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the human side of the conflict with the
American public to further support
efforts for peace.
Members pledge to uphold the
sancticty of life, to practice nonviolence,
refrain from “us vs. them” hate speech,
acknowledge and understand the pain
of the other side, listen with empathy
even when they don’t agree, and strive
to be a peacemaker (see the pledge at
parentscirclefriends.org/pledge.)
Now, as the numbers of people killed
skyrocket in both nations, the need
for initiatives that advocate for non-
violence and offer bereavement support
is greater than ever.
Robi Damelin, PCFF’s spokesperson
and director of international relations,
explains that continuing programs on
the ground is too difficult, so most
programming takes place via Zoom or
webinars. Still, this allows the public,
including Americans, to participate.
A recent webinar, for example,
featured stories of both Israelis and
Palestinians impacted by the conflict.
Speaking during the program was a
young man from Ramallah who lost
much of his family in Gaza, as well as
a man whose parents were burned to
death by Hamas on Oct. 7 in the south
of Israel.
Damelin, who lost her son, David, to
a Palestinian sniper in 2002 while he
was serving in the Israeli army reserves,
says support from other bereaved
families brought her the greatest solace.
“There is no sense in anger and
retribution,” she explains. “It doesn’t
help because it’s not going to bring back
any of those people, so we have to find
another way.”
That way, she believes, is to create a
framework for a reconciliation process
to become an integral part of a future
political peace agreement between the
two nations.
Even now, that framework has been
tested, proving its need is critical.
A group of bereaved Israeli and
Palestinian children who attended
PCFF summer camp programming
signed a charter for nonviolence and
reconciliation at the United Nations
office in Jerusalem on International
Peace Day on Sept. 21, but wanted
nothing to do with each other just a few
weeks later when the war broke out on
Oct. 7.
By slowly working with the children,
those relations have started to mend
as the kids once again are willing and
open to meet with one another.
“We have to ask ourselves, ‘What
Oasis of Peace is a small
village located in central
Israel where Israelis and
Palestinians have lived
side-by-side for decades.
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Givat Haviva International School brings
together students ages 15 to 18 from
Israeli and Palestinian communities.