Bereaved Israeli and Palestinian fathers—Rami Elhanan and Bassam Aramin—accepted the PL Prize in Copenhagen on behalf of the Parents Circle. The Award speech, by Anders Jerichow and Eva Maria Lassen, is below:
PL-Foundation Copenhagen,
17 January 2024 PL-Prize:
The PL-Foundation was created in 1984 by the businessman Poul Lauritzen, who as a young man played an active role in the Danish resistance movement during the Second World War. The aim of the Foundation is to support individuals and organizations struggling for human rights around the world. This aim is achieved by means of the Annual PL-Foundation Award, which was first awarded in 1987.
Traditionally the PL-Foundation has chosen the recipients of the award, both individuals and organizations, based on the following three criteria. The first criterion is that the recipient should be an extraordinary defender of human rights. The second criterion is that the recipient actively searches for peace. And the third criterion cannot be found in the Statute of the PL-Foundation, but it is nevertheless something that has characterized all award recipients in the history of the Foundation:
They are brave. Bravery can of course be awakened under many different circumstances.
I will just mention three circumstances: Some of the recipients of this award have demonstrated bravery in times of war. Others have displayed bravery in times of civil or political tension. And at times the recipient has demonstrated bravery in suffering. Bravery in suffering has been scientifically described by the Austrian Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, who was a prisoner in Auschwitz and other concentration camps during the Second World War. He observed, to his professional surprise, that some of his fellow inmates, who previously had lived normal and quite ordinary and not very courageous lives, under the immensely painful circumstances in the camp managed to deepen their humanity and show extraordinary courage.
This year’s recipient – Parents Circle – as well as their representatives who are here today, have shown bravery under all three circumstances. We would love recipients of our prize to speak on behalf of widespread popular demands or waves of popular call. Unfortunately, that is not the case today. Parents Circle is a rare association which hopes – as Rami and Bassam often say – that it won’t gain more members. And it is no secret that their effort is surrounded by severe trauma and accompanied by anger, frustration and often suspicion. This is the reality when Parents Circle seeks support for its message that the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has already claimed far too many lives. In this regard, Parents Circle reminds us of the basis of the conflict: Two peoples who will not disappear through violence. Two peoples with the same rights, equal rights. How they will organize in-between themselves in the future, the PL Foundation is not to say.
But we are convinced that Parents Circle is right when it maintains that there will be no peace through more violence and never Peace if one people will rule the other. The losses that Bassam and Rami have suffered are unbearable. And even more important: the losses are – as those we read about in the media these months – not necessary. We hope that Parents Circle will not have more members, but with this award we would like to honor the work that Bassam and Rami’s network in the Parents Circle does to remind their communities – the Palestinian and the Israeli – of a prospect that does not get the most headlines and certainly does not have a large credibility in their societies today:
The prospect of peace. Parents Circle reminds us that reconciliation is an act of the will. That cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis is possible. And that peace must necessarily be based on mutual respect and equal rights. Unfortunately, the recent events in Israel and Gaza have only weakened popular confidence in reconciliation and both the belief in — and the expectation of — anything as exotic as peace.
Bassam and Rami: some see you as simple-minded hippies, and maybe you are. Some call you traitors to your own people. Some accuse you of supporting terror. What an insult. Bassam, Rami and Parents Circle offer hope – hope that the conflict can end. We would like to honor Parents Circle with the PL Prize for a unique, immensely encouraging and truly brave effort.
