Issue 4

 Nazli Kamvari
 Biology student at the University of Toronto

An Israeli and a Palestinian became friends last year in a class taught by political science professor Saeed Rahnema called "War and Peace in the Middle East".

Hina Khan and Miriam Yosowich were encouraged by Rahnema to extent their friendship and work with other members of the two community at York University. Shalom-Salam grows out from this class to be an official student group at York with over 100 members. The Idea of peaceful dialog between Pro-Palestinian and Pro- Israeli scholars has been around for a long time. Edward Said, Palestinian author of Orientalism, was a friend of Daniel Barenboim, the famous Israeli Musician. Together they co-founded the "East-West Diwan", a group that created awareness on a peaceful ground for co-existence and dialog. Participants of this group were young Palestinian, and Israeli musicians along with other members of the Arab community.

Shalom-Salam is organized with the same goal:  The aim is to facilitate discussion between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian members of the York community to achieve a more positive relationship, a less intimidating atmosphere, and an environment conducive to learning, says Ali Manavipour, an Iranian member of the group.

The group has two co-presidents Hina Khan and Miriam Yosowich and is led by an executive committee where pro-Palestinian and pro-Israelis individuals are equally represented. Shalom-Salam welcomes all students with positive and peaceful ideas for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; despite their differences in ethno-religious, political, and social backgrounds members of the group seems to be optimally working together.

Shalom-Salam had its first event this year on Jan 21st under the title of "Peace Is Possible". The keynote speakers were former Middle East diplomat and scholar Michael Bell and Professor Saeed Rahnema. Messages of solidarity and support were sent to this event: "Hillel of the greater Toronto, Muslim Action Network, Islamic Diaspora Research Project, Middle Eastern Re-consolidation Forum, Middle Eastern Student Association, Young Zionist Partnership, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, Center for Jewish Studies at York, and Iranian Students at University of Toronto, York and Ryerson were among the supporting groups" Ali Manavipour explains. Over 300 people attended the event and at the end the evening ended when guests enjoyed Halal and Kosher meals made by the students. Ali Manavipour explained that the groups website is under construction and it will be launched in a few weeks.