What’s New

Our social business, Taking Steps, created by our Women’s Group is a powerful way you can support our work and share our message of reconciliation.

The ‘Bird of Peace’ has become our iconic symbol of reconciliation. Our Women’s Group first embroidered the symbol onto sports shoes. Women, both locally and internationally, including celebrities like Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Barbra Streisand, and Cate Blanchett have already bought the shoes and donated to the project. The second product comes in the form of a patch and shoelaces in which people can adapt their existing sports shoes into the Taking Steps product.

Learn more about the Taking Steps project, our Women’s Group, and upcoming events below!

The Parents Circle approaches fostering reconciliation in many ways. We want to share with you a look at a few of our recent achievements:

Second Annual Parallel Narrative Experience Alumni Conference

On Friday, March 4th, 130 Palestinians and Israelis gathered at Everest Hotel in Beit Jala for the second annual Parallel Narrative Experience (PNE) Alumni Conference, part of the EU-funded Across Two Narratives project.

This was the second time PCFF staff and members planned such a conference under the reality of on-going violence, the first being in the wake of the 2014 war in Gaza.

The Parents Circle Visits Italy

In March, 10 Israeli and Palestinian youth ages 14-18, traveled with two member chaperons to the Fiori diPace (Flowers of Peace) spring program, at which Israeli and Palestinian youth met to engage in dialogue with Italian youth and share their experiences in the ongoing violence, aiming to foster an understanding of the other’s point of view and a humanization of the perceived enemy

On this evening we all gather – Israelis and Palestinians – to remember the victims of violence on both sides, and to remind everyone that war is not an act of fate. The recent period in our region is a period of violence, tension and suffering for both people, and many additional families have already been added to the cycle of bereavement and pain.

This year the Memorial takes on particular importance due to the tension and violence between the two peoples, the growing hostility amongst the Israeli public and the public debate over the rights of each side to mourn its own. This year, more than ever, we need your help.

Each year we are forced to take even larger halls, still unable to accommodate all who wish to attend this special event – which in many ways has become the annual expression of the pain but also the hopes of Israelis and Palestinians who seek peace and an end to the occupation. Please help spread the word about this event on social media, and consider making a donation to help us make this event a reality.

As in the past, the ceremony will be carried live on the Internet, in English, Arabic, and Hebrew.  Further details may be found here and on the website of Combatants for Peace and the website of The Parents Circle- Families Forum. Information may be also found on the Facebook page of the Memorial Ceremony.

To view the short film on the 2015 ceremony, click here.

American Friends introduces you to the Israeli and Palestinian Board Chairs of the Parents Circle-Families Forum. Both Wajeeh Tumaizee and Yael Admi lost brothers to the violence in Israel and Palestine, and both have dedicated their time and leadership to the Parents Circle and its mission.

Today, on International Women’s Day, we celebrate the work of the bereaved Palestinian and Israeli women of the Parents Circle and their personal journeys towards reconciliation.

Last summer, the American Friends of the Parents Circle successfully raised funds that went towards training 45 Israeli and Palestinian women to become stronger leaders for peace. The trainings have strengthened their capacity to facilitate dialogue meetings, improved their public speaking skills and provided them with storytelling coaching from veteran facilitators.

With more trained female facilitators, the Parents Circle is better equipped to hold “Women to Women” Dialogue meetings. Newly trained female facilitators have held two Women to Women Dialogue Meetings since their training.  By sharing their personal narratives of loss and and their choice of reconciliation, the women draw the groups together. Individuals from the “other side” are no longer seen as enemies to be hated or feared but as humans who want to be acknowledged and respected.

This past weekend, more than 150 Israeli and Palestinian Parents Circle members, staff and alumni of the Parents Circle’s Narrative Project marched together in solidarity at the Freedom March in honor of International Women’s Day.

As part of PCFF’s “Narratives for Change” project, Israeli and Palestinian women come together regularly for “Women to Women” Dialogue meetings. Here, the participants are given a safe space to share personal narratives about those they’ve lost in the conflict, and to share questions, expectations, fears, and hopes about ongoing reconciliation and peace efforts.

Thank you to all who generously contributed to our Indiegogo campaign and for helping make this opportunity possible for so many women!