BREAKING THE ICE

28.08-5.09.23

A new group of twelve female students from the Tel Aviv Kibbutzim College, six Israelis and six Palestinians, came for a trek in our mountains and to get to know each other more intimately, far from the conflict.

Started in 2010, Breaking the Ice is now in its 12th edition: twelve girls, six Jews and six Arabs, all teacher training students at the Kibbutzim College in Tel Aviv, came for a trek in our Alps between 28 August and 5 September. They were accompanied by their facilitators, for the Palestinians Ulfat Haider as usual, and for the Israelis Liron Peleg. Responsible for watching over harmonious relations between the students in the Kibbutzim College, Liron has a long experience in facilitation, has known Ulfat for a long time, and is very committed to our project. Her busy agenda explains the relatively short duration of the trip compared to other years.

STAY IN THE MOUNTAIN

As usual, the stay was based at La Fouly. A change meant that the participants and their facilitators were accommodated in a chalet rented by Coexistences, where they also prepared their meals and held a part of their sessions. As always, the Kohlers generously made available their chalet for the members of Coexistences who wanted to come and walk for one or more days with the group. Myself apart, seven people took advantage of this possibility (against two last year). This increase in our members’ participation seems to me a positive sign.

LIVING TOGETHER

The participants arrived in Geneva on 28 August in the middle of the morning and were welcomed by the delegation of Coexistences, then transported by the Civil Protection bus to Lausanne and the Valentin Catholic School where they were received by the Head, Ahmad Abu Nijmeh, our faithful supporter. Lunch was offered in the school canteen, during which Ahmad gave them a talk in Arabic (with the Hebrew translation by Ulfat) and which really touched them. Around 2 P.M, the PC bus transferred them to La Fouly, where another delegation of Coexistences was waiting for the group in its residential chalet. This comported two separate apartments which the participants were free to choose from. A little false note: nearly all the Jews chose one and the Arabs the other. Here’s hoping for next year!

HIKING
Followed six days hiking, either in the immediate surroundings of La Fouly or in places further afield (Champex, Mauvoisin, Gorges du Durnand, Grand Saint Bernard) after transportation in the private vehicles of members of Coexistences. Our guide was as usual Nadja Schmidt, who however was not free the last two days when she was replaced by her colleague Marie-Jeanne Hugon Mettaz. The programme of the hike had to be scaled down due to the great difficulties in steep terrains encountered by Liron and one of the participants. The advantage of this meant there was a lot of time for dialogue activities.

DIALOGUE

The dialogue process took place according the usual plan, although it was accelerated in view of the short stay. A “soft” start with the first four days devoted to reinforcing listening skills, stimulation in empathy, and above all building up mutual trust. Once this was in place, more difficult issues were approached on the last two days: discrimination, narratives, violence in the Arab society and so on. Hebrew was not the exclusive communication language. Arabic was often very useful with the Hebrew translation by Ulfat or one of the Palestinian students. In the final debriefing, the Arab participants talk of their liberating experience which, for them, represented kindness and goodwill whenever they expressed themselves in their own language, the exact opposite of what they experienced in their country.

TASTE AND HAVE FUN
On the evening of their last day of hiking there was the traditional fondue/raclette at the Glaciers Inn, where we were happy to see two guides of the memorable trek in the Mont Blanc arrive, Jean Troillet and Denis Ducroz.

On 4 September, transportation from La Fouly to Lausanne in the PC bus. At noon, another lunch offered by the Valentin Catholic School. Ahmad then led the participants on a fascinating tour of his school, meeting teachers and visiting classrooms. This was a very meaningful moment for these future teachers. The farewell evening took place in the school playground, to take advantage the cooler temperature which had at last become pleasant after this very hot summer day. The participants entertained the assembly by a lovely demonstration of dabkeh, the well-known traditional Palestinian dance.

The following morning, after the last night spent on mattresses in the school gym, transportation by the PC bus to Geneva airport for the return flight.

IN CONCLUSION
As far as I can judge having followed the group during their activities, the trip was a success. Back home in Israel, the participants will, under the supervision of Ulfat and Liron, work on transmitting their experience.
Icing on the cake, an RTS (Swiss radio-television) team spent the evening and the following morning with the group. The report was broadcast on 11 November 2023, in the programme “Ensemble”, giving Coexistences a national coverage and you can watch it via this link (in French): Coexistences, partager une terre promise

THANKS

To conclude, I would like to mention and thank the supporters who made this trip possible:
•   our sponsors: Securitas Direct, the Sandoz Foundation, Shai Maestro, theTown of Vevey;
•   Danielle and Pierre Kohler for making available their chalet in La Fouly;
•   Ahmad Abu Nijmeh, who, beyond his charisma, for welcoming the group and offering an important logistics aide in Breaking the Ice;
•   the Vaudoise Civil Protection for transportation between Geneva, Lausanne and La Fouly, offered gratis to Coexistences ;
•   the volunteers from Coexistences who ensured transportation between La Fouly and the starting point of some of the hikes.

The situation since 7 October weighs heavily on the participants, especially since the Kibbutzim College has closed (to open again on 24 December). Two of the Palestinians encountered difficulties with the justice because of their remarks criticising the armed action in Gaza. Ulfat and Liron have kept in contact with each of them individually.

François Feihl, novembre 2023