Seeds of Peace

Lead both sides

Response by Asel to a letter from an Arab-Israeli Seed feeling confused about her identity and caught between the two sides. Dear Reem, When God first created his planet, and I have no doubt that He did, we can see that He never created it with borders, He never used checkpoints between countries, and I don't remember him giving us passports or ID's so we will be able to move freely. This planet was a free place, but time came along and things changed, things happened... who knew that things will turn up this way or the other? We all walk blind in journey of life, we put our lives in the hands of others, as they did theirs. As an Arab Israeli, simple questions like "Where do you come from?" and "where do you live?" are the same questions that build homes and countries. An Arab Israeli would be one of those people who will try to avoid this kind of question. A friend of mine was looking for an answer to the same question. Her name is Reem. Reem, as much as you want to face this kind of questions, you will never get there. You are between worlds, as you said. I don't agree that you are "caught". That looks like you don't want to be there, like these two worlds are leading you. You put your life in other people's hands once again, you are asked to walk in a way that you didn't choose. No one chose to be Chinese, Israeli, or Palestinian, we are just born like that. You will always be who you are. I'm an Israeli? So how come the word Arab is still there? I can never take the word Israeli off my passport, or the word Arab, which I feel proud of every time I hear it. We can't change what we are, but we can change the way that we live in already, we can take our lives in our hands once again, we can move from a position of a viewer of this game to a player. We are no more asked to watch; we can make a change. We don't have to be caught; we can lead these two worlds, and still keep everything we had. The Arabic Fairuz records will always be there wherever you are. As well as the Hebrew Shalom Haver. We are not asked to forget everything, we are just asked to deal with them differently. When your voice becomes a voice of a leader no one will care for your ID. You will be able to lead a place where an ID isn't needed, as well as passports or checkpoints. A friend once told me, "Out beyond ideas of right-doing and wrong-doing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Well Reem, I hope I will meet you there someday. Don't bring any thing with you, because you won't need it.

