Experience the power of parallel narratives as a tool for understanding the 鈥渙ther.鈥 Join us for one or more of the scheduled events to better understand the value of dialogue, tolerance, reconciliation and peace not only within the Israeli-Palestinian context, but also as it relates to racial conflict within the United States and effective atrocity prevention generally.
The Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention (I-GMAP) proudly presents
a week of visiting practitioners from the (PCFF).
Monday, March 29
12:00 鈥 1:30 PM: Stories of Two Fathers (Public Event)
The stories of Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan have been presented in the 2012 documentary film 鈥淲ithin the Eye of the Storm鈥 (to be shown on Tuesday) and portrayed in Colum McCann鈥檚 novel (2020, Random House). Come hear them tell their stories and then respond to your questions. Bassam Aramin lives in Jericho in the West Bank. At the age of 17, he was incarcerated and spent 7 years in an Israeli jail. He went on to study history and holds an MA in Holocaust studies from the University of Bradford, England. He became a member of the Parents Circle in 2007 after losing his 10-year-old daughter Abir, who was killed by an Israeli border policeman in front of her school. Bassam devotes his time and energies to his conviction for a peaceful, non-violent end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine and to Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation. Bassam is the former Palestinian Co-director of PCFF. Rami Elhanan is a 7th generation Jerusalemite. He identifies himself as a Jew, an Israeli, and before everything else a human being. On the first day of the school year in 1997, Rami鈥檚 daughter, Smadar, was killed by two Palestinian suicide bombers who murdered 5 people that day. Soon after, Rami joined the Parents Circle, and speaks before Israeli, Palestinian and International audiences. Rami is the former Israeli Co-director of PCFF.
Tuesday, March 30
10:00 鈥 11:30 AM: Stories of Two Mothers (Public Event)
This event will begin by sharing a short video of PCFF actions in recognition of (2021) including a event, followed by the personal stories of Layla Alsheikh and Robi Damelin. It will conclude with opportunities for questions from the audience. Layla Alsheikh lives in Bethlehem in the West Bank. In 2002, her 6 months old son, Qussay, became ill and Israeli soldiers prevented Layla from taking him to the hospital for more than five hours. Qussay soon died from the lack of timely treatment. Layla joined the Parents Circle in 2016. Following her son鈥檚 death, she never thought of revenge, but rather has devoted her time and energy to ensuring a better, more peaceful future for her children. Robi Damelin鈥檚 son, David, was killed by a Palestinian sniper in 2002 while guarding a checkpoint near a settlement during his army reserve service. She speaks to Israelis, Palestinians, and audiences all over the world to demand that reconciliation be a part of any peace agreement. Robi was named a 2015 Woman of Impact by Women in the World.
7:00 PM: Film Screenings and Discussion (Public Event)
Watch the documentary film 鈥溾 (1 hour, 10 minutes) and the short USAID story 鈥溾 (4 minutes) and then participate in a group discussion of the lessons for other contexts.
Wednesday, March 31
2:00 鈥 3:30 PM: Restorative Justice (University Event)
Join Robi Damelin for a conversation about what she has learned about Restorative Justice from her personal experience and through her global activities with PCFF.
7:00 PM: Film Screening and Discussion (Public Event)
Watch the documentary film 鈥淥ne Day After Peace鈥 (2 hours) which traces Robi Damelin鈥檚 journey to examine whether the South African truth and reconciliation processes could be applied to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Thursday, April 1
10:00-11:30 AM: The Stories of Two Brothers (Public Event)
This event will begin by sharing a of Arab Aramin and Yigal Elhanan speaking together in 2015 at a Peace Vigil in Belgium, followed by the personal stories of Arab and Yigal. It will conclude with opportunities for questions from the audience, and reflections on the role of young people in peace, conflict resolution and atrocity prevention. Yigal Elhanan is 28 years old. When he was 4 years old, his sister, Smadar, was killed in a Palestinian suicide bombing in Jerusalem. Yigal is a member and activist in the PCFF. His father, Rami Elhanan, formerly served as the Israeli Co-Director of the organization. Arab Aramin is 26 years old. In 2007, his sister Abir was shot and killed in front of her school by an Israeli border police officer. Arab is a member and activist in the PCFF. His father, Bassam Aramin, formerly served as the Palestinian Co-Director of the organization.
Friday, April 2
11:00 AM -12:00 Noon: Reflections on a Week of Stories (Public Event)
Open drop-in time for reflection on lessons from the PCFF visits as applied to the United States context discussion facilitated by I-GMAP.
12:00 Noon 鈥 1:00 PM: Learn More about Atrocity Prevention (Public Event)
Open drop-in time for information about I-GMAP activities, including opportunities for an , a graduate certificate, and a new master鈥檚 degree in GMAP.
