In the early hours of the morning, when most people in the world are preparing for a day of rest, the crew members were busy with the final preparations on board the Phalagic Australis
Michael Greenspan, Palagic Australis, Beagle Bay
In the photo: The members of the delegation leave Puerto Williams, January 1, 2004
Beagle Strait, Chile, (55 degrees south, 68 degrees west)
January 1th 2004
At midnight, they threw their hats in the air in celebration, exchanged hugs and kisses and wishes for a happy new year. To an outside observer it looks like any new year celebration, anywhere in the world. However, the one that took place at the small Chilean naval base at the southern end of South America, brought together 4 Israelis and 4 Palestinians - people belonging to two sides of the conflict. The members of the peace delegation "breaking the ice" to the Antarctic raised their glasses and said "cheers" and "cheers", and they hope that 2004 will be a better year than 2003,2002, 20001 and XNUMX and all the years before them.
In the early hours of the morning, when most people in the world are preparing for a day of rest, the crew members were busy with the final preparations aboard the Pelage Australis, an ocean yacht that would take them to the Antarctic Peninsula. The director of the Israeli delegation, Doron Aral, stored clothes intended for mountain climbing in the forward hold of the boat, with the help of the member of the Palestinian delegation Nasser Goss. This sight of Arel, who served in a combat unit in the IDF, and Goss, who spent three years in an Israeli prison after throwing a Molotov cocktail at Israeli soldiers working together gave meaning to an otherwise prosaic moment.
Olaf Haider, an Israeli Arab, carried a supply of fresh bread into the boat's tiny galley, accompanied by her Israeli cabin mate, Jordan Fanta, who still continued to receive compliments on the meal she had prepared the night before. The immigrant from Ethiopia was also helped by the Palestinian journalist Ziad Darwish to prepare the spicy but tasty meal.
Palgi Ostleris skipper Stephen Willis had good news. The weather forecast for Drake Strait showed a window of opportunity. The preparations went into high gear and the idea that came to the mind of the Israeli businessman Hazi Tantan is going to come true. It was a year ago when he was first convinced of the idea of combining his hobby of extreme sports with his desire to promote peace in the Middle East. Most of his friends told him it was a crazy idea: to take a group of Israelis and Palestinians to Antarctica to see if they could work together to do something most people wouldn't even try.
"I knew that to cross the Darwin Strait, to walk along 30 kilometers of Antarctic glaciers and reach a mountain that no one has climbed, teamwork is required. And I knew that if we succeeded it would send an important message to both nations and the whole world. We proved that it is possible to do impossible things, a challenge that is also necessary to make peace."
The physical challenge is difficult. Apart from Doron Aral and Hazi Nathanel, none of the members of the delegation have a background in sailing or mountain climbing. Physiological challenges will play an important role. How will special forces man Aviahu Shoshani cooperate with Fatah activist Suleiman al-Khatib? When Al-Khatib made a farewell call to a veteran Palestinian terrorist - with the cameras rolling - Shoshani stood by his side and nodded his head. "Like his older colleague, Suleiman also spent time in prison for attacking Israelis. Now he claims to have abandoned violence in favor of diplomacy. Therefore why does he make a national hero out of a man who murdered Jews?
This is just the tip of the iceberg of many that will surface in the coming weeks as the group moves south. As they begin to realize that the routine and endless shifts on board, the cold weather and seasickness will be more than a one day "experience". These travelers from the Middle East will face challenges that will quickly wear on their nerves. However, they know that their success and security depend on overcoming their differences and working together in a way that will allow them to succeed, and this will set a precedent for their nations.
On the first day of 2004, Palgic Australis will leave its base for the Beagle Strait, the first step towards the great adventure, it will carry four Israelis, four Palestinians and a world of hope.
To the delegation website - in English
Ydan Peace Mission to Antarctica
https://www.hayadan.org.il/BuildaGate4/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~~~723792234~~~155&SiteName=hayadan
