The boys from Egypt arrived in New York City on Tuesday, the ones from Jordan on Wednesday and the Palestinians and Israelis on Thursday. There are 50 boys in all, and they will spend more than two weeks in the United States getting to know each other. They will return to their countries on Sept. 8, perhaps with a stronger belief that Arabs and Jews can live together in peace.
Their trip is being organized by JOHN WALLACH, a journalist and an author who founded a nonprofit organization called Seeds of Peace. Donations are covering all expenses.
The boys, who are 11 to 14 years old, were introduced to pizza last night, and today they are to join Terry Anderson, the former hostage, at Gracie Mansion, where Mayor David N. Dinkins is to receive the first Seeds of Peace Award.
On Sunday, the boys will begin a two-week stay at a camp in Maine. Then it’s off to visit the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court.
“I want these young men to have the best time they can possibly have,” Mr. Wallach said. “Bringing the next generation together before they have been poisoned by the hostility of their own region is the only hope for the future.”
Mr. Wallach said that PRESIDENT CLINTON sent a message of support, calling the Seeds of Peace program a “promising beginning.”
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