Unfortunately I can't find a link for this story, which appeared in the Daily News. It is acts of cooperation over things like zoos for children which should be so simple - that make me realise just how good everything could be in Israel and the territories formerly occupied by Jordan and Egypt. I often get so caught up in the mind numbing heartache caused by injuries and murder that I forget just how hearbreaking the simple things can be.
Gift aims to nurture friendship between neighbours in war-torn West Bank
Sapa-AP
THREE lions born in Israel were transported on Sunday through a separation barrier to a Palestinian zoo, in an unusual act of co-operation during four years of deadly violence. Animal lovers hope the gift from Israel`s safari park to a West Bank zoo will nurture friendship in troubled times. The male lions - Nabuko, Grass and Gvir - travelled along a 30-kilometre route that few Israelis and Palestinians are allowed to journey.
Qalqiliya is on the old ceasefire line between Israel and the West Bank, and a high concrete wall separates the town from Israel, protecting a main highway from Palestinian snipers. (Well done to SAPA for finally explaining why this section does indeed have a high concrete wall. - Ed)
Israelis rarely cross into the West Bank - the army bans such visits - and only a few Palestinians with work permits are allowed through to Israel. That was the tense atmosphere which greeted the lions as they were driven across a barrier checkpoint.
The lions came to the zoo in Qalqiliya with an ibex desert goat and two zebras to replace animals that died of tear gas inhalation during a violent demonstration near the zoo.
Only two days before the hostilities broke out in September 2000, veterinarians from the two sides completed a deal including the transfer of animals. On Sunday four years later, they were finally able to carry it out.
`We cancelled everything because of the intifada (Palestinian uprising),` said Sami Khader, veterinarian at the Palestinian zoo. `But our relations never ended. We will not believe they will ever cease. Neither side has illusions about influencing politicians or militants to end the conflict. The veterinarians said they just hope to give West Bank children an escape from the daily dangers they face from the violence.
`We won`t reach a situation of normalisation without these types of things,` said Motke Levison, 65, the Israeli veterinarian who developed relations with his Palestinian counterparts 18 years ago. `I will contribute my part as I see fit.`
When the truck entered Qalqiliya, dozens of cheering school children lined the streets.
Outside the enclosure, Palestinian women with head-scarves watched Nabuko and Gvir, the more co-operative lions who had quickly left their cages. The three, ranging in age from 9 to 11, are the first male lions at the zoo.
Nearby stood Levison and Khader, together for a change. Levison usually doesn`t dare travel into Palestinian areas, where militants could try to harm him. The Israeli military has not granted Khader a permit to visit the safari park for training as he did before the violence.
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