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THE BRADENTON HERALD

Saturday, October 24, 1998 Section: Front Edition: Final Page: F1 LOCAL MAN CELEBRATES ACCORD Herald staff report Lou Nassar left his homeland 37 years ago. But Friday night, his spirit was with his fellow Palestinians and their neighboring Israelis celebrating the monumental peace accord.

"I left 37 years ago. One day we all hoped it all would come, all of these years. I'm just really happy," Nassar said sobbing with joy from his Manatee County home. Moments after Nassar, 56, a Muslim, heard of the peace agreement, he was online to Jewish friends in Israel sharing the news. "This is a step to implement peace, and I hope they don't listen to the radicals. On both sides there are radicals," he said. Nassar, who owns Lou's Cortez Market, 12203 Cortez Road, said even as late as Thursday, he doubted that peace would ever come to the Mideast. "To be honest, for the last few years I never thought it would come to this day, even yesterday and the day before I never thought it. After so many years, we needed to something to happen," he said. Rabbi Andrew Bossov of Temple Emanu-El in Sarasota agreed. "Who could ask for anything more after months of stalemate," said Bossov, who headed to an interfaith-interracial service Friday night. "Most people who want the peace process to move forward think this is a great period and there is excitement and hopefulness." The Rev. Park Allis, a chaplain at Manatee Community College, has spent time in Israel and has followed the problems between the two peoples. Allis said that peace is a tenant of both the Koran and Torah -- the holy books of the Muslim and Jewish religions. "This is exactly that which the religions yearn for and say should be the basis of life," he said. Allis is quick to point out that Friday's actions don't automatically mean peace. "I see it as the next step rather than the final solution," he said. "I don't know if I'll see peace in my lifetime, but hopefully my sons will." Joel Leuchter, a Manatee County resident who serves on the Jewish Federation, also is cautious about Friday's actions. "I've been following it for years. There's not a whole lot new. For the time being at least on paper they'll trust one another," Leuchter said. He points out that the Jewish community supports the peace process as a step in the right direction. "I think that it should be stressed that by and large the local Jewish community will support the peace initiative," Leuchter said. Bossov was still concerned about the Palestinian charter and language in the charter that talks about destroying Israel. "How can you make peace if you want to destroy someone?" he said. The Palestinians have agreed to eliminate anti-Israel provisions in their founding charter. Bossov added, "I hope the countries work together in integrity and sincerity to bring fruition to these plans. Without sincerity, it's just sound bites to make them sound good back home." But nothing quenched Nassar's spirit Friday night. He's already hoping to make his first trip back to the West Bank since 1971. "I can go back after I wait a while, and everyone will celebrate. One day we'll get together and be in peace and nobody dies and nobody (will be) killing anymore."

Illustration: Color mug shot: Nassar

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