Where peace begins, the bereaved parents bringing hope to a divided land

Where peace begins, the bereaved parents bringing hope to a divided land

A group of bereaved families from Israel and Palestine are coming together to transform their pain into a powerful force for peace. Despite being physically and metaphorically separated by a wall, these families are bonded by the unimaginable loss of a child. This grassroots movement, known as the Parents Circle – Families Forum (PCFF), is made up of individuals who have tragically lost children in the ongoing conflict between the two nations. Their shared goal is to foster understanding and reconciliation in a time when animosity between their communities seems insurmountable.

One such individual is Bassam Aramin, who grew up in a small village in the West Bank and had brushes with violence at a young age. Following his own path to reconciliation, Aramin eventually co-founded Combatants for Peace in 2005, a group aimed at bringing Israelis and Palestinians together to work towards peace. Tragically, in 2007, Aramin’s 10-year-old daughter was shot and killed by an Israeli border policeman, further fueling his commitment to the PCFF and its mission of peacebuilding through dialogue and understanding.

Robi Damelin, another bereaved parent and key figure in the PCFF, hails from South Africa and has a background in activism against apartheid. Her son, David, was killed while serving in the military in a volatile area, leading Robi to join the Parents Circle in 2002. Through their shared experiences of loss and pain, members of the PCFF engage in dialogue meetings, share personal stories, and reject revenge in favor of reconciliation and peace.

In the face of ongoing violence and political turmoil, the PCFF has continued its efforts to foster understanding and compassion between Israelis and Palestinians. By sharing their stories and engaging in difficult

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