Project Summary
The "Billboard from Bethlehem" is a work of art, 14 feet high, and 48 feet long, jointly designed and hand painted by a group of former Israeli and Palestinian combatants combined with the children living in Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The work of Art will be received at religious services in the West Bank before delivery to the United States for blessing and posting on the Interstate highways in Connecticut. The entire project will be filmed.
The Primary Goal of the Billboard Project is to communicate to a large American Audience how the application of active non-violence offers a clear and visible hope for a Peaceful and just solution to the Palestinian / Israeli conflict.
The Secondary Goals of the Billboard Project are: 1) to build awareness in Palestine, Israel, and the United States of the hope for achieving Peace through Non-Violence, with a particular emphasis on the corporative efforts of Combatants for Peace, 2) to give voice and hope to those crying and suffering in Palestine and Israel, 3) to effectively communicate some of the stories of injustice that surround the failed use of violence in the Middle East, 4) to offer an opportunity for reconciliation and community among the Christians, Muslims, and Jews in Bethlehem and Connecticut.
The Primary Goal of the accompanying Video Documentary: is to effectively communicate to a mass audience the compelling stories of the members of Combatants for Peace, the children living in Bethlehem, and other Muslims, Jews, and Christians involved in the “Billboard from Bethlehem” project. In essence, the documentary uses the “The Billboard from Bethlehem” as the framework for presenting the personal stories of the participants.