Nablus summer camp brings together Muslims Christians Samaritans

[notfullofit]

Date: 26 / 07 / 2008 Time: 16:19

Nablus – Ma'an - "Living Together" was the title of the final festival of a Nablus summer camp held Saturday.

The camp was run as a cooperative project with the Human Rights Association Ansar Al-Insan and the Management Centre for Youth at the Church in the old town of Nablus.

The festival was attended by a number of representatives of governmental institutions, locals and foreigners, in addition to the 70 boys and girls from Christian, Muslim and Samaritan backgrounds. The group partook in joint activities over than two weeks in the summer camp, which focused on improving the talents of the children through peace, love and tolerance.

The head of Ansar Al-Insan and the summer camp said that this year's initiative was the first of its kind in the region. They said that they hope it goes to strengthening dialogue in between religions, and spreads the spirit of tolerance and coexistence. The organizers further stressed that the activities hoped to steer the children away from extremism.

The organizers expressed their gratitude to their institutional partners and all the volunteers who helped run the summer camp and contribute to its success.


http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=30832

[Sanctified]

1. Not sure why people are surprised by this. Christian and Muslim children in Palestine...

go to school together everyday and have no issues.

[notfullofit]

2. No issues, are you kidding? 'Gaza's Christians fear for their lives'

Christians living in Gaza City on Monday appealed to the international community to protect them against increased attacks by Muslim extremists. Many Christians said they were prepared to leave the Gaza Strip as soon as the border crossings are reopened.

The appeal came following a series of attacks on a Christian school and church in Gaza City over the past few days.

Father Manuel Musalam, leader of the small Latin community in the Gaza Strip, said masked gunmen torched and looted the Rosary Sisters School and the Latin Church.

"The masked gunmen used rocket-propelled grenades to storm the main entrances of the school and church," he said. "Then they destroyed almost everything inside, including the Cross, the Holy Book, computers and other equipment."

Musalam expressed outrage over the burning of copies of the Bible, noting that the gunmen destroyed all the Crosses inside the church and school. "Those who did these awful things have no respect for Christian-Muslim relations," he said.

He estimated damages at more than $500,000. "Those who see the destruction will realize how bad this attack was," he said. "Christians have been living in peace and security with Muslims for many years, but those who attacked us are trying to sabotage this relationship."

He said Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas phoned him on Sunday night to express his strong condemnation for the attack. "President Abbas promised that he would do his utmost to prevent such attacks on Christians here," he said.

Fatah officials blamed Hamas militiamen for the attack on the church and school. However, Islam Shahwan, spokesman for Hamas's Executive Force in the Gaza Strip, denied responsibility.

more
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1181813061916&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull