This Weeg mployees who reported for work Tuesday morning, Dec. 9, at the Arab American News found evi- dence that someone had tried to destroy their office, located on Chase Road in Dearborn. "Police said it was a homemade fire- bomb," said Osama Siblani, the news- paper's publisher. "Apparently, it broke a half-foot or a foot outside the door. There was no damage inside the build- ing. You can see damage on the con- crete outside the door, maybe four or five feet." Siblani said there was a stack of newspapers piled just inside the door. "I think God was protecting us," he said. "If the bomb had gone off inside, we would have burned down." On Monday night, Siblani and 75- 100 others participated in a protest outside the Ritz-Carleton Dearborn, umulaq.ln turm Act cn ogd Arab American News Targeted where the organization Seeds of Peace was holding its third annual Michigan Gala. The protest centered on the presentation of a peace award to fort mer Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres. Siblani, who is also president of the Congress of Arab American Organizations, had editorialized against the award in the Arab . American News. "Whoever did this is a person who hates freedom of speech and wants to silence me," Siblani said of the bomb- ing attempt. "I will not be silenced." David Gad-Harf, executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit, condemned the attack, "just as I condemn any use of violence at any time for any purpose. "This act should be denounced by everyone," Gad-Harf said. — Diana Lieberman At the Seeds of Peace protest, Osama Siblani speaks to reporters. From The Mouths Of Seeds IV hen the rhetoric ends, when the last chocolate mousse is eaten and guests remove their tuxedos, what's left of Seeds Of Peace is the story of the kids. Since its beginnings in 1993, more than 2,000 young people from 22 nations and regions have attended Seeds Camp in Otisville, Maine — most from the Middle East, but also from the Balkans, South Asia, Cyprus, and North America. "Growing up in Nablus, I was hard- ly in contact with Israeli citizens," Ibrahim Khadar, 22, told a roomful of Seeds supporters Dec. 8. "During the first intifada (uprising), I was beaten up on several occasions and lived under fear. During the second intifada, I lost two of my friends, one of them a Seed. "On the check points, or, as we refer to them, the makhsooms, the only thing that went through my mind is: Why are they doing this to us?"' At Seeds camp, which Khadar first attended eight years ago, he finally met young Israelis in person, finding they had more similarities than differ- ences. "I ask you to consider listening to the other side's story, to try to under- 12/12 2003 20 stand where the 'enemy' is coming from," he said. "At Seeds of Peace, we have started this long and painful process. We understand how it feels to be in the other side's shoes." A senior at Wartburg College in Iowa, he began his involvement with Seeds as a camper in 1995 and has returned on the peer support and pro- gram leader staffs. "We are working for a brighter future, not only for our children and grandchildren, but also for us and our parents," he said. Also speaking at the Seeds Michigan Gala was Orly Bogler, 18, of Haifa, who first attended the group's Maine camp in 2001, returned on the peer support staff in 2002 and participated in numerous activities of Seeds Center for Coexistence in Jerusalem. Bogler, who will begin her service in the Israeli Defense Forces in January, described conversations she has had with Americans who were ignorant of the realities in Israel and with others who had no idea of the understanding that takes place at Seeds camp. Bogler said her involvement with Seeds had inspired her parents to become involved as well. "Now it's my mom who comes . Seeds of Peace graduates Orley Bogler, 18, ofHaifit and Ibrahim Khadar, 22, of Nablus. Turning to the evening's honored home frustrated yet exhilarated after a guests, former Israeli Prime Minister difficult 'co-existence' dinner, describ- Shimon Peres and Al-Quds University ing to me her feelings — which are President Dr. Sari Nusseibeh, she said not very different from any first year that, while they had the authority to camper's feelings," she said. sign peace treaties, "in order to make As she begins her army service, these treaties work, people on both Bogler says she will draw on the tools sides must join you." she has acquired from her Seeds expe- "I know I can say on my behalf, rience -- ."communication, human- and on behalf of all the Seeds of Peace ization and open-mindedness." —count us in." "The Ambassador of Peace' certifi- cate I received at the end of camp —Diana Lieberman didn't make me an ambassador," she said. "Only I can do that." ❑