From Hartford to Samaria

Academic notice sent out for Ariel University Center:

הנכם מוזמנים להרצאתו של פרופ' דון אליס "תקשורת דליברטיבית וסכסוך אתנו-פוליטי" במסגרת הסמינר המחלקתי בבית הספר לתקשורת במרכז האוניברסיטאי אריאל.הרצאה תיערך ביום שני הקרוב, 2.4.12, בשעה 11:00 עד 12:30 בחדר 21.1.41 בבניין בית הספר לתקשורתפרופ' אליס הוא מרצה אורח בבית הספר לתקשורת

Prof. Don Ellis

"Deliberative Communication and Ethnopolitical Conflict"

Processes of deliberation are underappreciated for their applicability to ethnopolitical conflicts. In the talk I argue that processes of deliberation based on theories of democratic communication can help conflicting groups make decisions that are moral, engaged, legitimate, and open to change.

 

 

Go, Ariel!

 

P.S.  He's taught there.

 

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Retro Tom Friedman 1987

The Ariel Foundation working on behalf of the "capital of Samaria" has actually fond memories of the New York Times' Tom Friedman:

NY Times: Ariel Journal – One West Bank Plan, Mix Concrete and Yuppies In City of Ariel on March 21, 2012 By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN, Special to the New York Times Published: June 02, 1987

Ron Nachman’s critics call him a one-man obstacle to peace. His neighbors just call him Mayor, friend and ”hey, you.” He calls himself a simple pioneer for the Likud bloc, Israel’s large nationalist party.

Mr. Nachman is the Mayor of one of the fastest-growing Israeli towns in the West Bank. With all the discussion these days about an international peace conference on the Middle East, and Israel’s possibly ceding part of the West Bank to Jordan, Mr. Nachman recently invited an American for a tour and what he called ”a dose of reality.”

Whatever foreigners may think of Mr. Nachman’s version of reality, it is widely shared among the 65,000 Jews [today, there are approximately 350,00 Jews residing in Judea and Samaria] in the West Bank, and it will be widely aired in Israel if an international conference is ever held.

The Mayor began his tour by rolling out huge color aerial photographs of Ariel, in the heart of the West Bank about an hour’s drive north of Jerusalem. Brimming with enthusiasm, his voice constantly had to compete with the din of jackhammers and earthmoving equipment outside his door.

”Do you have any idea how big Ariel is?” asked Mr. Nachman, one of the founders of the nine-year-old town. ”It is 12 kilometers wide,” or about seven and a half miles. ”That is almost the same width of the state of Israel at its narrowest point before the 1967 war. Did anyone ever tell you that?” Plan for 100,000 People

Actually, that 7.5-mile span refers to the total area zoned for Ariel’s projected 100,000 residents. Only the core of it is settled now, with 6,000 Jewish residents, 3,000 of them under 18.

On the eastern boundary, though, a high-tech industrial park is rising, and on the western edge an industrial zone employing several thousand people is already in operation. For now, most of Ariel’s residents work in Tel Aviv.

”Everyone is speaking about an international conference and territorial solutions but they don’t know the reality,” Mr. Nachman said in a voice laced with contempt. ”Abba Eban? He’s never been here. Shimon Peres? I think he was here three years ago. Yitzhak Rabin? I don’t know when he was here last.”

”They have no feel for what is happening here,” he said, hopping into his car for a tour. ”Action, action, action, all the time. Peres can speak and speak and speak, but we do.”

How time flies.

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The Ariel Foundation Report on the Visit of Five US Congressmen

The Inaugural Samaria Summit

SAMARIA, ISRAEL – On November 9th, five Congressmen ventured into otherwise uncharted "territory" by traditional diplomatic delegations to Israel. A strong affinity to Israel and genuine frustration with the repetitive and fatal failures of peace plans and processes drove these American leaders to take a fresh look and Israel's heartland.

The historic visit began with a bus tour led by Mayor Ron Nachman along the Trans-Samaria highway, where the delegates learned about Israel's narrow waist-line, security needs and strategic provisions. At the Ariel and Barkan Industrial Parks Mayor Nachman discussed co-existence...Mayor Nachman also showed the group the layout of the Ariel Bloc of communities, and the short distance from the Tel Aviv Coastal Plain...the group proceeded to the Ariel Regional Center for the Performing Arts, where they enjoyed a private performance by Ariel's young singers and internationally renowned dancers.

...Rep. Randy Forbes (R -VA-4th) addressed the Summit by stating his unwavering support for Israel's peace and security. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO-5th) discussed Israel's inherent value and the commitment of the Congressional Republican Israel Caucus and the Israel Allies Caucus which he co-chairs. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX-1st), who is known for his instrumental role in arranging for Prime Minister to deliver his acclaimed speech to both houses of Congress in May, 2011, explained how Israel cannot sacrifice its own security by relinquishing land to those who are committed to its destruction. They were joined by Congressman John Fleming (R-LA-4th) and Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH-4th), who shared the sentiments of their colleagues. They were accompanied by Ruth Lieberman and Enia Krivine of the International Israel Allies Caucus during their stay in Israel.

The travels through Samaria included a stop at Joseph's Tomb Overlook...[David] Ha'Ivri introduced the delegates to Rabbi Eliezer Melamed. The congressmen were pleasantly surprised to discover that Rabbi Melamed had recently publicized an article which encourages Israelis to be welcoming rather than suspicious of Christians who choose to support Israel. The group then proceeded to the vineyards in the community of Har Bracha, where they met with the Director of the Samaria Regional Council Gershon Mesika. Tommy Waller and the Christian volunteers from across the US who accompany him in the fields of Samaria greeted the group with some of their original music.

Next was a visit to the site of the Tabernacle in Shiloh where the delegation was guided by Eve Harow. They then proceeded to dinner at the Psagot Winery. Yesha Council CEO Naftali Bennet delivered concluding remarks following the previous day's visit to Gush Etzion and their short stay in Samaria...

The 2011 Congressional Initiative was arranged by our dear friend Heather Johnston of the JH Ranch and the Ariel National leadership Development Center, who identified the need for America's leading Congressmen to become familiar with Judea and Samaria and develop ties with Members of Knesset. Each of the delegates was thoroughly appreciative of this groundbreaking educational experience.

My post at the time.

Report of the Jerusalem Post.

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New JPost Blog Post on Ariel Boycott

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Here it is.



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Do We Call This Hypocrisy?

The Left here in Israel, among its many complaints, has pointed out that, on occasion, maps printed either by nationalist groups or even the government, have ignored the geographical presence of Arabs on those maps.

In most cases that I recall, the complaint is just that - really unsubstantiated. Usually, the maps are for a sepcific purpose - to show the way or to highlight Jewish population growth or some such other instance.

For example, here's a map that could be complained about:



All of Israel and most of Samaria are empty of any villages or towns, Jewish or othwerwise.

But, of course, that's because the map wants to highlight Ariel, to highlight it as a "settlement".

Why?

Because its a Peace Now map, published as part of an ad in Haaretz on June 4th.

Here's the bottom portion of it:



Because it's a Peace Now ad against President Shimon Peres visiting the town and it reads:

"Mr. Peres, you've taken a wrong turn. Ariel is a 'settlement'."