Send this article to a friend

18 March 2005

Christians in Israeli town trickle back to school after Druze attacks

Michele Green
Jerusalem (ENI). Christian children are gradually returning to classes at their schools in the Galilee town of Maghar in northern Israel, a month after Christians were attacked and their property looted in the worst sectarian violence for years.

Druze-Arab villagers attacked their Christian-Arab neighbours, beating them, burning several homes and looting shops after rumours swept through the village that Christian schoolboys had posted naked photographs of Druze girls on the Internet.

The rumour turned out to be false but not before they sparked days of street clashes in the town. Eight people were wounded. Many Christians fled their homes and those who stayed were too afraid to let their children return to the mixed Druze-Christian schools.

Until last week, none of the 1000 Christian schoolchildren had returned to classes due to fears that their Druze classmates might attack them.

But deputy Israeli education minister, Rabbi Michael Melchior, said he had managed to convince about 700 students to return to classes by meeting school principals and community leaders and convincing them to take steps to make the Christian students feel safe.

"As a result of my meetings and due to improved security and guards at the schools, I can say that most of the students have returned to their schools, based on the latest information that I have. Initially, not a single Christian student would go back to school," Melchior said.

Teachers in the schools held special classes teaching tolerance and efforts were made to make the Christian students feel welcome upon their return.

In addition, a special education unit of the Israeli police force has been running seminars at the schools on coexistence and non-violence.

"The police are explaining that violence is not a solution and that it should never come to that," a police spokeswoman said.

About 15 per cent of the population of Maghar are Christians; the rest are Druze - a group that broke away from Islam more than 1000 years ago. After the riots, both communities set up a council to repair ties and to arrange compensation for Christians who lost property in the violence.

© 1994 - 2006 Ecumenical News International.

Top of Page

---

Ecumenical News International, PO Box 2100
CH - 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Tel: +41-22 791 6111     Fax: +41-22 788 7244   
Email: eni@eni.ch