Headline – The Billboard from Bethlehem / Patriots in Palestine

Memorial Day Weekend 2007:  Connecticut natives Bruce Barrett and artist Russell Rainbolt and dozens of Israeli and Palestinian children in occupied Palestine have joined forces with former Israeli soldiers and former Palestinian armed resisters called "The Combatants for Peace" to paint two giant 48-foot long Peace murals in the West Bank of occupied Palestine. The signs will be received at religious services in the West Bank and Israel shipped to the United States, received at a Connecticut mosque, a synagogue, and a church, and posted on Connecticut Interstate I-95 and RT 84.  The participants say they are supporting the troops by working for peace.

Datelines –

In the U.S.: Connecticut natives Bruce A. Barrett, I Wage Peace . Org, and partner at Barrett Outdoor Communications Inc, and Connecticut Artist Russell Rainbolt.  Rabbi Herbert Brockman, Temple Mishkan Israel, Dr. Ali Antar, President of the Berlin Mosque, Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin, Woodmont United Church of Christ.

In the West Bank: Sulaimn Al Hamri, Fatah Party Member and Palestinian Foreign Relations Coordinator, Combatants for Peace (C4P);  Avner Wishnitzer, Israeli foreign relations coordinator for C4P, Israeli and Palestinian children living in Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the West Bank.

Note:  The children painting the signs with the Combatants for Peace consist of family members, orphans of combatants and martyrs, and those learning non-violence at various schools and peacemaking programs in the Holy Land.

What:  The signs depict an Israeli and a Palestinian throwing down their guns and reaching out to shake hands while their approving children watch every move they make.  As their violent weapons are thrown aside, the caption reads “Make Peace: end the occupation”.  The completed signs will be received at Jewish, Muslim, and Christian services, and then posted on I-95 and RT 84. 

Why:  The combatants, consisting of former Israeli Soldiers and former Palestinian Armed resisters are dramatizing the need to break the cycle of violence, end the occupation, and resume a constructive dialog. 

Where:  Painting will take place at 3:00 P.M. at the Everest Hotel, Beit Jala, Bethlehem on the West Bank.  United States services will take place on Friday, June 8th at 1:00 P.M. at the Berlin Mosque, Berlin CT, on Friday, June 8th at Congregation Mishkan Israel, Hamden CT, at 8:00 P.M., and at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday June 10th, at Woodmont UCC, Milford CT  The public and press are encouraged to attend any and all of these services. Proper atire is required.

Background Information - The "Combatants for Peace" movement was started jointly by Palestinians and Israelis, who have taken an active part in the cycle of violence; Israelis as soldiers in the Israeli army (IDF) and Palestinians as part of the violent struggle for Palestinian freedom. After brandishing weapons for so many years, and having seen one another only through weapon sights, they have decided to put down their guns, and to fight for peace.  Their web site is www.CombatantsforPeace.Org

www.IWagePeace.Org is a non-for profit Connecticut organization dedicated to inspiring active Peace Making through education, creative advertising, information distribution, and links to world-class peace making organization.

Sulaiman Al Hamri is a founder of Combatants for Peace.  He is a member of the Fatah party in the Bethlehem district.  As a youth growing up in Bethlehem, he became attracted to groups advocating the violent overthrow of the Israeli presence in the occupied territories.  He has spent time in Israeli prisons for his activity.  He is now an advocate of Non-violent action.  He has a Masters in American studies; specializing in the Impact of American Interest Groups on policy makers.  He is the founder and leader of the Joint Activities Committee which was started in 2001, then became one of the founders of Combatants for Peace.  He has been to the United States several times; his last visit was sponsored by the Jewish organization Brit Tzadek V Shalom and included a 5 week speaking tour in more than 24 cites including New Haven and Orange Connecticut.  He has participated in several activities in Europe and in Palestine.
Sulaiman says “please google my name, Sulaiman al Hamri, you will
find many articles in different languages, most of them are great and good, very few of them are full of hate and discrimination.  We are not prophets but we are trying to do something in order to have forgiveness for our bad behaviors.”

Avner Wishnitzer is the Israeli foreign relations coordinator for CFP. A student of Ottoman history he is currently writing his PhD dissertation. He served in one of the elite units in the IDF for nearly three and a half years in Sayeret Matkal.  After finishing his regular service he continued in reserve service in the same unit on a regular basis.  His experiences as a combatant led him to publicly refuse to serve in the occupied territories with 12 other reserve combatants from his unit. Together, they issued a public letter to the Israeli prime minister causing a huge turmoil that lead to his dismissal from his unit.  As part of his continued struggle for a just solution to the conflict, Avner established contact with a group of ex-militants from the Jerusalem area and started to meet with them on a regular basis. The meetings gradually lead to the foundation of CFP.   In his own words “I see myself as a Patriot, and it is for this reason that I take part in the struggle for a better future. I am active in CFP for the very same reasons I volunteered to Sayeret Matkal 12 years ago. I believe that the end of occupation is not only a Palestinian interest; it is an Israeli interest too. It is this belief that I wish to promote through the non-violent activity of CFP.”

Bruce Barrett is co-owner with his brother John of Barrett Outdoor Communications Inc. in West Haven CT and founder and editor of www.IWagePeace.Org  Bruce is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University with a B.S. in Applied History and Industrial Management.  He is a member of Woodmont United Church of Christ in Milford Connecticut, and recipient of the 2006 Living Waters Award from the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ for his peace making efforts.  His company, Barrett Outddoor Communications Inc. has donated the materials for the signs.

Russell Rainbolt is a Connecticut artist, muralist, and sign painter who loves children and peace.  As artistic director, Russell has converted the vision and logo of Combatants for Peace into a billboard sized mural that can be painted by children and untrained artists.  Russell is a graduate of the New York School of Visual Arts. 

Independent filmmaker Tom Jackson is creating a documentary film about the project.  His web site is:  www.JoePublicFilms.Com

The city of Beit Jala, where the signs will be painted, is a small city in the Bethlehem area of the West Bank just south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 12,239 inhabitants.  It is predominantly Christian with a Muslim minority.
The Beit Jala skyline is made up by six churches and two mosques.  It is believed that Saint Nicholas spent four years of his life in Beit Jala while visiting the Holy Land. The building of the Israeli separation wall is very controversial in Beit Jala.  The Israelis believe the wall is necessary for their national security, while local residents believe the wall is destroying the remaining agricultural land of the town.

Click here to learn about the Everest Hotel, in Beit Jala where the signs will be painted.