Authors Shireen Anabtawi and Daniela Norris visit Herefordshire's Steiner Academy (From Hereford Times)
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Authors Shireen Anabtawi and Daniela Norris visit Herefordshire's Steiner Academy
8:30am Tuesday 26th October 2010 in County
Authors Shireen Anabtawi and Daniela Norris with academy head Trevor Mempham and year nine students Conall Hulme, Eve Gill, Lea Ebbaston Creed and Connor Cook. Buy this photo »
TWO authors told their incredible real-life story to a captivated audience at Herefordshire’s Steiner Academy.
Class nine and 10 pupils heard the tale of Shireen Anabtawi and Daniela Norris, a Palestinian and an Israeli who became friends despite the political difficulties surrounding them.
Academy principal Trevor Mepham welcomed both to Much Dewchurch in partnership with county-based charity Children of Peace.
He said: “Mistrust, misunderstanding and fear often dominate relations between Israelis and Palestinians but Daniela and Shireen have developed a friendship and collaboration that challenges many of these difficult and ingrained dynamics.
“Their work and their partnership offers a model of reconciliation and togetherness, and introduces the notion that what people have in common is, ultimately, always more powerful than the things that divide us.”
The women visited last week to promote their book Crossing Qalandiya, which details letters through which the pair became close.
Charity founder Richard Martin, who counts Madonna and Dame Judi Dench as patrons, helped organise the visit as part of its work with children and communities in both countries
