Oleksandr Feldman “I remember perfectly well how Israelis and Arabs lived in peace in Israel…”

The year 2011 marked the new hot spots on the Peacemaking map of the world. Those who think that the conflicts in Arab countries are just the internal problems are mistaken. This attitude causes the destruction of states, which were the real oases in the past. This happened with Iraq and Libya, and the similar threat loomed over Syria.

These problems will influence the development of all countries of the world until such concepts as tourist and pilgrimage areas disappear.

This also hit Ukraine, as the number of people, who annually visit warm countries, such as Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Palestine and Jordan, dramatically decreased.

Today more than ever, there must be organizations in every state, which not just passively watched over the situation in the problem countries, but as well prepared the competent proposals to the state authorities and society as for assistance in overcoming difficulties.

The Institute of Human Rights and Prevention of Extremism and Xenophobia raises the similar task before itself. The people’s deputy of Ukraine, Oleksandr Borysovych Feldman was its founder.

May we bring the interview with him to your attention.

Oleksandr Andrushchenko: Oleksandr Borysovych, Your work within the framework of the Institute of Human Rights and Prevention of Extremism and Xenophobia is well-known. To what extent this direction is urgent today, as the opinion that the humanity lives in the conditions of freedom and democracy is lobbied in the world?

Oleksandr Feldman: It is good that there is freedom and democracy, but every system and structure has fairway, borders, crossing of which is the violation of regulations, laws, guidelines and rules. Freedom and democracy are not boundless and not bottomless in their displays. Rights of one citizen end there, where the rights of another one begin. That is why the resistance to xenophobia and extremism is the urgent activity for societies, where the concept of freedom is interpreted as the possibility of displays of aggression under various motivations against separate social groups and entire nations. Freedom is not permissiveness, as it is thought by mistake by representatives of marginal communities. Freedom is the objective observance of rights of each person, and until there are persons, who need protection from aggressive attacks, the work and activity of our Institute will be important and justified.

- The considerable percent of violations of human rights has the religious basis. But the world religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism) cannot unite as they have differences in doctrines. What are the ways of achieving the accord in society, which consists of representatives of different religious views?

- Why not to this reason for accord – to jointly struggle for the freedom of religion, against destructive cults, against extremists, which profit by religious feelings, for mutual respect, love and good, against perversions and deviations. All interreligious conflicts are caused not by the differences in doctrines, but by the manipulative interpretations of those, who want to justify the aggression, intolerance and “mission” of struggle against “infidels”. God teaches to love, but not to hate. Those, who create hostility, unlikely correlates with God. Modern society is sufficiently developed in order to be able to differ religious provocations from true appeals of ministers of religion.

- They talk today in the intellectual circles of Israel about ARTIFICIALITY of Arab and Israeli conflict. They say that there is a lot of points of contact between Arabs and Jews, living on one territory. For example, Jewish tourist agencies and pilgrimage services co-operate with Arab hotels, Arab drivers carry Christian pilgrims on the territory of Israel. Thousands of pilgrims from Jerusalem annually arrive to Bethlehem in order to pray in the Church of the Nativity.

There is the orthodox church in the city of Nablus (which is considered the area of Arab and Israeli conflict), where the Christian priest celebrates and where the Christian pilgrims come.  

And, despite this, mass media keeps discussing the topic of Arab and Israeli conflict, and position Arab countries as seats of world terrorism.

What are the most efficient ways of overcoming the religious, race and national hostility today to Your opinion?

- I remember perfectly well how Israelis and Arabs lived in peace in Israel before the beginning of the intifada and before the current strained relations. They visited each other to have dinner together in those days, when it is forbidden to work, they helped take care of the household, lived as brothers…

A lot has changed since then. The relations have changed not to the best, and that is not the fault of mass media.

The hostility must be overcome. On the one hand, it is necessary to dialogue and to cultivate tolerance, and on the other hand, it is necessary to punish for extremism and struggle against terrorism.

What is the position of the Institute of Human Rights and Prevention of Extremism and Xenophobia, supervised by You, as for the current situation in Arab countries?

- We will be glad to changes, if they leaf to establishment of democracy, expansion of human rights and overcoming of poverty. We are worried with the increase of radicalism, oppression of religious minorities, anti-Jewish and anti-Christian rhetoric, violations of human rights.

We have prepared the appeals to the leaders of the temporary governments of Libya and Egypt, and we will watch over the development of situation.

You have arranged the visit of the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III to Ukraine. What is the historical significance of this event?

- For something to be appreciated, time must pass, and this appraisal will be given, but not by us – the witnesss, but by those, who will come after us.

I would rather use other categories now – what it gives to the citizens of Ukraine, here and now? Any communication with great and wise religious leaders, and I think Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III is one of them, is the exclusive benefit.

You helped the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to arrange the first military pilgrimage to the Holy Land. What was the purpose of this and to what extent this direction of activity is promising in your opinion?

- I, as a believer, understand that the pilgrimage to the Holy places is extremely significant for religious people. Especially, when it happens for the first time, and moreover in the eve of the religious holiday.

And thank God for the possibility to make this important work!

A great number of representatives of those countries, for which the cases of violations of human rights and xenophobia are typical, lives in Ukraine. Many of them moved to Ukraine, trying to escape the stated problems. What are the conditions for life and activity for representatives of diasporas in our country?

- Ukrainian society has the more fund of tolerance, than many other countries. However, the threatening tendencies declare about themselves, and if not to react to them, they will increase, gradually becoming the systemic extremism and uncontrollable threat. It is like a natural disaster: you can feel and hear its approaching, but you cannot protect yourself and to resist, you can only run away. In order not to allow these developments, it is necessary to nip these phenomena in the bud, what we do.

The Institute of Human Rights, supervised by You, influence the situation in the world or it is meant only for work in Ukraine?

- Ukraine is our priority. But in order to change something, we need the dialogue with the world. Within the framework of projects, initiated by the Institute, we together with foreign human rights experts carry out discussions and exchange of experience in the area of overcoming the extremist attitudes in society, cultivation of tolerance among different religious and ethnic groups.

One of the most important projects of our Institute is the carrying out of the annual International Interreligious Conference, attended by people from different countries. We want Ukraine to increase its international weight, become the participant of solving of global humanitarian issues, thanks to this event. We do this both for Ukraine and for people in general.

This conference for the first time took place in Kyiv in March 28, 2011. Its topic “World religions and civil society against hatred and extremism”. What was the purpose of this forum, and what are its tasks?

- From now on this conference will be carried out annually, as it has really important function – unites representatives of world religions, which demonstrate to the believers that it is possible and it is necessary to speak the same language, and this language is patience, respect and good. They, as parents for a child, show on their own example the peaceful and tolerant model of behaviour with representatives of other religions, and this is strong position. How is it possible to call on to the violence against representatives of other religion, while the head of your confession peacefully communicates with a leader of other religious branch?

There are a lot of problems in the world today, which we must jointly voice them, discuss and try to solve, instead of spend time for killing and meaningless confrontations.

Interviewed by Oleksandr Andrushchenko