On May 15th, Palestinians recognize Nakba Day, a commemoration of the Nakba (Arabic for catastrophe). This day is held to remember the destruction, forced displacement, and loss of life that occurred in 1948 following the creation of the State of Israel, and the devastation that continues to happen to this day due to the occupation. … Continue reading “For me, Nakba Day is today and every day”
Statement on violence in Israel and Palestine
I’m watching the news and horrified to learn of more needless, senseless deaths. More bereaved. More unbelievable pain. More families grieving for loved ones. It is incredibly devastating. I am also aware that the shooting in Tel Aviv tonight, like the recent acts of violence in Israel over the past month, did not take … Continue reading Statement on violence in Israel and Palestine
Sorrow and Rage
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
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
Picture this scenario
by Osama Abu Ayyash and Yuval RahamimCo-DirectorsParents Circle – Families Forum November 6, 2021 Learn more about our campaign to stand in solidarity with Palestinian communities affected by settler violence Picture this scenario. More than a hundred enemies, who have every right to want to kill each other, enjoying a picnic together. Sounds unimaginable, right? … Continue reading Picture this scenario
Sharing hardship and solidarity on the Dead Sea – Members Picnic
by Yoav PeckDirector of Community RelationsParents Circle – Families Forum November 5, 2021 After two years of separation and Zooming, today 225 Palestinian and Israeli Parents Circle members and their families came from across the West Bank and Israel to meet each other at the Dead Sea. At the lowest place on earth, those who have … Continue reading Sharing hardship and solidarity on the Dead Sea – Members Picnic
Acknowledgement in Kfar Qasem
by Yoav PeckDirector of Community RelationsParents Circle – Families Forum October 30, 2021 Israel’s new president, Yitzhak Herzog, did yesterday what our parliament could not. He stood at the village of Kafr Qasem, where 65 years ago Israeli forces killed 49 Arab Israeli citizens returning from work, because they did not observe the curfew whose … Continue reading Acknowledgement in Kfar Qasem
Visit to Wadi Fukin
by Mohammad al-BawPalestinian Community Relations ManagerParents Circle – Families Forum Today, Israeli and Palestinian alumni of the Parents Circle’s Parallel Narrative Program visited the West Bank village of Wadi Fukin, near Bethlehem. They heard from residents about daily life in the village and about the problems they face from settlers. The village is surrounded by … Continue reading Visit to Wadi Fukin
The challenges of bringing reconciliation to schools
by Yoav PeckDirector of Community RelationsParents Circle – Families Forum Last Friday, Parents Circle – Families Forum staff organized a learning day for 30 Israeli and Palestinian facilitators of the Forum’s Dialogue Meeting program in schools. The Palestinians travelled hours from across the West Bank to get to the meeting at our Tel Aviv office, … Continue reading The challenges of bringing reconciliation to schools
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
