'This Is A Message Of Peace'

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By By John Sharify

Summary

A one of a kind summer camp is bringing young people together in the name of peace.

Story Published: Aug 11, 2003 at 3:07 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 29, 2009 at 12:27 PM PDT

'This Is A Message Of Peace'
SEATTLE - A one of a kind summer camp is bringing young people together in the name of peace.

Jews and Arab children playing together and learning from each other. That's what the Middle East Camp is all about. And it's happening in Seattle.

The themes of the camp include: "Who We Are," "Seeing the World," "Steps to Peace," "The Middle East," and "Conflict Resolution."

"I think the best thing is hanging out with all the kids here," says Noor Wehbe, one of the campers. Noor says it's his second year at the camp, which meets all week from 10 to 3.

"The campers interacted simply as children, not as Arabs and Jews," says Hanady Kader, a counselor from last year. "Their ability to accept each other as 'Omar' and 'Benjamin' rather than 'Omar to Palestinian' and 'Benjamin the Israeli.' "

Bottom line: The campers are learning that they are more the same than they are different.

The camp is sponsored by the Arab Center of Washington, Kadima, and Beyond Borders.

"This is a message of peace. We want everyone else to share in our message of peace," says Beth Mahmoud, one of the organizers of the camp.