BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – More than 400 Palestinians have been killed since the Israel-Gaza ceasefire agreement took place on October 10th.
While media coverage has declined, many in our region remain committed to following the conflict.
One Vermont group has been meeting monthly since 1991. The Burlington, Bethlehem, Arad Sister City Program gathered on Monday night.
30 years ago, leaders from Arad, Israel, and Bethlehem, Palestine, flew to Burlington, Vermont, to sign into a historic agreement. The three cities decided to become sisters. It was the first-ever tripartite relationship among U.S., Palestinian, and Israeli cities.
“It was very, very contentious before it was formed and after it was formed,” said Burlington resident Frank Donath.
The group’s founders weren’t really looking to make a stir. What they wanted was to learn about different places from people, not their governments.
“In other countries, people are less fortunate. They do not have a government that necessarily represents them. So I think they are more clear-eyed about wanting to work with people. And we sometimes just think about working with the government,” said Essex resident Kristin Peterson-Ishaq.
Sister cities are about promoting international understanding and cooperation. Over the years, they’ve hosted students from Bethlehem and sponsored film screenings and speakers. Now, they’re focusing their efforts on philanthropy. They donate money to a baby hospital in Bethlehem and help fund a holiday party for disabled children there.
“And it’s not doing it for ourselves. It’s really doing it to help,” said the program’s president, Mousa Ishaq.
A lot has changed in the past 30 years. Arad hasn’t communicated with the group in 10 years. The local government there has become increasingly more conservative.
“And we say it’s dormant, we’ll keep working on it, and hopefully the Arad part of the Burlington, Bethlehem, Arad sister city will reactivate in the future,” said Ishaq.
Many at the sister city meeting have been a part of the group for decades. Some are new, but they get treated like old friends.
“My hope is the old hope. Where Christians, Jews, Muslims, it doesn’t matter what your religion is. You live happily ever after,” said Ishaq.
While Burlington’s members hope for this reality abroad, they bring it to life during their meetings in Miller Center on the first Monday of every month. They are looking for new participants.
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