Israel-Arab coexistence became a reality here today at least on the individual and unofficial level, at the second Mediterranean Colloquium now being held here with the participation of some 200 delegates from several Mediterranean countries, including Israel and the United Arab Republic.
Main speakers at the Colloquium included Professor Martin Buber of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and George Henein of the U.A.R. Giorgio Lapira, who is presiding at the conference, expressed satisfaction over the large number of Israeli Arabs participating.
Rustum Bastuni, a prominent leader of the Arab community in Israel, addressing the parley, stressed the importance of cooperation between the state and local organizations and described the work done by Israel’s Ministry of Development in teaching modern agricultural techniques to the country’s Beduins. He advocated that similar initiatives be undertaken by other countries in the region in a spirit of cooperation.
Professor Martin Buber stressed the difference between real peace and the present state of international affairs, which, he said, is merely an interval between two wars. Real peace, Professor Buber declared, is the result of common work by men living in the same territory. Egyptian writer Wilna Mogazi cited the Arab-Jewish-Christian historical contribution to Alexandrine civilization. He endorsed Professor Buber’s definition of real peace.
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