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Acknowledgments
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Acknowledgments This book could not have been completed without the cooperation, willing־ ness, and openness of the directors, facilitators, and participants of the various Arabjewish groups and organizations who agreed to be part of this project. I certainly hope that this research contributes to their efforts in bringing Arabs and Jews together. I am also thankful for all the Arab and Jewish politicians and community leaders who granted me their precious time, and spoke openly and frankly about Arab-Jewish relations in Israel. There are so many colleagues and friends to acknowledge. However, I am most gracious to the directors and facilitators of Neve Shalom/Wahat El Salam, Giva'at Haviva, Beit Hagefen, Van Leer, Adam, Eshkolot project (Unit for Democracy), and Shutafut, who were open and courageous enough to share with me their experience, questions, and most important feelings. I am particularly thankful to Walid Mula, Elias Eidi, Elias Zidan, Edna Zaretsky, Hagiet Zaletsberg, Hagiet Gor Ziev, and Dr. Peter Lemish. I am also thankful to all the Arab and Jewish participants who granted me the privilege of observing their encounters and who accepted me in their houses and towns for the period of the field research. Also, to friends and colleagues who hosted me throughout the field research, particularly Amal Abu-Zidan. I would like to extend my appreciation to and acknowledgment of the late Professor James Laue, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, who provided me with the support and stamina needed to complete this project, and provided consistent and constructive feedback for every draft; and to Professor Christopher Mitchell and Professor Kevin Avruch of the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, for their helpful remarks, notes, and suggestions. Special thanks to Haviva Bar (Israeli Institute for Applied Research, Jerusalem), whose assistance gave me a sense of direction and focus in a xv AcknowledgmentszyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVU xvi complicated field research context. I also must recognize David Parson, director of the ESL program at Guilford College, for his thorough review of the manuscript; and Barbra Wien, training coordinator at the United States Institute for Peace (USIP), for her review of the manuscript too. The funding and monitoring of several institutions was very instrumental in completing this project, especially the Ford Foundation, whose financial support was an essential factor that allowed me to concentrate my efforts in completing the field research and analysis; the United States Institute for Peace (USIP), whose "Peace Scholar fellowship" award also contributed to the completion of this project; and Guilford College's and School of International Service at American University dean's offices, whose research fund awards assisted me in updating and completing this research. Finally, this research would not have been completed without the patience and support of my family: my wife, children, and parents, whose understanding and acceptance of my peacemaking efforts inspired this book. ...