Search for Common Ground has announced the recipients of this year’s annual Eliav-Sartawi Awards for Middle Eastern Journalism. These Awards are given annually to recognize and encourage journalism that contributes to better understanding between people in the Middle East. The winning articles provide insight into regional issues and debates, contribute to political dialogue, expose readers to new perspectives and help to lay the groundwork for peaceful solutions to Middle Eastern conflict.

The Awards are named after two courageous pioneers of the Palestinian-Israeli dialogue. Dr. Issam Sartawi, recognized internationally, culminating in him being awarded the Kreisky Prize of Austria in 1979. He was assassinated in April 1983 in a hotel lobby in Lisbon, Portugal while participating in the building of the peace process. The Centre for the Advancement of Peace and Democracy at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem is named after Dr. Sartawi.

Lova Eliav was active in Israeli politics and diplomacy since the founding of the state. A member of the Knesset from 1965 - 1979 and again from 1988 - 1992, Eliav served as Secretary-General of the Labor Party in the early 1970s, a position he lost after calling for negotiations with the Palestinians. He also received the Kreisky Prize of Austria in 1979 for his efforts.
The awards were conceived and funded by J. Zel Lurie, veteran American journalist, Columbia J39, who began his journalist career in 1933 as the Palestine Post’s first reporter. Mr. Lurie sought to give recognition to journalists whose work promotes greater understanding between Arabs and Israelis.[source]

This year’s winning articles are:

A plea for peace from a bereaved Palestinian father by Bassam Aramin

“I will not rest until the soldier responsible for my daughter’s death is put on trial and made to face what he has done. I will see to it that the world does not forget my daughter, my lovely Abir,” writes Bassam Aramin. “But I will not seek vengeance. No, I will continue the work I have undertaken with my Israeli brothers. I will fight with all I have within me to see that Abir’s name, Abir’s blood, becomes the bridge that finally closes the gap between us, the bridge that allows Israelis and Palestinians to finally, inshallah, live in peace.” (Source: Forward, 9 February 2007)

How many Abirs will it take in order for us to live in peace, I wonder?!

When will it all end? by Gershon Baskin

“No one is leaving this land and no one will succeed in forcing the other to leave. We all know it. The entire world knows it. We have accepted to divide the land. They too have accepted it,” writes Gershon Baskin. “How do we convince them that we really want peace, how do they convince us? How do we both put an end to all of the sorrow and pain? How do we each acknowledge the pain and sorrow of the other side? Perhaps only when we will celebrate each others freedom.” (Source: The Jerusalem Post, 24 April 2007)

The question then becomes, will we exactly learn to celebrate each others freedom?!

Reaching across the divide (I) by Salameh Nematt

In an unprecedented event, two of the Middle East’s most respected journalists, Salameh Nematt, an Arab, and Akiva Eldar, an Israeli, exchange heartfelt letters. This exchange, commissioned by the Common Ground News Service (CGNews), appeared simultaneously on December 26 in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the Palestinian newspaper Al Quds and the American newspaper Baltimore Sun. (Source: Common Ground News Service (CGNews), 26 December 2006)

Check out the rest of the exchange…which definitely may not be new to some of you:

Reaching across the divide (II) by Akiva Eldar
Reaching across the divide (III) by Akiva Eldar
Reaching across the divide (IV) by Salameh Nematt
Reaching across the divide (V) by Salameh Nematt
Reaching across the divide (VI) by Akiva Eldar
Reaching across the divide (VII) by Salameh Nematt
Reaching across the divide (VIII) by Akiva Eldar
Reaching across the divide (IX) by Akiva Eldar
Reaching across the divide (X) by Salameh Nematt