Notable Quotes

What others say about Neve Shalom / Wahat al Salam

Ronit Tirosh, director of Israeli Education Ministry (visit, January 2002):

The school works towards the aim of nurturing the personal, national and cultural identity of both peoples. The students conduct educational and cultural dialogues with no regard to the difference between them.

I saw students and educators, who are trying to find, through this encounter, what they commonly share. Let us pray that perhaps from you will come out the message of peace and serenity between the two peoples.

Shimon Peres, Former Prime Minister (during a visit to the village):

"To Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam - a special place in Israel; an island of peace that will create a continent of peace.”

Faisal al-Husseini (1940-2001), Palestinian leader:

"I would like to see the moment when there would be such a thing not only between the Palestinians and the Israelis, but between all the people in the Middle East.”

Hillary Rodham Clinton (during a visit to the village):

"Thank you for sharing your commitment to peace with us and may God bless your work.”

Farid Wajdi Tabari, Member of Moslem Supreme Court:

"I feel spiritually uplifted to see how much Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam has done to promote true coexistence between the various communities of our beloved country.”

Zalman Shoval, Israel Ambassador to Washington:

“The government of Israel appreciates the fine work of this unique village and believes it is making a contribution to “grass roots” mutual understanding between Jewish and Arab Israelis and peace.”

Martin Indyk, US Ambassador (during a visit to the village):

“Your work is vital to the future of Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab world. You are an inspiration to us all because you give us the hope to strive for peace. Never give up.”

Teddy Kollek, Former Mayor of Jerusalem:

"An example of what can be done to bring the two communities closer together.”

Anton Shammas, Palestinian writer:

"It is always risky to be lured by metaphors, especially in the Middle East, but those who live in this "Oasis of Peace" have managed to achieve the impossible: by refusing to be lured, they have concretized a metaphor. We, who are still wandering in the desert, envy them.”

Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Laureate:

"When Jews and Arabs get together, work together, live together, they create their own miracle: Neve Shalom is such a miracle it deserves our warmest support, for it justifies our highest hopes.”

Taher Ben Jalun, Moroccan-French writer:

"Neve Shalom: the beginning of acquaintance and dialogue. An example and a symbol for the future; for the future of the Palestinian people in its struggle for justice and living in peace and dignity; for the future of the Israeli people, which should accept to live along side the Palestinian people in a framework of justice and mutual respect."

Chaim Herzog, Former President (during a visit to the village):

"There is no alternative, except the situation in my birthplace in Belfast, to living together in peace.”

Samuel W. Lewis, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel:

"Puts into practice the basic fact that Arabs and Jews can live and work and study together in harmony. Neve Shalom deserves the support of all of us who long for and work for peace in the Middle East.”

Shlomo Lahat, Former Mayor of Tel Aviv (in a letter):

"In our day to day lives we are full of hearing fine talk of values and ideals. On the other hand, we have been hungry in recent years for real pioneering activity - such is your work. I have yet to fully absorb the deep experience that I underwent in my visit to your community last week. It is not often that I come across people whose activities are so worthy of admiration.”