GALILEE - Christian and Druze residents of the village of Ma'ar, in the lower Galilee, held a reconciliation meeting Wednesday night – the first such event after a religious riot three months ago.
Senior police officials joined community leaders in attempt to heal the rift between the two sides.
According to those present at the meeting, the atmosphere was pleasant, reflecting a shared hope for better community relations in the future.
“There was a feeling of peace and brotherhood, and we hope that from now on, it’ll take form in action, not just words,” said Elias Suleiman, a Christian representative and member of the reconciliation committee.
Reconciliation committee
The riots that broke out in February have not been forgotten, but residents realized that they had to make an effort to get along.
So with the backing of the police, a Druze-Christian committee chaired by local council head Ziad Dagesh was established.
The committee members said that the main discussion topics covered education and personal security. A community policing program was established, and Christians who fled the village with their families would come back.
Druze sheikh Muwafek Tarif and Abuneh Maher, a Christian priest, declared an official end to the feud.
“We know that the meeting will not bring an end to all the problems, and we Christians still live in fear,” Suleiman said, adding that he hoped that the meeting would be a good first step.
Committee chairman Dagesh, who is Druze, said that he believes that fear no longer rules the streets: “We live together and I feel that things are looking better.”
