Last year, the group conducted some 450 such dialogues in the schools. During the course of the Friday workshop, the group raised issues and together grappled with some of the dilemmas they face as they continue to do the delicate work of reaching out to twelfth-graders in Israeli schools.
 
For many of the youths, the event is the first time they have met with a Palestinian. Many peace organizations are unable to enter the schools because of Education Ministry fears, but the Families Forum brings a non-confrontational approach, opening each encounter with sharing of their own personal stories of loss.

Critical issues arise for the teens, who are a year away from joining the IDF, and the discussions are highly charged. Thanks to the expertise of the Forum teams, difficult interactions are handled well. The kids’ engagement with the reality of Palestinian life and the responsibility that comes with maintaining an army are brought home during the 90 minute encounters. In the feedback they write, it is clear that the session contributes to opening the kids’ approach to the conflict and their future role in it.