A Palestinian boy, Ahmed Ismail Khatib, 13, died from violence in Jenin, Palestine, almost two weeks ago.
      His family chose to donate his organs to five needy Israelis.
     Ahmed's parents met with the parents of children whose lives were saved by transplanting Ahmed's organs.


     Men, women, doctors, nurses and visitors at the Schneider Children's Medical Center sobbed.
     Ahmed's father called on both Israelis and Palestinians to instill a new culture in our childrens minds.

     Read this, and see this new culture being lived. . .right now.
     Read about these victims of kindness.
     The ascent of empathy.
     Our new heroes.
     Real power.

                -L&L


Published by Ynetnews.com -- Tuesday 15 Novemeber 2005
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3169828,00.html

'We are Samah's parents too'
Parents of Palestinian boy killed by IDF fire,
whose organs were donated to Israeli children,
meet with children who received their sons organs

by Meital Yas'ur-Beit Or

     The parents of a Palestinian boy whose organs were donated to Israeli children after his death from injuries inflicted by IDF fire in Jenin, met with the children who received their sons organs.
     Ahmed Ismail Khatib,13, was shot by IDF troops in the West Bank town of Jenin nearly two weeks ago when he walked out of his family
home carrying a toy gun that soldiers mistook for a real one. He was taken to Rambam Hospital in Haifa where he died. His father decided to donate his organs to Israeli children for peace.
     The first meeting was with the parents of 12-year-old Samah, an Israeli Druze girl who received Ahmeds heart.
     We are also her parents now, Ahmeds mother told Samahs mother Yousra, as she hugged her.
     The joy is also shared by two fathers. We are one family. I hope you will accept me as your sister, Yousra said.
     We feel as if we are looking at our son. If this girl asks you something and you cannot attend to it, come to us. We are her parents too, Ahmeds father said of Samah.

Mother: Samah received a new life

     The meeting between Ahmeds parents and the parents of children whose lives were saved by transplant operations using Ahmeds organs was emotional. Men, women, doctors, nurses and visitors at the Schneider Children's Medical Center sobbed.
     Fairouz Gaboua, whose 5-year-old son Mohammad received one of Ahmeds kidneys, came to thank the Khatibs. Tovah Levinson of Jerusalem, the mother of 3-year-old Menouha who received Ahmeds second kidney, was also there to meet the family.
     This amazing family gave Samah a new life, Yousra said. It is difficult to express in words whats in my heart. An Israeli soldier mistakenly killed Ahmed and they donated his organs to sick Israeli children, it is a bridge to peace.
     Tovah Levinson said, We are really grateful to you for saving our daughters life. God will pay you back for that good deed.
     We hope her wounds will heal soon. We hope that she will work to promote peace once she grows up, Ahmeds parents said.
     Ahmeds father addressed the Israeli public through a letter in which called on both Israeli and Palestinians to instill a new culture in our childrens minds.

Ali Waked contributed to this report