While Islamabad remains hesitant on its courtship of Jerusalem, a Pakistan-born woman, who spent some time in Tel Aviv recently, already sees a future for herself in Israel with the beau she recently met and fell in love with during a peace camp in the United States.
Tzahi, a 29-year-old Israeli and Nahida, a 31-year-old Muslim born in Pakistan, met three months ago at a 'Seeds of Peace' camp in the United States, where the two worked as group instructors, a media report said.
The love story blossomed in the United States, but continued in Israel, Ynetnews reported.
The two instructors sensed an instant chemistry between them during a heart-to-heart conversation at the camp.
"We sat there, talking, and I could feel something was developing. I felt very confused," Nahida told Ynetnews.
When the camp ended the couple went on to travel together across the United States, Canada and Cuba before coming to Israel.
Nahida was born in Pakistan but has been living in Holland with her family for many years. She remains in touch with her extended family in Pakistan and visits there frequently, the report said.
"Although I live in a western country, I feel very attached to the Arab world," she said. The couple are aware of the difficulties and obstacles awaiting them and got a taste of it when Nahida encountered an 'unpleasant reception' on her arrival to Israel.
"The minute they looked at my passport and saw that I am a Muslim from Pakistan, I was made to feel like a suspect," Nahida claimed.
She had to wait for more than five hours before being allowed to enter Israel, the report said. Tzahi was no less offended than his partner by the incident.
"Her flight landed, but she did not come out. After making a few inquiries, I learned that she was detained by the Border Police", he said.
"When the head of security at the airport, Brigadier General Shmuel Zakkai showed up I told him I was a squad commander in the army, and that I needed his help. It was then that things started moving, and after about an hour, Nahida was let in," he added.
While the Israeli's family already knows about the relationship, the Pakistani born has not yet told her parents about it 'in fear they would be shocked'.
Nahida has left Israel for home but the couple are determined to make their relationship work despite difficulties.
"I have always loved Israel. I can definitely see myself living here," Nahida told the web portal hours before taking her flight.
The 'Seeds of Peace' organisation brings together people from belligerent countries to its camps for seminars on coexistence and reconciliation.
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