A group of six Israelis were asked to refrain from participating in Australian ultra marathon runner Pat Farmer’s Peace Run, as it passed the Jewish communities of Eli and Shilo in the Shomron. The group which was organized by the Yesha Council in conjunction with Regavim, had coordinated with Farmer’s team ahead of time to ensure that Jews and Arabs could run together in a true show of coexistence.

However when Ari Briggs, director of Regavim and his group arrived to participate they were asked to stop running after just one kilometer. Apparently the news had reached the Palestinian Olympic Committee in Ramallah, who threatened to pull out of the Peace Run if Farmer continued to run with the Jewish well-wishers.

Briggs who led the group decided to abide by Farmer’s request but was peeved that Arabs and Jews had been allowed to participate together throughout Israel, however when passing Jewish communities in Yehuda and Shomron, the PA had insisted on a no-Jew policy.

“It’s very sad that the Palestinian Authority would sooner attempt to hide the 375,000 Jewish residents of Yehuda and Shomron, instead of throwing their support behind a genuine attempt to promote peace and coexistence” Said Ari Briggs, Director of Regavim. He went on to say” “True peace is made between people and not by ignoring one and another”.

The group decided to continue their run from Shilo up to Ariel University where both Israelis and Palestinians study together in a true show of coexistence.

“We congratulate Pat Farmer’s peace run for welcoming Jewish residents of Yehuda & Shomron. The Jewish communities of Yehuda & Shomron are an integral part of the reality on the ground. Therefore any talk of peace needs to include them, either at the negotiation table or in any other initiatives to promote peace. It is a great shame that the Palestinian Authority would prefer to bury their head in the sand than accept this reality” Said Elie Pieprz, Director of External affairs at the Yesha Council.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)