TRANSCRIPT
Peace in the Middle East is unlikely to be brokered in a building just around the corner from London’s Kensington Palace.
But sitting at a conference table are two dozen regular people, Israelis and Palestinians… negotiating.
In the hope it will lead to something much bigger.
“Palestinians want different things, so do Israelis, you’re not one voice.”
Overseeing the conference is Sapir Handelman… an Israeli conflict resolution expert.
“You cannot win these battles by force, you need a strategic plan, when the leadership does not have a strategic plan, the citizens have to come in and do it.”
The Hamas attacks of October 7… and the ensuing War in Gaza… mean compromise is not front of mind.
“Has what’s happened over the last year and half made your job more difficult, bringing Israelis and Palestinians together?”
“Not more difficult, it makes it almost impossible. After the 7th of October, all the classical symptoms of intractable conflict were on turbo.”
So the decision was made to move this peace initiative abroad.
Not that distance has tempered views.
“If you’re not recognising occupation and wanting to end the occupation, how can I speak with you and put practical things with you?”
“When someone says ‘don’t send arms to Israel’ it’s almost the threat of death.”
For some, their desire to negotiate a peace… is fuelled by grief… to ensure no-one else endures what they have.
Magen Inon is the son of October 7 victims and has suffered incredible loss… but is now a high-profile campaigner for a ceasefire.
“Having lost my parents on October 7, my siblings and I have really looking for opportunities to end the bloodshed between Israelis and Palestinians. People with skin in the game sometimes understand each more than people who have very strong opinions, but actually they’re not losing anything by having that opinion.”
This concept has its limitations… there were no right-wing Israelis at the table…
… and for many Palestinians, the idea of sitting down to negotiate remains a difficult one given the devastation in Gaza.
Leila Sansour is a Palestinian filmmaker.
“I tell you, most of my friends would not sit at this table, because there have been decades and decades of conversations like this where the Israelis overrule the Palestinian will. For example you demand some kind of abstract eternal and permanent security for yourselves, well you’ve subjected us to a complete lack of security.”
Yet Bethlehem-based activist Amira Musallam believes talking to those you disagree with remains important… and that regular people, rather than politicians, must take the initiative.
“I think the solution should become from bottom up, that’s what we’re doing here. No-one’s leaving, not us them, 7 million and 7 million people are staying and we have to find a solution for that.”
The talks went on for three days… and participants like Israeli Neuroscientist Vilma Gabbay felt some issues would not be overcome.
“We will probably continue to have disagreement, but I think the most important thing is that we can live with the disagreement, towards peace and I think that’s the key here.”
… in the end, participants called for the establishment of two independent states…
… the immediate return of Gaza hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners…
… and the replacement of IDF troops in Gaza with an Arab-led international force.
A blueprint, they hope, for the decision makers back home.
