In mid-March, we brought together a group of Israeli and Palestinian women from government ministries, political advisory positions, journalists and other influential backgrounds for a multi-day seminar focused on understanding the regional, security, and policy opportunities of the current conflict context combined with intensive dialogue work to bridge the vast divides in narrative, experience, and media. Conversations were sensitive and occasionally tense, but teh relationships that developed showed that despite significant differences and ongoing pain, the underlying shared desire to see a better future in this region is stronger than the gaps in experience and narrative. Discussions covered media coverage of the conflict on either side, public opinion trends, the viability of the two-state solution in the current political context, and the opportunities and challenges presented by different regional actors. Participants came back with increased motivation to work towards a political solution to the conflict.
