Who We Are
The Arik Institute for Reconciliation Tolerance & Peace was established by Yitzhak Frankenthal, Arik's father. A businessman until July 1994, Yitzhak relinquished his business interests following Arik's death and focused his energies on public activities aiming to foster reconciliation, tolerance and peace. He soon established the "Parents Circle - Families Forum" - an organization of over 500 bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families sharing a common sentiment: "If we, who have lost our dear ones, do not seek revenge and hatred but reconciliation - so can anyone.". Yitzhak managed it for almost a decade before establishing the Arik Institute.
The Institute's Vision:
The Arik Institute was established to resolve the reactions of repression and denial among both the Israeli and Palestinian populations.
Among the Israeli public, these reactions are most apparent regarding the meanings of occupation. The occupation is perceived by Israel (and the world) as an unavoidable counter-measure. The perception of occupation as the worst form of terror is fundamental, yet nearly inexistent. An absurd situation has arisen as a result, whereby Israel is being perceived as the victim of the current conflict, while those that oppose Israel 's policies are labeled terrorists.
Among the Palestinian public, repression and denial is apparent in regards to empathizing Israel 's need to be assured, beyond doubt, that Palestinians are willing to live harmoniously side-by-side with Israel and that they would in fact do so - if given an independent Palestinian state.
The Arik Institute has defined three main goals that guide its activities:
- To bring Palestinians - advocates of peace and reconciliation - into the limelight of Israeli society (and possibly the global society) in an effort to promote reconciliation and peace. This is the purpose of the Joint Palestinian-Israeli Peace-Force, or J.P.I, for short.
- To arouse Israeli and global awareness regarding the tragic consequences of the occupation and the effects it has on Israeli, Palestinian and global societies. The Institute acts to achieve this goal via P.R. campaigns, educational activities and the Internet.
- To act within the Palestinian public, and promote an awareness among Palestinians regarding the psychological, security and political assurances that are necessities to the Israeli public.
The Institute does not, under any circumstances, meddle with political questions such as what the layout of the future borders should be, what is to be done with Palestinian refugees and other central issues currently highlighted by the Middle East conflict and its political discourse.
We do not deal with these issues because we are not interested in affiliating political connotations to universal values such as Peace, Tolerance or Reconciliation. We do, however, both applaud and support whichever political entity that promotes reconciliation, and that strives to achieve peace.
The Process
We believe that "Peace" is a situation that should be the foundation of relationships between peoples. The fact that governments are signing peace treaties is not enough. A peaceful atmosphere can be created on the basis of understanding and the assimilation of reconciling approaches. In the Middle-East we can define one more reason for promoting reconciliation. The people must create a massive pressure on the leadership to make them chose the path of peace.
At the Arik Institute we have engraved three main ideals on our corner-stone that are to be promoted through educational & public mediums. These are:
- Tolerance
- Reconciliation
- Peace
We see our entire activity as a developing process. Education for tolerance is the first step to be taken. Only tolerant people can understand other peoples' needs and have sympathy to their pain.
The second step is an outcome of tolerant approach. This is the process of reconciliation. Tolerant people can reconcile with yesterday's enemy.
The third step is peace agreements or treaties. Reconciled nations can put aside past rivalry and build a new relationship based on peace with each other.
Another important outcome of this process is that it will create the atmosphere needed for Palestinians to build and motivate their own peace-seeking groups, enabling them to speak out loudly with no fear.
This type of activity has never been tried before in the region. We present values of reconciliation and peace via the media: newspapers, radio, TV, and billboards. The marketing will be massive, poignant, without accusation and will not attempt to point out the guilty party but will bring the tragedy to the doorstep of every human being in a moving way whilst pointing alternatives. In addition we will try and explain to the Israeli public that Palestinians do want reconciliation and peace and that there is a partner for peace. We will try and explain to Palestinians the Israeli needs and point to the light at the end of the tunnel of continuous bloodshed.