Seeds Tributes

From the first minute that Asel got there, we split up into beds in Bunk 17. There was a nickname by each bed, and he immediately loved the name Slider. He fit right in, was friends with all, and was a dominant and central player in the 17 bad Seeds. One of the biggest things I remember was in 1998, when we did something wrong to the neighboring bunk, I don’t remember exactly what. It was me, George, Adham and Asel. Jerry took us aside, and gave us a talk: “You know, guys, you’re older now, it’s your second year, we brought you back to camp to be a leader for everyone. I know you’re from Bunk 17 and it’s a tradition, but you guys are supposed to be mature! You are supposed to set an example!” So Asel said “Look at us, Jerry. We’re an Israeli Jew, 2 Palestinians, and an Arab-Israeli, and we’re all working together to screw the bunk next door—isn’t that the best what Seeds of Peace is all about?” - Eddy, Holon The most special times were the times we would spend together illegally after lights were supposed to be out and after George and Shpitz finished up their little row. I was bursting with questions to ask Asel and little by little, he revealed to me much of his heart and soul. He was a thinker, I could see it in him. Asel was going to make something big of himself, if only he was given the chance. The string of crisp nights that we shared in Maine formed a chain that Asel and I would carry around our necks forever. That summer was not the end. He visited me in my home, and I in his. We both became a part of each other's families. - Sa'ad, Amman I knew almost everything about camp before I got there. He said, “You are strong enough to do it.” After this talk I was convinced that I am going to have the time of my life in Seeds of Peace—and I did! Asel loved everything that has a connection to Seeds of Peace. Before the second time that I went to camp, I called Asel in order to say goodbye. Asel told me, “Last year you were changed. Now it is your duty to change other people.” When I came back from, I called him and told him what kind of summer I had. He told me a sentence I won’t forget: “I knew you are strong enough to handle it.” - Naema, Deir Hanna Asel did not become a symbol when he died in the woods of Arabeh wearing a Seeds of Peace t-shirt. Asel became our symbol when he lived in the woods of Maine wearing a Seeds of Peace t-shirt. We all knew it then, and we hope not to have spared it from him. He knew how much we loved him. Not for what he represented, a conflicted creation torn between two identities. But for what he was. Asel was great, simply great. You know when God makes these people whom you just cannot dislike? Asel was one of them. Everybody liked him, everybody still does. God created Asel and threw away the mold. Asel was one of a kind. - Shira, Herziya I will always remember you Asel for being the most courageous and faithful one I have known or will ever know. - Malak, Cairo Asel was a great person. I learned from him how to be so proud of who I am, that I should never be confused about my nationality, that I might live in Israel but that I am a true Palestinian. - Lana, Tira Just over a month ago I (we) saw Asel in the talent show. I remember he asked me how it's going in Norway, and he made me laugh with his funny jokes. I have no words to express how I feel right now, no words. It is so easy to give in, and let our rivals win, but I think we all know what Asel would have wanted. His death really proves to me that bullets do not discriminate. - Noa, Jerusalem We promise you that we will keep ourselves safe, and carefully continue what you started for all of us. We promise you Asel. That NO matter what, one day our dream will become true. So please my friends everywhere be careful and safe to help me keep my promise to our beloved friend Asel. - Fadi, Hebron A Seed was killed. In shock, in grief, in more pain than I can bear, I carry this knowledge. I hear it, I read it, I know it, I slowly comprehend it and I ask -- how could this be? How is it possible? What has the world come to if a Seed was killed?!?! And I get no answers, because there are none. - Karen, Netanya I will always love you and remember the great time we had together. I will keep this pain deeply in my heart and teach all the generations what it means. - Nidaa, Arrabeh Being a member of the very first Egyptian delegation of Seeds of Peace back in 1993, I never met Asel. Although I never met him, when I found out about his tragic death, I could not help the sorrow that overcame me. I felt the room I was suddenly in go cold, and my body shiver. The knowledge that a bright young life has been snuffed out in such a horrible manner is simply something that no one who has human feelings can ignore. - Ramy, Cairo I remember how energetic Asel was...I remember him a lot from camp in 1998...I remember his smile...I remember him on my group in treasure hunt, just how eager he was to be first...I remember how disappointed he was when the blue team lost...I remember how he took care of everything at the canoe trip...I remember how mature he was but sometimes also childish...I remember so many things from him...It's very hard to talk about someone you love in past tense, but Asel will always be here with us. - Liat, Jerusalem The Way Asel Tried This was a speech delivered in honor of Asel during the fall of 2000 PEACE. In the past few days this word has been emptied of its meaning, and was reborn in many different shapes and forms countless times. Between all the contradicting realities that have been flooding us lately—us-them—only one total objective truth remains: the dead. They say that every person has a name, but what my eyes discovered during the past few weeks is that most of the dead do not have names. They are just statistical figures—numbers that gradually swell, lacking identity. One of them had a name. Asel Asleh. And he had a home, Arrabah. And he had parents, and two sisters, and a brother. And he had a world, rich and incredible. A world where he tried, during the past three years with the structure of Seeds of Peace. There we try to create trust, understanding and tranquility within all this madness—to create tranquility. To create comradeship. To create peace. A world where he was a dynamic and charismatic figure, loaded with friends. Active, and brilliant. He worked, created, lived, and breathed peace. It is important for me to emphasize—due to the fact that in recent times every death had a reason, or excuse, or legitimization—that Asel did not behave in any violent manner. Many eye witnesses—those who threw stones and those who did not—testified over and over that Asel did not throw a stone—not even once—or act in any other violent way. That was the Asel that I knew. Who raised his voice only for a friendly shout. Who would not harm me because I am a girl. Who is not here now. Asel did not die because of a stray bullet in a confused mob. He was beaten, chased, and shot from short range. Above this sea of dead—lacking a names and faces—raise voices that claim that we do not have a partner. That the peace process is dead. If this is the end—where do we go now. What is the alternative? That more young and brilliant people, like Asel, who were capable of contributing so much to our region, will die? No one promised that this peace will be easy, or lack obstacles, or that we have even passed the most difficult stage. No one from our nations is going anywhere. No one is running away. No one will be removed. The opportunity to choose is in our hands. We are able to choose a verdict of eternal death and to fight one another until the end of time, with the understanding that the end of one is bound with the end of the other, or we can try. Maybe there really is no trust. Maybe there really is no partner. Maybe we will not succeed. But we have no choice but to try, and to try, and not to stop until we will succeed. Simply because giving up means giving up a better life. In a certain notion, peace is like free-falling, there are no guarantees, but even a freefall is preferred over an open-eyed march into the abyss. Lately, many people speak in the name of the dead, interpreting their actions and thoughts in one direction or another, for peace or against peace. I cannot speak in Asel’s name. I just know that in the duration of the past three years of his life he worked for and tried to create for himself a safe place, a better place, for my future children, for his future home, for his future life. Asel will no longer have this future. We can still have it. Please, lets try… - Netta, Haifa I was sitting along in my room, reading mail and newspaper articles and saw your photo. I never had the opportunity and the privilege to get to know you. I have no words to express what I felt when I read those letters. You achieved the goal, and the generations and the ones that are left must try to understand what you understood and try to do something that you wanted but didn't have the time to do. - Mirkica, Skopje I can't belive it. I simply can't believe it. Asel was one of the best Seeds, and most amazing all around people I have ever met. I just talked to him when I was in Israel this summer. How can something like this happen to someone so good? - Elli, Seattle You have been a great friend, and a great person. I love you and I will never stop missing you! You have been a role model to me in camp and in life, and you will always be. - Dina, Afula When we talked about the peace process, he was 100% with peace. He thinks we can do it: live together in peace -- Palestinians, Israelis, and Arabs. It is difficult to try to sum up Asel. I know Asel had many friends from different countries. He didn't look at Israelis and Palestinians as Israelis and Palestinians. He looked at them as human beings, like him. - Nizar, Gaza Let's remember him and continue to be what he was all about - a good person who wanted peace. - Mustafa, New York