BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – More than 400 Palestinians have been killed since the Israel-Gaza ceasefire agreement took place on October 10th. <\/p>\n
While media coverage has declined, many in our region remain committed to following the conflict. <\/p>\n
One Vermont group has been meeting monthly since 1991. The Burlington, Bethlehem, Arad Sister City Program gathered on Monday night. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was very, very contentious before it was formed and after it was formed,\u201d said Burlington resident Frank Donath.<\/p>\n
The group\u2019s founders weren\u2019t really looking to make a stir. What they wanted was to learn about different places from people, not their governments. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn 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,\u201d said Essex resident Kristin Peterson-Ishaq.<\/p>\n
Sister cities are about promoting international understanding and cooperation. Over the years, they\u2019ve hosted students from Bethlehem and sponsored film screenings and speakers. Now, they\u2019re focusing their efforts on philanthropy. They donate money to a baby hospital in Bethlehem and help fund a holiday party for disabled children there. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s not doing it for ourselves. It\u2019s really doing it to help,\u201d said the program\u2019s president, Mousa Ishaq.<\/p>\n
A lot has changed in the past 30 years. Arad hasn\u2019t communicated with the group in 10 years. The local government there has become increasingly more conservative. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we say it\u2019s dormant, we\u2019ll keep working on it, and hopefully the Arad part of the Burlington, Bethlehem, Arad sister city will reactivate in the future,\u201d said Ishaq.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy hope is the old hope. Where Christians, Jews, Muslims, it doesn\u2019t matter what your religion is. You live happily ever after,\u201d said Ishaq.<\/p>\n
While Burlington\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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