The hope to get their voice heard took two Palestinians and an Israeli activist all the way to the US to bring the plight and sufferings of the West Bank village of Aqaba, which Israel plans to wipe off, to world attention. “We have three goals to achieve,” Donna Baranski-Walker, Executive Director of Rebuilding Alliance, the US NGO that invited the three, reportedly said. “Raise awareness of our cause so hundreds will join us and help save our kindergarten and the village of Al Aqaba, raise funds to allow us to continue our speaking tour, and raise funds to continue the ‘Constructive Resistance’ underway in the village of Al Aqaba.”
Five years ago, the American NGO, which rebuilds homes and communities in regions of war and occupation, was approached by representatives from Aqaba, a village in the Jordan River Valley, for help with building their kindergarten. “We agreed to help and instead of just replacing the roof, we built a new foundation and first floor of the kindergarten,” recalls Baranski-Walker. “Then the Japanese, Norwegians and Belgians helped build the second floor. The USAID even helped by paving a road for the village.”
Today, some 200 children attend the kindergarten, the only in the region, which the Israeli High Court ruled in favour of bulldozing in April.
Wheelchair-bound Aqaba Mayor Sami Sadik Sbaih, the kindergarten’s Director Rawhieh El Sabeeh and Israeli architect Shmuel Groag are touring US to offer first-hand account of the case. During the visit, which runs until October 20, the three will meet with Congress representatives and government officials. They hope calls and letters from US lawmakers, officials and citizens will prompt the Israeli government to reconsider its position.