For the passing of John Bunzl

It is with deep sorrow that we got the sad news about the passing away of John Bunzl on March 23rd 2022. With John, we have lost a long-standing, dear and loyal friend of Neve Shalom Wahat al Salam in Austria. John was engaged for Neve Shalom Wahat al Salam (NSWAS) from its early beginning, already during the seventies and eighties, during a time when it was making a dream come true and become reality. John was a door opener for Neve Shalom Wahat al Salam in Vienna and Austria. By himself and together with his lifelong Egyptian Friend, Prof. Adel el Sayed from Innsbruck he initiated many activities throughout Austria to get support for NSWAS and to demonstrate how our model of peaceful living together of the two nationalities, the Jews and the Palestinians, was and still is possible.

Through him Neve Shalom Wahat al Salam received the urgently needed support since its early phase. Everywhere he went he talked about NSWAS. He was a strong believer in our model for a just and secure living together of the two people in Israel/Palestine. It was with the help of his recommendation that in 1987 we received the renominated Kreisky prize and got the opportunity to present our model of peaceful and just coexistence at the UN.

Even though we always knew how much he engaged himself for us he always did everything in his matter of fact, humble and modest way which gave us the feeling that he is an integral part of our project.

It hurts, dear Johnny, that you are no longer with us. We will miss your gentleness, kindness and uncompromising sense of justice. Most of all, we will miss your friendship.

May your memory be blessed! יהיה זכרו ברוך!
Allah jirchamu! الله يرحموا

Articles:

https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000134332438/john-bunzl-19452022

https://kurier.at/politik/inland/nahost-experte-john-bunzl-gestorben/401947909

https://science.apa.at/power-search/1347795394941296639