Speeches

Statements by Senior

Embassy Officials

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK
AMBASSADOR’S REMARKS AT THE
AMERICAN CORNER KARMIEL
NOVEMBER 13, 2007, 3:00 P.M.

Mayor Eldar, students and guests, it is an honor to be with you today to celebrate the eighth-annual International Education Week. 

I’m pleased to see in the audience here today students from our ACCESS English language program and YES youth exchange and study program.  They know first-hand the importance of education, not just as a means to better oneself and open opportunities for one’s future but also as a way to learn about others.  Learning about others is an important theme of what some have called “peace education,” an effort to create social harmony by building bridges across cultures, within countries and between them, through cooperation in learning.  In the Israeli/Palestinian context, the goal of peace education in the Israeli/Palestinian context is to expand and strengthen popular support within civil society for negotiations to achieve a peaceful settlement of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.  History shows how difficult this task is.  Without strong support from both peoples, it will be even harder for their leaders to achieve President Bush’s vision of two states, one Jewish and one Palestinian, living side-by-side in peace and security.

As important as resolving this conflict is, however, peace education is broader than any particular political issue.  It encompasses many diverse activities.  It can mean good sportsmanship and fair play.  It can mean the study of the traditions, history and beliefs of other cultures.  It can mean learning foreign languages.  All of these help students to learn and to think about their neighbor as a human being, not just as a member of a racial or ethnic group.

In a way, peace education is more about changing hearts than minds, by reminding us all of our shared humanity.  In this regard it has a lot in common with the moral teachings of all great religions, particularly the Abrahamic faiths.

The fundamental goal of all of its activities is to teach students to overcome the innate fear of those different from themselves.  With peace education, it becomes harder for us to demonize and dehumanize groups we don’t know and harder for them to do the same to us.  With peace education, pessimism gives way to understanding and a greater openness to search for innovative “win-win” solutions to common problems. 

Fortunately, there are many elements of Israeli civil society that already recognize the importance of peace education, and are working to create the conditions that will make it possible to build a durable peace. 

For our part, U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv has partnered with various Israeli grass roots organizations and schools to conduct peace education programs.  We work closely with groups and institutions that teach respect for democratic values and diversity, and provide students with solid citizenship skills. 

Our ultimate goal is to build a durable peace, but our immediate aim is to strengthen the perception that peace is possible.  I’m convinced that doing so is half the battle.

One of the best ways to build bridges of cultural understanding is through study abroad.  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said:  “Our country has no more valuable asset internationally than the friendship of the millions of young people, citizens, and leaders around the world who understand the United States because they have studied here.”

We encourage students from all over the world to study in the U.S.  More than anything, it provides international students with the opportunity to learn first-hand about our open and culturally diverse country.   Here in Israel, and indeed in all my previous assignments, I’ve met many graduates of American schools eager to tell me about their experiences in the United States.

Although some of those who come to the U.S. to study remain in our country, most foreign students bring what they learn in the U.S. back to their home countries.  More than 60 percent of Israeli university faculty have either received a degree from or have taught at an American institution of higher learning.    

Many foreign students who return to their home countries eventually go on to lead their nations.  We are very proud that over the years more than 200 alumni of State Department-sponsored international exchange programs have become heads of state.   PA Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad is a PhD graduate of the University of Texas, Austin.  Prime Minister Olmert’s Chief of Staff, Yoram Turbowicz, studied at Harvard, courtesy of the State Department’s Fulbright program.  Of course, to get to such levels one has to start early by learning the basic skills, including English.

Therefore, I am pleased to announce today that the U.S. Embassy is in the process of establishing English language courses at our three American Corners – in Yaffo, Beersheva, and here in Karmiel.  These courses will be conducted by “The Lingua International Center.”  A Lingua representative is with us today to answer your questions.  These classes will help prepare students for greater success in school no matter where they might study here in Israel or abroad. 

Thank you again for inviting me to spend this important day with you.  Congratulations on your past achievements and best of luck in your future endeavors, wherever in the world they take you.