Conference seeks to build understanding among Holy Land residents

Published: 2004-06-02

NEVE SHALOM-WAHAT AL-SALAM, Israel (CNS) -- For Ahmed, a tall, lanky Palestinian Muslim from Nablus, the May 20-22 interfaith conference sponsored by the Interfaith Encounter Association was the first time he came face to face with Israelis who were not members of the military. For Sophie Ghanem, a Catholic from the West Bank, the conference was an opportunity to learn more about Judaism and Islam. For the Jewish participants, the conference provided a chance to learn about Islam in a nonthreatening environment. "Before I only met soldiers; they don't talk to you and if they do talk they hit you and ask you where you are from," said Ahmed, 23, who came to the conference with a group of nine young Palestinians from the Nablus Youth Federation. "Here you can see a future. We talk of religion, not politics," said Ahmed, a university student studying computer technology.

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