by Yoav PeckDirector of Community RelationsParents Circle – Families Forum PCFF co-Directors, Osama Abu Ayyash and Yuval Rahamim, were joined by others from the Forum to extend their condolences to the Al-Alami family at the loss of their 12 year old son, Mohammed Al-Alami, at the family’s home in Beit Umar in the West Bank. … Continue reading Horror and Hope in Beit Ummar
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
Ending the circle of grief | Robi Damelin
by Robi Damelin Bereaved Israeli mother Parents Circle – Families Forum The people of Israel were recently made aware of the fact that since April 2016, the country has been holding the remains of 68 Palestinians – a statistic provided by the B’Tselem human rights group. It seems that Israel’s government believes these remains could … Continue reading Ending the circle of grief | Robi Damelin
You are our source of hope
Osama Abuayyash (left) and Yuval Rahamim (Photographer: Vardi Kahana) When we embarked on this journey as Co-Directors of the Parents Circle this past June, we knew it would not be easy working against the current of prejudices, eroding trust, and shallow, violent rhetoric. As active members of the Parents Circle, we were well prepared for this challenge. What … Continue reading You are our source of hope
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
The Forward: Israelis and Palestinians mourn our losses together on Yom Hazikaron
by Shiri Ourian Executive DirectorAmerican Friends of the Parents Circle Fighting dangerous pathogens that rip through societies is not new to joint Israeli-Palestinian organizations like the Parents Circle-Families Forum and Combatants for Peace. Fear, hatred, and dehumanization, like viruses, are invisible. They are often asymptomatic in many and lead to senseless fatalities in others. COVID-19 and fear, … Continue reading The Forward: Israelis and Palestinians mourn our losses together on Yom Hazikaron
Thoughts on COVID-19 and peacebuilding
by Robi Damelin Bereaved Israeli mother Parents Circle – Families Forum Dear friends, Sitting here after three weeks of lockdown, I have had a chance to ruminate and feel so grateful for your support and friendship. Without you, the struggle we have at the Parents Circle – Families Forum towards reconciliation and non-violence would not have been possible. … Continue reading Thoughts on COVID-19 and peacebuilding
My 2020 Resolutions
by Robi Damelin Bereaved Israeli mother Parents Circle – Families Forum It’s simple to make a personal New Year’s resolution, which you inevitably break by January 2nd. But it’s another matter entirely to make resolutions on behalf of an organization, especially an organization made up of Palestinian and Israeli bereaved families. Imagine the trust involved and the goodwill from both sides when … Continue reading My 2020 Resolutions
I am so proud of my grandchildren
by Robi Damelin Bereaved Israeli mother Parents Circle – Families Forum This year, the Parents Circle’s Youth Summer Camp had a very special flavor for me. My two grandchildren took part. They left with so much new knowledge. They also left with an understanding of the humanity of the Palestinians who were their roommates and … Continue reading I am so proud of my grandchildren
Exposing Israelis Beyond the Wall
by Eyal Rozin, an Israeli Parents Circle – Families Forum member I recently hosted a Parents Circle Dialogue Meeting in my home. I took part in the Parents Circle’s Parallel Narrative Experience (PNE) a few months ago. The PNE is an intense process of meetings between Israelis and Palestinians to get to know each other. The … Continue reading Exposing Israelis Beyond the Wall
