As I write this, we are still witnessing the darkest days the Israel-Palestine region has ever known. And yet, rather than working to end the devastation and move towards a shared future, we are seeing from political leaders the same ultranationalist ideologies, with calls for continued destruction, expulsion, killing, and refusal to recognise that this is the homeland for all. 

We were first introduced to Solutions Not Sides back in December as part of an effort to create a more open environment for discussing the ongoing conflict. Their workshops provide a safe space for constructive conversations, encouraging students to ask questions and engage thoughtfully with the topic.
 

'Invaluable insight statistics and headlines fail to convey'

For many of us, discussions about the Israel-Palestine conflict are heated and take place online. My experience with the Bridge Builders Programme (BBP) completely challenged that idea and showed me how doing so can lead to a deeper understanding of the issue itself.

The gift of offline spaces for difficult discussions:

“Ma nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilot?” - Why is this night different from all other nights?

This article was written in collaboration with Diverse Educators.

Dialogue is fundamental to building relationships and resolving differences. It is a crucial tool for addressing conflicts, yet when pain and injustice run deep, the idea of engaging in dialogue can feel futile - or even wrong.