful team last summer, and learn more about the crucial work done through Debate for Peace,  in bringing together Jewish, Arab, Muslim, Christian students from all over Israel and beyond, through your participation in Model UN conferences.

I was hence delighted to observe that students like yourselves debate, negotiate and aim to resolve the most difficult and pressing challenges in international relations as a perfectly unisoned team.  It is this consiliatory team spirit that gave me the idea that the DfP participates at the Mediterranean Model UN (MEDIMUN) in Cyprus  – something that I’m happy to learn proved to be an amazing experience.

I am  honoured to actively second your cause because you prove that what  you do matters. It matters because  I represent a country of which a third has been invaded and that, after four and a half decades, still experiences the tragic results of foreign invasion and illegal military occupation, which forcibly continues to divide the two communities of Cyprus (Greek and Turkish Cypriots).

I hence understand how important it is to support young people that have the courage to look forward. Young people that break down stereotypes and cause  paradigm shifts.  Youth that builds bridges of understanding. That nourishes what unites us.

I hence salute your strength to be representatives of peace building. You are aware that your job is not easy. Because after all peace is not easy. This is why it is all the more important to support you as you cultivate messages of tolerance and integration, with respect to diversity and pluralism.

In this journey we cannot but stand by your side and do our little bit to help you make true your vision of a better and sustainable future for your generation and beyond .

What is also crucial is that as you grow older, and as from young participants in DfP  you become responsible members of your societies, decision-shapers and decision-makers, you don’t lose sight of the vision you have today. I hope you carry the torch of a different, better reality with you, throughout your lives.

You are the shapers of your future. Make it your own. You have Cyprus ‘ unwavering support.

Thessalia S. Shambos

We’ve started a movement. It wasn’t clear immediately, but it is now. Those are my thoughts after yet another extraordinary delegation, this time to the MEDIMUN conference in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Everywhere we go as a group–students of all faiths and backgrounds– Jews, Muslims, Christians, Israelis and Palestinians, laughing and learning together, we open eyes. In the airport, on the street, on the train, walking around as a group leads to the inevitable question: “Who are you?”

Spontaneous group hug

Spontaneous group hug

And the answer–concise or detailed depending on the situation, is less important than the question. Because the question means that we’re challenging how people think; breaking stereotypes; changing paradigms. The question itself means that we’ve succeeded in helping people to think of a different, better reality, a world that we’ve managed to create for ourselves as a group.

As impressive as everything else is–high school students competing in high-level diplomatic simulations on challenging topics, often in their second or third languages; meeting diplomats and conflict resolution specialists; tackling the most difficult topics that others are afraid to touch, the most striking thing about our group is that it has morphed into a family–a beautiful, diverse, multiethnic, multireligious and bi-national family. That’s clear to everyone who sees the group. It it confuses observers, hopefully they see how happy everyone is together and are inspired as well. Because at this point we’re a movement, and we’ll only continue to grow. So join us!

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to go to the beautiful country of Kosovo, and participate in KIMUN 2017.

It was an unforgettable and a unique experience. An experience that taught me a lot– starting with the history of Kosovo, to the latent beauty in a simple life with humble people.

The people in Kosovo are incredibly humble, nice and sweet. They offered their help at anywhere and anytime. There is diversity there and it is inspiring how much they’re connected to their history.

Moreover, the conference was interestingly different: its system was different, delegates were a part of 2-3 committees throughout the whole conference, we got to debate and vote in the parliament itself.

In conclusion, I am very blessed to have had the chance to go to Kosovo, meet the incredible people there and participate in such an interesting conference. I will for sure give it another visit in the near future.

By: Nour Suliman

The first week of December, I and 10 other high school students were honored to have the opportunity to travel abroad to Kosovo for a Model United Nation conference, “KIMUN”.

Our group included students from three religions: 5 Muslims, 1 Christian and 5 Jews. Not only in religion was the group different, but also in opinion and ideas. But with all those differences we found a lot more similarities between us, and because of those differences and similarities we become such a big family that care for each other and love one another, and I proudly call them my family.

We were traveling as part of an organization that gave us this amazing chance called “Debate for Peace”, that has as one of its main aims to try to achieve peace between Arab and Jewish students, and in my opinion we have definitely reached that goal in this trip.

I’ve learned so much in my time in Kosovo, about the country and its history; the history of the nationality of the Kosovo people.

The People there fought strongly to defend their country through the years so that Kosovo can have its independence, which it finally achieved in 2008. That’s why it’s still called a “New Born”.

Fortunately, we went to beautiful and wonderful places in Kosovo that are filled with history and stories and met with some incredible people that told us about more amazing historical events that happened in Kosovo. I would love to visit more places there and see more sites that mean so much to the citizens.

