Supporters of a recent Israeli campaign aimed at reaching out to the Iranian people have petitioned the Nobel Prize committee to consider the campaign and its creators as nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize. Ronny Edry and Michal Tamir, two Israeli web designers from Tel Aviv, launched their "Israel Loves Iran" online campaign a few months ago and have since attracted hundreds of Facebook supporters from Israel, Iran and around the world. The campaign's Facebook page features posters and pictures submitted by Israelis with the phrases, Iranians we love you, and We will never bomb your country. The campaigns website invites Israelis to send in photos that feature the friendly, cheerful phrases. In a message addressed to the Iranian people on the campaigns website, Edry says, For there to be a war between us, first we must be afraid of each other, we must hate. Im not afraid of you, I dont hate you. I dont even know you. No Iranian ever did me no [sic] harm. I never even met an Iranian
Just one in Paris in a museum. Nice dude. I see sometime here, on the TV, an Iranian. He is talking about war. Im sure he does not represent all the people of Iran. If you see someone on your TV talking about bombing you
be sure he does not represent all of us, Edry's message reads. Im not an official representative of my country. Im a father and a teacher. I know the streets of my town, I talk with my neighbors, my family, my students, my friends and in the name of all these people
we love you. We mean you no harm. To all those who feel the same, share this message and help it reach the Iranian people. Now, supporters of the "Israel Loves Iran" campaign have appealed to the Nobel Prize committee with an online petition, which at time of publication already had 218 signatures. "We push for a nomination for Ronny Edry, Michal Tamir and Israel Loves Iran to be nominated for the Nobel Prize for Peace," the petition reads, offering three points to support the campaign's nomination. "1 - [W]hile governments are spreading hate and mistrust, and talking about war, people from Israel & Iran came together, connected and united for PEACE. The activists have a clear message to their governments: 'We love each other, we don't want war.' But this campaign means a lot more for peace then these colorful posters express at a first glance," the petition reads. It continues: "2 - [T]hese activists raise a very important question: 'How could I hate somebody who I don't know-' As an answer people started to connect via Facebook to get to know each other. By learning so much about the so called 'foe,' people learned even more about propaganda and also about their own lack of knowledge, one-sided views and their own prejudices. One can say this EXCHANGE between people brought a real CHANGE on both sides and inside the people themselves. And this campaign proves [sic]: communication is the key to peace and also the key to real information. I personally can confirm: I had amazing conversations and found a lot of smart, cultivated peaceful friends which I really appreciate a lot and who I want to meet one day." The petition concludes with the third point: "3 - If Ronny Edry & Michal Tamir would be honored with the [sic] Nobel Peace Prize this would be a significant affirmation for all those who seek peace. It would be an historic example. Internet gives new chances for democracy and also for international peace - [this] movement and this prize could encourage people to join us and become activists as well."
