Jewish, Arab teens use acting skills as way to promote Mideast peace

Published: 2004-06-10

JERUSALEM (CNS)---Yousef Hamdan burst into the dressing room where a group of Jewish and Arab girls were finishing their makeup. "They are here. The whole school, all my friends are here," he said. "My heart is thumping so hard." The girls squeal and there is a rush of excitement in the room as more boys -- Arabs and Jews -- rush to report on the arrival of their classmates at the Jerusalem International YMCA's auditorium. After a year of meetings and rehearsals, Hamdan, 18, along with 14 Jewish and Arab amateur actors, will perform live for the first time an original play they created based on their meetings and discussions. The theme of the play is coexistence. "At first I thought all Jews hate Arabs but now I see ... we can get along with them," Hamdan said. "I am representing all today -- all Arabs -- to build a relationship between Arabs and Jews. At first I didn't dare say anything but now I am able to say things. It's like there was something inside of me and I was able to let it all come out," he said.

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