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May 9, 2003/Iyar 7 5763, Vol. 55, No. 37
Arabs try to mend fences
GIL SEDAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
UMM EL-FAHM, Israel - After a long and winding drive through the narrow alleys of this congested Arab town, one finally gets to the prize - a mountain with a breathtaking view.
On the left lies the green and brown carpet of Israel's Jezreel Valley. In front are the biblical hills of the northern West Bank, checkered with the white rooftops of Palestinian settlements and red-tile roofs of Jewish ones.
This could have looked like an earthly paradise - were it not for the new, ugly fence that cuts through the attractive scenery.
The fence was erected only a few weeks ago, part of a security barrier under construction along Israel's border with the West Bank to prevent Palestinian terrorists from crossing into Israel - and which might one day form a border between Israel and a Palestinian state.
Umm el-Fahm lies west of the fence, inside Israel proper. With 42,000 residents, it is the second largest Arab enclave within Israel's pre-1967 borders, after Nazareth.
For some Israeli Arabs, the reality of the fence is motivating them to try to mend fences with the Jewish majority: As Israel celebrated its 55th birthday last week, some Israeli Arabs appear to have rediscovered their Israeli identity.
Two and a half years ago, days after the Palestinian intifada began, residents rampaged at the entrance to Umm el-Fahm, cutting the major Wadi Ara traffic artery and assaulting drivers who appeared Jewish.
Since then, Jews have avoided Umm el-Fahm, not patronizing its restaurants, discount furniture stores and olive oil shops.
With an upsurge of terror attacks along the Wadi Ara road and in the neighboring Jewish towns of Afula and Hadera, local Arabs also have cut down on visits to their Jewish neighbors, avoiding the unpleasantness of feeling like suspects.
Some Israeli politicians have suggested that as part of a peace agreement with the Palestinians, Umm el-Fahm should be handed over to the Palestinian Authority in exchange for West Bank settlements that would be annexed to Israel.
That set alarm bells in Umm el-Fahm ringing nervously. Though the strength of the Islamic Movement has made Umm el-Fahm nearly synonymous in recent years with anti-Israel radicalism, most residents - like the vast majority of Israel's 1.3 million Arab citizens - would prefer to be a minority in the Jewish state than to live under the Palestinian Authority.
Thus, even though the new fence cuts them off from their Palestinian brethren in the West Bank, many Israeli Arabs welcomed it. Perhaps, they said, it means the government didn't really consider turning them over to the Palestinian Authority after all.
There is a consensus here that the fence is a good idea, said Kassem Zeid, a retired journalist, at his home in the eastern suburbs of Umm el-Fahm.
Kassem still fears that the idea of a future territorial exchange between Israel and Palestine may be revived. That's why he and a group of some 20 friends are working on a new campaign designed to mend relations with the Jews.
Eventually they want to call a news conference under the title "Umm el-Fahm greets its Jewish neighbors."
Large posters will be posted at the entrance to town - where three local youngsters were shot to death in the October 2000 riots - residents will open their homes to Jewish visitors and local stores will cut their prices by half.
"Umm el-Fahm is now perceived as a second Jenin," the reputed terrorist capital of the West Bank, Kassem said. "This does injustice to both Jews and Arabs."
Kassem said he longs for the days when Jews and Arabs will not fear each other.
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