JERUSALEM (Press Release) — Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin received two delegations on Wednesday, Feb. 25– one from the makers of Apple Computers from the United States, the other representing Bedouin peoples of Israel.
The Apple delegation was led by CEO Tim Cook, currently on a visit to Israel. Rivlin warmly welcomed Cook and his team. He said, “It is a great privilege to host you and your team here in Israel. Your contribution to humanity is unprecedented. Even for me as one who prefers to write with a pen and paper, it is clear to me, when I see through my staff, and my grandchildren, what a great miracle you have created.”
Cook thanked the President for his warm welcome and said, “We have an enormous admiration for Israel, not just as an important ally for the US, but as a place to do business.”
The President congratulated Cook on the opening of the new Apple center in Herzliya, and expressed his hope it would be a source of employment for the full spectrum of Israel’s population. He said, “True innovation can only result from full access to education for all, regardless of race, religion, or sex. We would like to learn from your experience in the US, in bringing education and technology to periphery groups and communities.”
The President also noted his pride at the inclusion in the delegation of Johny Srouji, Vice President for Hardware Technology at Apple, a member of the Israeli Arab community, born in Haifa. The President said, “Imagine what the world would be like with another five ‘Johny Srouji’s, we are proud of him, and all he has achieved.”
Cook said to the President, “I personally admire your work in human rights, You are an inspiration for us to work even better.”
The President and Cook spoke at length about the role of education in the advancement of different populations, and about the wide range of Apple’s educational activities in underprivileged areas, and about possible future cooperation to promote equal access to education in areas where it was needed in Israel. “We must learn from you how to help our students also in difficult places, as you have done in many schools in the US.”
Cook told the President about their educational activities in different areas to aid access in education to technology. “We are huge believers in education, and always felt that education is the great equalizer. We are working hard to bring schools that have under-served children, to a much higher level. We chose 120 schools from across the US, and we are working hard in the classroom, to help the children and their access to education.”
Cook concluded by saying, “The will to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren is perhaps the greatest motivator, and listening to you, Mr. President, speak about your beliefs, is incredibly inspiring, and it has to be making a difference across the region.”
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At the meeting with a delegation of community and academic leaders from the Israeli Bedouin community, Rivlin discussed with them ways to strengthen the relationship between the Bedouin and Jewish communities, and best address the needs of the population with regard to social and education issues. Participating in the meeting was among others, Community Activity Coordinator Mansur Abu-Tahah; Prof. Araf Abu-Raviya from the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at Ben Gurion University; Sheikh Ibrahim Alamor; and Sheikh Iyad Abu Rashed, and former MK and minister, Haim Oron.
The President began by speaking about his visit to the Bedouin communities in Rahat and Hura last week. He said, “I went to pay condolences and to show my solidarity with Rahat as a city, and as part of Israel. I also visited and paid my condolences in Hura, to the bereaved families of that terrible road accident. I also visited an agricultural farm in Hura, which I have no doubt will be transformed into one of the global leaders in its field, and truly is in my opinion revolutionary.”
The President spoke about possible solutions to the problems facing the community. He said, “We are committed to arriving at an understanding, as we have in the past, in a way which will enable us to live side by side, together. In every civilized society, understanding is not born out of coercion, but from mutual goodwill. We will take every step in order to reduce the gaps. Government officers are designed to help the citizen, not to make things difficult, and we are at your service to deal with every obstacle that stands in your way. My house is open to you, but we must understand that as a family we may not always agree on everything.”
During the discussion, Head of Middle Eastern Studies at Ben Gurion University Prof. Araf Abu-Raviya addressed the President, and spoke about the problems of employment and integration into government offices, of members of the Bedouin community. He asked of the President, “Spread the cloak of your presidency, over all of us, because we are all your children.”
Sheikh Ibrahim Alamor, deputy head of the Kuseife local council, added, “The Bedouin community has contributed and will continue to contribute to the state in every way possible, and we ask, as citizens of the state, for our rights from all the institutions that govern it.”
Dr. Ibrahim Sayeed, a resident of Hura, and neurologist, said “In the last years, we have seen a great improvement in field of healthcare in the Bedouin community, with a significant increase in the percentage of Bedouin doctors. Healthcare is the basis for coexistence, it does not discriminate between race or blood.”
Resident of Kibbutz Lahav, and former member of Knesset and minister, and a longtime activist for the sake of the Bedouin community, Haim Oron spoke of the need for Israel to find a solution to the problems faced by the Bedouin community. He said, “Throughout the years, we saw finding solutions to the problems of the Bedouin community as a most noble cause, and we worked together, the President and I, for the sake of the community, and its members. I have no doubt the President will be the address, and will reach out, for a solution to the problems which have been raised here today.”
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Preceding provided by the Office of Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin