1. BASIC PLATFORM

We international writers, poets, and friends of literature and culture, believe that literature can promote freedom and the enrichment of the quality of life. On the threshold of the twenty first century, we shall endeavor to pave the way towards the fulfillment of our main ideal "one world and one humanity, all living in peace". It is our goal to help build a Middle East and a world beyond war toward year 2000, by means of literature, culture, art, that will create bridges among nations, and harmonious human relations. This endeavor is in harmony with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights embodied in the Charter of the United Nations. It is likewise the basic platform of IFLA: PAVE. We strive for freedom of speech and expression, and for freedom of hostile and oppressive violence, whether it be war or physical, mental or moral oppression. We believe in the equality of the sexes, and the liberty of people everywhere, and in their rights to pursue their various human endeavors, and obtain equal civil justice. We believe that women are very good allies of peace, and we maintain close relations with various women organizations and groups around the global village.

2. ACTIVITY

The Friends of Literature Association was founded in 1985 in Haifa, Israel, and was registered as a Voluntary Association in 1987. There are ten branches in Jewish, Arab and Druze sectors in Israel, actively and harmoniously working together. We hold regular literary and cultural meetings: lectures, poetry- readings, story-telling, new books celebrations and interviews, literary and cultural weekend seminars, literary festivals, symposiums, workshops, round-table discussions and interchanges, and international congresses. In 1996 we set up a TENT OF PEACE (TOP) Program of inter-cultural monthly meetings, and in 1997 we doubled these fruitful meetings and happenings to include exchange of visits by Jewish, Palestinian and Druze pupils.

3. PUBLICATIONS

We publish a bi-monthly newsletter, which includes information about activities in the various branches. We also publish a yearly Anthology: GALIM (WAVES): LITERATURE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY. To celebrate the twelfth year of the foundation of IFLA, we have published a tri-lingual WAVES OF PEACE ANTHOLOGY in Hebrew, with supplements in Arabic and English. The anthology includes among other items: conflict resolution articles, stories, poems and literary criticism, as well as basic material and information on the ideology and ideals of IFLA: PAVE. The Anthology is dedicated to the memory of Yitzhak Rabin.

4. MAGAZINE ON WWW - INTERNET

We have opened an Electronic Magazine HORIZON PAVE PEACE Through Culture and Literature, on WWW. It can be accessed through:

http://tx.technion.ac.il/~ada/home.html
or
http://www.copri.dk/ipra/PeaceLiterature.html

5. PPN: INTERNATIONAL PAVE PEACE NETWORK

To celebrate the twelfth year of the founding of THE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS OF LITERATURE ASSOCIATION we have established the International Pave Peace Network (attached). We believe that with the aid of IPPN, and with working all together towards a New World Beyond War, poverty and hunger will gradually be reduced, and can eventually be abolished. In a world beyond war, where a great part of human resources will go to creating and building instead of destroying, we can reach new creative and ethical peaks.

6. MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to all the people of our global village. Conscious citizens of all countries who believe that peace culture and literature can promote a better world are invited to join, and to help us in paving a world Beyond War and Violence. Lovers of literature and culture, writers, poets, literary critics, translators, journalists, teachers, students are especially invited to join and help us usher a better century.

Please send $25 for annual payment to our Headquarters:

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS OF LITERATURE AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION

c/o Judith Zilberstein: Director, P.O.B. 6293 Haifa 31063, Israel.

BOARD

Dr. Ada Aharoni
Founder & International President.
Horev 57, Haifa 34343, Israel
Tel. 972-4-8243230 - Fax: 972-4-8261288
Email: adah@matav.net.il

Daniel Goshen, L.L.B., M. Jur
President in Israel
8 Hassan Shukri St., Haifa 23111, Israel
Tel.972-4-8629678 - Fax: 972-4-8679760

Judith Zilberstein
Director
Tel-Fax: 972-4-8380773
P.O.B. 6293 Haifa 31063, Israel

Mohamed Ali Said
Literary Adviser
POB 1173 Tamra 24930, Israel

See also: