Artwork “Neighbors” by Jules Malice (used with permission); Words by Conor Igoe
This page contains a list of films, books, lectures, art, music and projects that show enduring collaboration, rather than antagonism, between the people of Palestine and Israel. This page hopes to show that, even in this time of unabated and furious violence, a collective pursuit of shared humanity may still be discernible, proving that non-violent pathways exist.
The main inspiration for curating the resources below is the story of Rami Elhanan and Bassam Aramin at the Parents Circle. They continue to connect bereaved families on both sides of the conflict to foster healing and mutual understanding, even throughout the extreme violence since the horrific October 7th attacks. When I first learned of Rami and Bassam’s story, I was taken by the incredible degree of humanity and hope in the face of extreme violence and loss. As an Irish person, whose home has endured its own traumatic journey with peace and understanding, these are important topics to me that do not receive just coverage in mainstream media.
Although there are far more qualified opinions than mine when it comes to the Israel-Palestine conflict, sharing draft versions of this list with friends and colleagues led me to believe that many others also find these stories and projects to be a faint source of hope in what is an unspeakably tragic time, underscoring the urgency and necessity for an immediate ceasefire.
The intercultural resources below are curated with the help of some thoughtful Jewish friends and colleagues at CMU, the University of Pittsburgh, and Repair the World Pittsburgh to serve as a reminder of and testament to the possibilities for human creativity and alliance even when that seems almost unthinkable.
Some important notes:
- *Things are dire. No collection of curated resources is sufficient to resolve this crisis. Personally, I strongly believe a ceasefire is the first step along the only acceptable pathway forward, though I know this position is far from universal. If you are in the United States, you can learn about helpful ways to express your support for ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid from your local Jewish Voice for Peace group. Regardless of your position, I believe the resources on this page are relevant and timely, showing the value in considering the people of Israel and Palestine as distinct from their respective governments and national policies. At the very least, I believe the stories and initiatives below dispel the pernicious myth that the conflict involves two communities that will always be inherently incompatible.*
- The resources below are not intended to be an introduction to the conflict, nor to replace crucial readings and perspectives on the conflict. For a short, accessible introduction, Al Jazeera’s Simple Guide is useful, and a more in-depth historical overview by Neil Caplan is available here. A readable and insightful introduction to the ethics of violence, peace and peace research by Johan Galtung is available here, and a discussion of the importance of creativity and empathy in resolving conflicts by John Paul Lederach is available here (summary here). Specific peace process treaties that address traumas since October 7th are beyond the scope of this page, but previous proposals are available here, and the key role of the US as of February 2024 is discussed by the International Crisis Group here.
- I am aware of the privilege I have as someone not immediately affected by the ongoing conflict. I understand that the scale of the atrocities makes a conversation about mutual understanding unthinkable to many. My intention with this list is not to invalidate other calls to action or writings of the conflict, but to surface stories and projects that I have found to be sources of hope so that others might also more readily envision an alternative pathway forward.
- I’m not an expert when it comes to the Israel-Palestine conflict, and this list is not intended to be exhaustive in its illustration of intercultural initiatives. If you have comments or suggestions for additional resources worth including in this list please get in touch with me.
Films
Lectures & Academic Projects
Books
Bi-National Peace Activist Organisations & Projects
Music & Art
The opinions above are my own, but I am grateful for the discussions, advice and contributions from many friends and colleagues including: