Bahraini activists find common ground with Israelis on country-wide tour

• Author: MICHAEL STARR
• Published date: 13 October 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The group drew curious gazes from Israelis as they took a guided tour through the Cardo and to the Kotel. The locals were quick to sneak selfies with the Bahrainis, as if they were celebrities.

The delegates were on an eight-day trip to experience Israel for themselves, and to lay the foundation for interpersonal connections for peace between Israelis and Bahrainis.

"We don't want the Abraham Accords to remain at the government level, we also want it at the level of the people," said Dan Feferman, Sharaka's director of communications and global affairs.

The group visited Yad Vashem, Machaneh Yehuda, met politicians at the Knesset, and traveled to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Tiberias and Marom Golan.

Khawla Al-Shaer, an activist for youth and women empowerment, was advised by her friends not to go to Israel, and cautioned her to be careful. Mainstream and social media had only shown conflict.

"We have knowledge and information but only from one side," said Al-Shaer.

Instead of conflict, the Bahrainis were surprised to see people living normal lives.

"Everyone is trying to live their lives, Jews, Muslims, everyone," said Fatema al-Harbi who works at Bahrain's Ministry of Education, and is a youth activist and peace advocate.

The disparity between reality and media taught al-Shaer the need to speak with actual people, and that one can't understand others only through a screen.

Muhammad al-Shaer, a musician and self-described "nomad" expressed admiration for the diversity he saw.

"Israel has a little bit of everything with its own character," said al-Shaer. He noticed it in the architecture, where "you have different influences from different Jews from different areas."

However, not all diverse experiences were positive. While al-Harbi shared that "Israelis have been very happy and welcoming," the group had been heckled by some Palestinian men, who had grabbed their headscarfs.

There was also negative feedback from back home.

"Coming for us is not an easy thing, it's not always positive with social media, friends and family," said Khawla al-Shaer.

"A lot of people are very happy with the peace, but it isn't as fast as with the UAE," said al-Harbi. "It might be slow going, but it's growing."

Sharaka, meaning "partnership" in...