The people of Kosovo welcomed us so warmly from the start of our journey till the end; with open arms and huge smiles, they are very kind and so amazing that you can’t help but care for them and call them your friends.

This Model UN conference was very effective for me in so many ways. One of them is to have the confidence to stand up straight in front a group that includes students who are younger than me and also older, to give my speech with raised voice showing no hesitation.

I honestly can’t wait to go back to Kosovo, to see those wonderful, amazing, great people again and also to see more of what Kosovo has to offer. This trip was the most memorable experience in my life.

By: Alia Habiballah

My name is Baraah Massalha, I’m 15 years old. Six months ago, I joined the “Debate For Peace” program and from there began the march to achieve the goals of my life.

KIMUN 2017 was an unforgettable experience, not only because it was my first conference abroad, but because it was also my first time in Kosovo, a place rich of culture, friendly people and much more.

Before the trip, I had mixed feelings about it. It wasn’t my first time abroad without my parents, but it was my first time abroad with people whom I’ve never met before, total strangers. I wasn’t nervous, but I was a little bit concerned about what’s going to be there and how I’m going to adapt. But as soon as I arrived, I realized that everything is going to be just fine. The people who were complete strangers became a second large family.

In Kosovo we did a little of everything: some tourism, some MUNing, some shopping, and the most important: we made new friends. I personally enjoyed each and every bit of this trip thoroughly. We visited many historical and cultural places, especially on the day in which we visited Prizren. We firstly visited one of the mosques of the city. Secondly, we visited the church of mother Teresa who is considered an important national figure for Kosovars and Albanians. We then headed to meet with the head of the Jewish community in Prizren, and crowned the day with a visit to a Sufi mosque.

I made a lot of ‘international friends’ in Kosovo, from Kosovo and from other countries as well. These friends are super special, everyone of them has his own interesting story. and I hope I’ll meet them again very soon.

This trip ended with a bittersweet feeling. I was happy that I was part of it, and sad that it’s done. It is an experience of a life time.

My advice: Do not hesitate to take part in events like this. Pack your bags, and head straight to the plane, just don’t forget your passport.

By: George Abu Daoud

By Noam Williams

Let’s begin from the end. I know that i’ll come back to Kosovo and I’ll continue being in touch with my friends from the delegation and my Albanian friends.

On 29.11 me and 10 students from all over the country: 5 muslim arabs, 5 jews  ( including me) and 1 christian flew to Kosovo. Before the flight I didn’t know much about Kosovo or about the kids that flew with me, but now sitting in my house in Netanya four days after I came back I can say that I met some amazing kids  and I discovered a unique country with a unique culture and some warm people.

When we arrived at the hotel, the best moment of the trip for me happened.

 At 11:59 PM, all the delegation were in the lobby with me and we counted the seconds  till my birthday. And at 00:00  all of the delegation sang happy birthday to me in three different languages: english, hebrew, and arabic,. It was really unique and in that moment I understood that this was a unique trip and that these kids are my friends.

1.12

My birthday. We went in the morning to the UN mission to Kosovo they explained to us about their work and their project. I really liked that meeting because my dream job is to work in the UN.

After this we went to a big shopping center where we bought present for our families, and afterwards we met some of our Albania friends. In the beginning i was scared because they were older than us by 5 years. But they sang to me happy birthday in Albanian!

2.12

The first day of the conference we met our Albanian and Turkish friends from the american school in Kosovo.  

We spoke about sports and hobbies in our countries  and had fun

3.12

We went to Prizren one of the  most beautiful cities i ever saw.

But before we arrived there we stopped in the house of the Albanian/Kosovo national hero (Adem Jashari) his story was really sad. Afterwards we went to Prizren where we visited a unique road. This road included a sufi mosque a Sunni mosque, an Albanian church and a serbian orthodox church and a jewish center which is still being built. We met the head of the jewish community, and I translated for him from french to English, and we also met the head of the Catholic church and the head of a Sufi community

Meeting those people that live in peace was really inspirational and unique  

4.12

The first day of the mun. It was really fun and challenging it was fun representing the country that i got and i really  had fun with they other kids.  

5.12

The last day. It was a full and hard day

In the morning we did check out i was really sad because i understood that it’s my last day in this amazing country.

We went to Kosovo parliament for the last session of the mun. At the end of the conference, after all the pictures, we  all signed  each other on the signs of the state. We arranged to meet in the evening with the friends from the American school and went to speak with the representative from the American Embassy. The representative explained to us about her life as a diplomat and explained to us her difficulties in work.

Then we went to a restaurant and talked to different people

And then we went to meet with the only family from Kosovo who has been recognized so far by Yad Vashem as חסידי אומות עולם . They explained to us about Besa, something that I personally think should be explained to every Israeli wherever he is. After the conversation we went out for two hours with our friends from the American school. We took photos . They came with us to the hotel and told us all to see each other in the hope that we would meet again.

