This July, 28 young leaders from Arab and Jewish communities in Israel came together for a two-day trust-building seminar in Haifa. The seminar combined content about the conflict and the two-state solution with direct dialogue sessions between participants about narratives, perspectives, and potential partnerships to advance peace.
Seminar sessions included: a Q&A with the Geneva Initiative Director about implementing the two-state solution in the current political and security environment; an intensive training with a Middle East specialist about the different regional actors, their interests and investment in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and how to leverage diplomatic regional opportunities towards a comprehensive conflict resolution track; a session on terminology and narrative, and how to run effective dialogue and peacebuilding initiatives in war time, led by Palestinian and Israeli peace activists; small breakout group dialogue regarding experiences, identity and perspectives regarding the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; open dialogue with a former Palestinian minister about the situation on the ground in the West Bank, the impact of a ceasefire deal on Palestinian society and Palestinian commitment to a two-state solution; and a workshop on how to make change and build bridges towards peace in our own communities.
