On August 3-4th, we held a two-day seminar for 20 young Jewish and Palestinian religious leaders from Israel and the West Bank. The participants, including ultra-orthodox Jews and those on the political right, heard from conflict experts about the core issues of the conflict, the solutions proposed in the Geneva Accord, the relationship between religion and the conflict, and the judicial overhaul. The group also discussed difficult and controversial topics, personal perspectives, and their beliefs in the possibility of the two-state solution.
Following the seminar, a right-wing Jewish participant wrote:
“I arrived skeptical, but participating in the Geneva Initiative seminar was a defining event for me. Today I look at the conflict, and the people behind it, through different lenses, more complex and inclusive. I recommend specifically right-wing people to attend, but when you choose to go, bring one toolbox with you – listening.”
