Jerusalem revs up for peace

Last month, a Formula One “peace road show” through Jerusalem, the latest in a series of high-profile cultural and sporting events, drew enthusiastic crowds to the streets.

By EMANUEL MFOUKOU
The first-ever two-day Jerusalem Formula Peace Road Show (photo credit: Reuters)
The first-ever two-day Jerusalem Formula Peace Road Show
(photo credit: Reuters)
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat watched with joy last month as the latest in his series of high-profile cultural and sporting events, a Formula One “peace road show” through the city, drew enthusiastic crowds to the streets.
Barkat’s idea for the event stemmed from his own tryst with the famed Paris- Dakar Rally some 12 years ago.
The two-day motorsport extravaganza in mid-June drew close to 100,000 spectators who watched eagerly for a flash of blue or red as the cars drove past.
“Today, that personal dream is coming alive, for me and tens of thousands of motorsport fans in Israel,” Barkat said at a press conference just hours ahead of the show. “The walls of this ancient city heard the noise of hundreds of thousands of horses trying to conquer the holy city, but I think that these walls are going to be in a state of shock when they hear the noise of a more than 700 horsepower Formula 1 car engine.”
Barkat stressed the importance of sports in promoting peace and reconciliation.
“Sports bring people together, the love of cars and the love of people,” he said. “That is why the Jerusalem Formula One peace road show, I believe, will make Jerusalem a better place. You will see around the track, Muslims, Christian and Jews from all the neighborhoods of Jerusalem come to watch the sport they love. No politics!” 
The mayor also credited the Jerusalem Formula One peace road show to cyber security specialist Eugene Kaspersky, best known for discovering the Stuxnet virus infecting the Iranian military’s computers. His company, Kaspersky Lab, has sponsored Formula One races and the pair teamed up to bring the high-powered sport to Israel.
Several noted motorsport stars participated in the show, including Italian driver Giancarlo Fisichella with more than 80 Formula One races under his belt, motorcycle stunt rider Chris Pfeiffer, and Max Biaggi, winner of the World Superbike Championship in 2010 and 2012. They were all thrilled to be displaying their skills and supercharged vehicles in sight of Jerusalem’s famed Old City walls.
“Jumping in to a Formula One car anywhere is a fantastic feeling, but I think today will be incredible,” said Fisichella. “It’s special to be part of this historic day for the city and for peace. I am really proud about it.”
And the mayor’s predictions about Jews and Arabs alike enjoying the show were quite accurate, as the two kilometer circular course was lined with spectators from all sectors of Israeli society.
“This event is good for the peace between Israelis and Palestinians,” 21- year old Ishmael told The Jerusalem Post Christian Edition. “You can see both Arabs and Israelis on the streets watching the show, and it’s good that they are watching it together.”
“I think it’s very nice,” concurred 18- year old Noam. “This is something that has never happened in Jerusalem or in Israel before. It will unite people, secular, religious and Arabs... I am proud of our mayor; he has done so much for the city and this is very good for young people.”
Barkat is optimistic for the future of the Jerusalem Formula One event and for his city.
“The first time is always the hardest, but in the next few years, when we will upgrade the show, it’s going to be easier,” he said. “Jerusalem is very dynamic, thrilling... It’s a fusion of history and modernity.
“With the light festival [which took place in the Old City], the Euro 21 final, the Maccabiah games, the Jerusalem Marathon and with many other initiatives in Jerusalem, we are breaking through [the isolation] and returning to the role Jerusalem played 2,000 to 3,000 years ago as a destination for pilgrims and tourists around the world."


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