Building Freedom and Trust Together

Publications on our Website

  • Think of Others. A letter from Be’er-Sheba

    Think of Others. A letter from Be’er-Sheba

    When you wage your wars, think of others (and don’t forget the peace seekers). When you sleep and count the stars, think about others (some people can’t find a place to sleep).

    In this text written by the Arab-Palestinian poet and creator Mahmoud Darvish, the basic mechanism inherent in all of us humans is embodied. A mechanism that has been severely damaged since October 7th.

    Over the years, during security crises in Israel, we saw in our Jewish-Arab school in Be’er Sheva that the children are the first to adapt back to play and talk to each other- no matter what is their identity. For them, the mechanism of think about others is much easy and natural, unlike us adults.

    Our school in Be’er Sheva is happy to take part in this joint exhibition with children from Gaza. Paintings are a great means of thinking about others. To know his or her pain, but also his or her dream and hope, in Israel and Gaza. If we can all know better how to strengthen the ‘muscle’ of compassion and tolerance towards those who are different from us, it will move us a serious step forward to a better future.

     This is how we have been educating our children for over 15 years. And NOW more than ever, despite all the difficulties and challenges, it is important that we continue to promote this mission.  

    Thanks to all the organizers who took part in the production of this brave and exciting exhibition.

    Thank you,

    The Bilingual school of the Hagar Association, Be’er Sheva, Israel

  • A Letter to the World from Gaza

    A Letter to the World from Gaza

    My name is Marwa, a 42-year-old mother of six creative and beautiful children. We live in Gaza, a place where the word “home” has become fragile, and where peace feels like a distant dream — but one I still hold on to.

    For years, I have worked with children to promote peace and coexistence. I helped organize an art exhibition that brought together drawings by children from Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and even the Netherlands. These children — through their crayons and colors — expressed dreams of unity, love, and a world without fear.

    But war has exhausted us. Our house was bombed. My family and I were injured. We have lost so much — yet, I refuse to lose hope.

    I speak now not only as a mother, but as a human being. I speak for my children and for all children who deserve to wake up to the sound of laughter, not explosions.

    To the world: please do not look away. We need your voice. We need your action. We need an end to this war.

    Let children live, let families breathe, let us build a future where peace is stronger than hate.

    We are still here. We are still alive. And we still believe in peace.

    Thank you.

  • Our Manifest

    We work on the civic level, driven by participants while cultivating mutual trust, and empathy.

    We recognize the trauma and pain of our shared past, along with the differences in the narratives that have shaped it. With this in mind, we encourage openness, a willingness to learn, and an effort to understand and connect with each other’s perspectives on history.

    We do not work towards political solutions to the conflict, but we believe in dialogues and activities that are conducted with sincerity and mutual respect.

    We cannot change history – but together we can build a hopeful common future, based on mutual respect. 

  • The Amsterdam Declaration

    Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, stands as a testament to the resilience of its residents, who united to overcome the relentless threat of flooding. Through cooperation and collective effort, the city transformed adversity into strength, showcasing the power of community.

    Inspired by this civic history, we aim to build unity and strength between Palestinians and Israelis through a European-based collaboration..

    Amsterdam’s legacy as the birthplace of citizen-led global trade initiatives has fostered a deep sense of participation and engagement. Coupled with its long-standing tradition of openness, liberalism, and tolerance, the city provides the ideal setting for for the launch of GazEl, bringing together Gazans and Israelis living in Europe to work on the citizen2citizen level rather than the political arena.