Team Middle East competes in Timor Challenge
HA helped get Team Middle East across the finish line, which gave various media sources the rare opportunity to report positively about the Middle East crisis. See below the press release that was issued following completion of the arduous competition:

Press Release

JERUSALEM, May 24, 2004 - A four member adventure team, consisting of an Israeli, a Palestinian and two humanitarian aid workers have completed a three day outdoor endurance challenge that was held on the tropical island of Timor Leste (East Timor) in the name of friendship and peace.

The foursome, known collectively as "Team Middle East" overcame the inclement heat, rugged mountains and stiff competition to be placed equal first in the mixed category and fourth overall. An outstanding achievement considering they were up against 19 other teams all of which were from Timor Leste or the Far East region.

The race required teams of four to paddle, ride and run in three different locations around the Island. The last race was started by President Xanana Gusmao in the capital, Dili, on the 20^th of May. A significant day for Timor Leste, as it is the second anniversary of Independence for the tiny nation.

The Palestinian team member, 23 year old Jennifer Marouf, was previously confined to the West Bank city of Ramallah due to the restrictions on movement. However, the Peres Center for Peace, a non- government organisation that assists with "joint" sporting activities, had facilitated a permit that allowed her to travel freely. Jennifer says: "This has been an experience I will never forget. I haven't for one minute thought about the issues of working with an Israeli as I've been to busy focusing on the race." During all three days of competition Jennifer was in the sea canoe.

Yaron Konigsberg, a 22 year old Israeli, has also thrived on the opportunity to represent the Middle East and help to provide an example of solidarity not only to those caught up in the Middle East crisis but also the youth of Timor Leste. Yaron was instrumental in helping the team peg back the opposition on day one when he rode solidly up a 13 km hill that saw many of the other competitors opt for the easier option of walking. "It's been great to be apart of something that proves the value of sports and to see how easily they can break down the barriers." said Yaron.

Mark Squirrell (Australian) and Marc Regnault De La Mothe (Italian), employees of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), helped to make up the foursome. Both are currently humanitarian aid workers in the occupied Palestinian Territories and are familiar with the intricacies of the conflict.

Coincidentally, Mark Squirrell, worked in East Timor during the 1999 emergency. He says: "It's been great to come back and see how the country has managed to move on from the past and begin to rebuild itself. I can only hope that one day I'll be able to say the same for those caught up in the Middle East conflict"."

Now that the finish line has been crossed the team is proud to be in a position to make a financial donation to assist with future sporting activities between Israelis and Palestinians (via the Peres Centre for Peace) . In addition to this, a donation will be made to the Life, Love & Health charity that assists the East Timorese.