Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam (Oasis of Peace)

The citizens of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam exemplify a pattern of cooperation and working together, which, if widely replicated in the area, could enhance the safety and security of all who live there.

The American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam (NSWAS) are currently advocating for NSWAS to be included as one of Congress's recommended Reconciliation Programs to receive funding in Fiscal Year 2007. The Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2006 (H.R. 3057), Section 568 (Reconciliation Programs), makes available $15,000,000 "to support reconciliation programs and activities, which bring together individuals of different ethnic, religious and political backgrounds from areas of civil conflict and war." This funding has been increased by $3,000,000 since 2005.

The American Friends of Neve Shalom estimate that up to $300,000 could be available through a Department of State grant. They see the money being used in two ways:

1) half ($150,000) to provide annual scholarships to some of the 300 children on the waiting list for the primary school (at $850 per pupil), and

2) the other half to finance the School of Peace training workshops in conflict management. These cost $12,500 per workshop.

The subcommittee that selects the groups for an approved list from which the State Department makes its grants is the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. Jim Kolbe (R), U.S. Representative from Arizona's 8th Congressional District, chairs the subcommittee. Nita Lowey (D), New York's 18th Congressional District, is the ranking minority member. John Carter (R), representing the 31st CD of Texas (Georgetown) serves on this committee as the only Texan. Henry Bonilla (R) of the 23rd CD in the San Antonio area is a member of the Appropriations Committee.

The nine groups that were recommended by the Foreign Operations subcommittee for Fiscal Year 2006 were Seeds of Peace, Jerusalem International YMCA, Interns for Peace, Foundation for Environmental Security and Sustainability, roots of Peace, Aravra Institute, Peacemaking Circle, Project Circle and Cooperation, and Interfaith Dialogue.

We ask you to communicate with your U.S. Representative, requesting your Representative to contact the leaders of the Foreign Operations subcommittee (Kilbe or Lowey), asking them to support the Middle East people-to-people co-existence programs focused on the Israeli-Arab conflict, and to include Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam as a recommended reconciliation organization in the FY07 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. A sample letter is provided.

Web sites: Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam

American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam

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