Bay Area Palestinians, Jews in Dialogue Celebrate Season of Light said the press release

     We're grateful for this story from Search For Common Ground in the Middle East, at:
                                  http://www.sfcg.org/cgnews/middle-east.cfm
     We're reminded to reach out to the "other" and re-connect at the heart, to help open our minds and begin creative, long-lasting relationships together, for everyone's good.

     70,000 Israeli teenagers recently chose Firas Khoury, a 21-year-old Arab Israeli, their winner of a TV reality show competition.
    "Firas hopes to have an influence on Arab and Jewish youth," reported BBC last Friday, November 28, 2003.
     Said Firas: It was very hard for them to understand that Im an Arab and I understand them. I lived the life they live.
     I really honestly showed myself from the inside, he said."
     "Most of them dont have a single Arab friend. I think, inside, I touched each and every one of them, and they took me as I am."

     These days many people in Israel are talking about trying to breathe new life into peace efforts.
     Firas says he isnt political, but he believes in reconciliation.
     I really think that love can solve it all. Really understanding each other and trying to understand each other.
     "Even if you dont understand sometimes, you need to connect it to your emotions more than to your head, he says.
     Sometimes you just need to close your eyes, and try to understand that we are all human beings and we should love each other and there is nothing to fight for at the end.

     The BBC reporter -- automatically, traditionally -- described Firas Khoury as "naive perhaps."
     He forgot this is reality, and that 70,000 Israeli youth agreed and chose Firas Khoury to remain with them, in front of them.
     What a difference can be made by one person -- another "adult" from among the youth.
                -- L&L

Published by BBC News, UK Edition -- Friday, February 23, 2003
On the Web at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3246330.stm

Arab Wins Israeli Reality TV Show
David Chazan

     Hes cool, confident and hip. Just what youd expect from the 21-year-old winner of a reality TV show on Israeli satellite television.
     The surprising thing is, Firas Khoury is an Arab. Despite the venom which too often poisons relations between Jews and Arabs here, more than 70,000 Israeli teenagers voted for Firas.
     The prize is a one-year contract to host a show on a youth TV channel. So Firas is about to become Israels first Arab TV presenter. He was the only Arab among 15 contestants who were locked up in a luxurious villa for 80 days. He says he needed a lot of tact to break the ice with his housemates.
     It was very hard for them to understand that Im an Arab and I understand them. I lived the life they live. Most of them dont have a single Arab friend, he says. I think, inside, I touched each and every one of them, and they took me as I am, they considered me as a talent, one who wants to act, who wants to sing, to improve himself, as Firas.

Open personality

     The contestants were asked to perform song and dance routines and viewers judged them on their showbiz potential.
     All the others were voted out of the house - but Israeli teenagers were charmed by Firas Khourys talent and his open, engaging personality.
     I really honestly showed myself from the inside, he said. I came and I said, Im here and Im real and I dont give a damn about being an Arab or a Jew. All I can give you people is love and all I want to show you is my talent.
     Firas is something of a model of co-existence. When I met him at a cafe on the edge of the Tel Aviv University campus, he showed up with his Jewish Israeli girlfriend.
     I asked him if his victory meant that there were fewer barriers between Arab and Jewish teenagers than between the political leaders.
     I deeply hope so, he said. I really hope that I can have an influence on Arab and Jewish youth. I can see here in the newspaper, and I can see how people reacted when I won. They were very, very happy for me.

Reconciliation

     Firas says he hopes that by becoming a television personality, he can help to smash some of the stereotypes in the Middle East.
    "Now they can consider me - an Arab who wants to show his talent, who wants to be involved in showbiz as what he is and what he has to offer, and not where did he come from or what language is he speaking.
     These days many people in Israel are talking about trying to breathe new life into peace efforts. Firas says he isnt political, but he believes in reconciliation.
     I really think that love can solve it all. Really understanding each other and trying to understand each other. Even if you dont understand sometimes, you need to connect it to your emotions more than to your head, he says. Sometimes you just need to close your eyes, and try to understand that we are all human beings and we should love each other and there is nothing to fight for at the end.
     Naive perhaps, but after all Firas is aiming for a career in showbiz. And he says he wants to be a role model for Arabs and Jews alike.