Then we went to the airport and realized that it’s the end of the trip . I’ll come home with all my experiences and all my new friends.

I knew that I would return to Israel and tell everyone about the most enjoyable trip.

The MUN conference in Kosovo was an experience that changed my life. I met incredible people that I now consider family. In previous conferences I was active during the debate but failed to make personal connections with the people around me. This conference was different. Even though I had only met the group I traveled with two days before the conference I already trusted them and loved them. They made this conference an amazing experience through which I made many connections I hope to keep. Those people, so different from me that I would never have imagined they could be my friends, became people I trust with my life.

Some of them don’t share my religion. Some don’t share my ethnicity. Others don’t share my opinions. And I had a great time arguing with all of them. I argued about politics and about human rights. I argued about capitalism and about the army. I was challenged. I was forced to think differently and creatively. It was an exercise for the mind, and I came out of it with some new perspectives, but also more confident than ever in some of my own.

The trip to Kosovo also introduced me to an amazing country with great sights and incredible stories. I learned about the national hero of Kosovo, and about a Jewish doctor and an Albanian man who saved each other’s lives during World War II. I saw churches, mosques and a Jewish community center standing one next to the other. I had snow fights on old bridges and passed an abandoned church on my way to the university of Pristina. I nearly froze to death and five different people offered me five different kinds of help. I shopped for clothes and walked around the biggest mall I have ever seen.

All those things and many more made this an unforgettable experience. I was very happy to come back home, to my family and my friends, but I carry this trip with me, and talk to the friends I made there all the time.

By Inbar Shaked Vardi

It took me a few days to process everything I experienced during my time in Kosovo as a part of the “Debate for Peace” MUN delegation.

Such a wonderful country with a great and interesting history and culture and even greater people.

The Kosovars who accompanied us during our stay there couldn’t have been more welcoming, the kindness and hospitality that was shown to us is definitely a thing that I will never forget!

Another thing that I found admirable is the freedom of religion in Kosovo, whether if it is the people who were so interested in my Jewish identity and Israeli ethnicity or whether is this one street that we saw which included a church, a mosque and a synagogue.

In terms of our delegation, I was lucky to meet such inspirational teenagers with such a diversity of ethnicity, religion and political stands.

We argued, we debated but mostly we loved each other, and that is the ideal of the relationships between different groups in our land, we do not have to agree but we have to respect and cooperate in order to see a brighter future!       

By: Aviv Hanuka

All it took was a couple of days in Kosovo to make a family out of strangers.

When I got to the airport I was both exited and terrified, millions of questions going through my mind. Are the people I’m going with nice? How is the conference is going be? (We were still confused about how exactly the conference would work), will the food be good?

When we landed in Turkey we had 8 hours to kill. Steven told us to work together on our resolutions, but we were too tired to do anything. We did work a little but we ended just talking and having fun and getting to know each other. Let’s keep in mind we were 5 Jewish, 5 Muslims and 1 Christian, who all think differently from one another.

When we arrived in Kosovo, the people working at the airport were smiling at us, their smile was very welcoming.

The first day was meeting the others who were participating in the conference. It was kind of scary because they were older than us (20 and up), but talking to them made me at ease.

Second day was an opening ceremony for the conference, they divided us into groups to find resolutions on the topics we are debating about, and we got to meet more amazing people.

The third day we had a field trip to Vushtrri, one of the oldest cities in Kosovo, well known for its very old bridge that survived the war of Kosovo. Then to Prekaz, visiting the remains of the house of the legendary Kosovan commander Adem Jeshari, his grave and his family museum. Our final stop was in Prizren, the second largest city in Kosovo. In Prizren we visited Christian, Jewish and Muslim sites and we met with the head of the Catholic community in Kosovo, the head of the Jewish community in Kosovo, and the head of the Halveti Sufi order in the Balkans.

As the days went on, we’d go to the conference in the morning, then go to the meetings that Steven planned for us, meeting some amazing people, gotta thank Steven for that.

But let’s not forget the nights I shared with 10 amazing, cool people, having our own little party, waking each other up in the early morning to sneak out to see snow, sharing our stories, teaching each other some traditional dance moves, getting to know each other’s culture, teaching  the Jews some Arabic (that was the best).

And also the people we met from Kosovo are amazing, wonderful, awesome, super cool. The sweetest ones, they have become chapters in my life.

Goodbye was the worst. I’m going to miss every single person I met and got to know through the trip, I feel this trip needed more days, or it just ended too fast because we were having fun, I’m going to try my best to keep in connected with as many as I can.

The days I have been in Kosovo were one the best days in my life.
I got on a plane with strangers, and we came out as a family.

By Mariam Abdallah