Planting the roots of peace in Israel/West Bank

Meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Heidi Kühn to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“The Holy Land is not ‘holy’ when there are Landmines in the Ground”

January 23, 2012—Jerusalem—In a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai and Agriculture Minister Orit Noked at the Knesset today, the Founder/CEO of international NGO Roots of Peace offered her support to Israel's humanitarian demining program.

Netanyahu referred to global work of Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace, saying that “Your concept of turning Mines into Vines and transforming the scourge of war into bountiful vineyards agricultural fields resonates with me.”

Young Daniel Yuval, age 13, inspired Israel's recent mine action law, after losing his leg to a landmine two years ago while playing in the snow with his family, spoke to the Prime Minister and received his blessing for his Bar-Mitzvah celebration this week, and a promise to continue to work for the fulfillment of Daniel's call to action to properly demine all non-operational minefields in the country with the help of Roots of Peace.

“You are standing at a momentous junction in your history” Kühn told Ministers Vilnai and Noked, who announced last week the allocation of 60 million NIS ($16 million USD) for clearance of 2,000 acres of agricultural land in the Arava Valley, “You have the power to restore this toxic soil into a pure land overflowing with milk and honey.”

Roots of Peace intends to replicate its successful Demine~Replant~Rebuild™ model from Afghanistan, where it has boosted the economy and empowered farmers in 28 out of the 34 provinces. “As Founder/CEO of Roots of Peace I am honored and humbled to stand with you, and to kneel together, to demine—to replant and to harvest.” Kühn added.

MISSION STATEMENT: Roots of Peace is an international humanitarian organization working to unearth dangerous landmines in war-torn countries and empowers the local communities scarred by these indiscriminate weapons. Working to build sustainable crops on land once too dangerous to traverse is how we transform the scars of conflict into the Roots of Peace. For more information visit us at www.rootsofpeace.org

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His Excellency, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel;
Daniel Yuval, landmine survivor, age 13; Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace;
Yoav Yuval, brother of Daniel; and Tali Yuval, mother of Daniel.

Matan Vilnai, Israeli Minister for Home Front Defense;
Daniel Yuval, landmine survivor, age 13; Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace;
Yoav Yuval, brother of Daniel; and Tali Yuval, mother of Daniel.

Orit Noked, Israeli Minister of Agriculture;
Daniel Yuval, landmine survivor, age 13; Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace

Heidi Kühn, Founder/CEO, Roots of Peace, and a young supporter of Roots of Peace