At the 7^th annual Sulha, a three-day festival taking place in Latrun this week August 26-28, Professor and Rabbi Mark Gopin delivered a message from the Syrian Mufti. Gopin has met with the Mufti a number of times, and was asked on his last visit to Syria to pass on a message to Israel and Palestine.  

Message from Syrian Mufti: "The dream is to establish peace in the region based on good neighborliness. I deliver to Muslims, Jews, and Christians in the Holy Land my blessings for cooperative action and believe that if enough people want peace and make small steps in its direction, everything is possible."

In addition to the messages from Syria, a remarkable meeting will take place today between the fathers of the two children, Palestinian and Israeli, who remain interconnected. In 2005, Ahmed Ismail Khatib, a thirteen year old Palestinian boy, was killed by IDF fire outside of Jenin, after soldiers mistook his toy gun for a real one. His organs were donated by his family to six sick individuals. His heart was donated to a twelve year old Israeli girl from a Druze family, whose life was saved, and his liver was donated to a 66 year old Israeli woman. Today, at the 7^th annual Sulha at Latrun, the fathers of both Ahmed and the heart recipient will meet and spend time together.

The Professor and Rabbi Mark Gopin: "I visited Syria a number of times and met with the Mufti and with additional spiritual and religious representatives. They respected me as a Jewish Rabbi and I had the rare opportunity to speak in front of large audiences… and in lectures in front of thousands of individuals… the statesmen understand today that the central way to open diplomatic channels is through spiritual and religious figures." 

For the first time, the Palestinian organization Al-Tariq has joined the Sulha and has brought with them more than 600 Palestinians who will participate in the gathering. Al-Tariq is a non-profit Palestinian organization made up primarily of Palestinian men and women who have served time in Israeli prison. Members of Al-Tariq meet with Palestinians who resort to violence and hate and bring them messages of non-violence and democracy. Their messages have proven successful even with militant leaders such as Zacharia Zubeidi, former head of the Al-Aqsa Brigades in Jenin.

For three days, Sulha brings together people from all ages and all walks of life to learn and experience together each other's stories, pains and hopes and to celebrate peace and reconciliation. Among them are members of bereaved families alongside former combatants who have put down their guns.