Last month, LinkTV introduced a new blog on its Web site, Eye 2 Eye. Eye 2 Eye aims at opening pathways of diablogue (dialogue + blog) between Muslims and Jews. Rather than the concept of "Eye 4 an Eye", LinkTV chose "Eye 2 Eye" as a way to directly talk about the important issues that unite us and divide faith communities.
Link TV’s Web site describes Eye 2 Eye as, "Two people who work together and happen to be a Muslim (Souheila) and a Jew (David). Both have their roots in the Middle East. Both want to see a lasting peace in the region. Both are willing to talk to one another and to the world about all the misrepresentations and difficult issues that surround Jewish-Muslim relations. Walls of division, suspicion, hatred and fear have been created over the last decades. This is an attempt to bring down those walls."
The posts typically look like an penpal-type exchange between Souhelia al Jadda, Producer and David Michaelis, Senior Editor, Current Affairs, starting with the appropriate salutation "Dear David" or "Dear Souhelia." Both include anecdotes from their own lives when commenting on important issues.
David poses a question to Souheila about the relationship between Syria and Israel,
"These 2 countries had an off and on dialogue for years. But they never made it to the final stage. It seems so easy actually, because compared to the Palestinian complex this is a no brainer. See www.jpost.com of today.
I have been to the Golan Heights and its clear that the return of this land can be part of a new trust and agreement between the 2 countries. I think that the people in both countries would welcome it. As you visit Syria every summer, wondered what your take on this is? Can Syria with the help of Turkey or the USA take a new direction?"
And Souhelia responds,
"I interviewed the Syrian ambassador to the US a couple years ago for an article. He expressed his country's great desire to have talks with the U.S. and make peace with Israel. So I think that the desire is there and has always been there. Official public statements also indicate this. But of course, the Syrian position has always been clear on the Golan Heights, Damascus wants it all back. The two countries were close to making a deal not too long ago. But the environment was ripe. Today, the Israeli leadership has changed so dramatically that I wonder if Israel is ready for peace?"
Read David and Souhelia’s conversation at http://www.linktv.org/eye2eye/blog
Posted April 27, 2009
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