by Yoav Peck Director of Community Relations Parents Circle – Families Forum March 5, 2022 Bereaved Palestinian and Israeli members pay a visit to the family of Iyad al-Hallaq, a 32-year old Palestinian with autism who was killed on May 30, 2020 “If he were to live again, we would kill him again.” This was … Continue reading Sorrow and Rage
Jerusalem High School Students Speak Out After Attack against Parents Circle program
Israeli right-wing demonstrators protesting against a Parents Circle Dialogue Meeting at a Jerusalem public high school on Sunday, January 23rd with signs reading “Death to Terrorists” (photo credit: Leah Solomon) Earlier this week, our Dialogue Meeting program came under attack. Right-wing activists, led by Israeli Member of Knesset Ben-Gvir, protested outside of a Jerusalem public high … Continue reading Jerusalem High School Students Speak Out After Attack against Parents Circle program
A Valued New Year
by Yoav PeckDirector of Community RelationsParents Circle – Families Forum December 31, 2021 Bereaved Palestinian and Israeli members at the 2019 PCFF Members’ Conference 50 years ago this evening, was my first New Year in Israel. Like many other long-haired wanderers from the California ’60’s, I volunteered on a kibbutz, shouldering 70 lb. bunches of … Continue reading A Valued New Year
In response to settler violence
This past weekend bereaved Israeli and Palestinian members of the Parents Circle visited the Palestinian village near Tubas — a Bedouin village that continues to suffer from damage and destruction at the hands of Israeli settlers. While there, we heard from Mahdi Qadri, the head of the local Bedouin council, and residents of the village … Continue reading In response to settler violence
To be honest, I’m scared
by Osama Abu AyyashPalestinian Co-DirectorParents Circle – Families Forum To be honest, the recent settler violence against Palestinians and their villages in the West Bank has me scared. I’m worried about the escalation in violence. I’m worried about the state of terrorization and fear we Palestinians are living under day in and day out. I’m … Continue reading To be honest, I’m scared
A letter from a bereaved mother to Israeli Prime Minister Bennett
by Robi Damelin Bereaved Israeli mother Parents Circle – Families Forum Photo of Naftali Bennett – Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90 To Prime Minister Bennett: How pleased we were to see you finally meeting with the most important leader of the free world, President Biden. This was your chance for a new opportunity to create a bi-partisan relationship and repair … Continue reading A letter from a bereaved mother to Israeli Prime Minister Bennett
What you helped us accomplish in 2020 for peace
The Parents Circle has accomplished so much this year in the face of COVID-19, without permits and in the absence of political progress for peace. Take a look back on 2020: On Tour with Award-Winning Apeirogon: In February, 2020, Colum McCann’s critically-acclaimed novel, Apeirogon was published and shortly thereafter, Stephen Spielberg purchased the film rights. The story is inspired by the real-life friendship … Continue reading What you helped us accomplish in 2020 for peace
To President-Elect Biden: Help Us Restore Hope
Dear President-Elect Biden, The 600 bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families of the Parents Circle-Families Forum want to congratulate you on becoming the next president of the United States. We ask that you help us restore hope. Mr. President-Elect, you know first hand what it feels like to lose a child and a close family member. … Continue reading To President-Elect Biden: Help Us Restore Hope
Welcome to our new Israeli and Palestinian Co-Directors!
The Parents Circle – Families Forum bids a warm farewell to Co-Directors, Rami Elhanan and Bassam Aramin. Rami has served as the Israeli Co-Director of the organization since 2016. Bassam has served as Palestinian Co-Director since last year. Both helped lead the organization through the difficulties faced in the wake of the loss of USAID … Continue reading Welcome to our new Israeli and Palestinian Co-Directors!
