As the reality outside becomes more and more tumultuous, as the war and destruction continue, and as the relations with the “other” becomes further unstable, a clear difficulty arises in shared spaces for Palestinians and Jews to work, learn and live together. In this context, the challenge of holding political dialogue meetings between Palestinians and Jews seems greater than ever.

The challenge is particularly great in universities, which have become a central arena for the persecution and silencing of Palestinian students, alongside professors who have criticized the war. The diminished sense of safety and trust among the Palestinian and Jewish students, following this persecution as well as the war, have led to uncertain terms when it comes to carrying out our university dialogue courses.

And still, despite these difficulties, on February 3, 2024 we initiated the 33rd cycle of “The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict; a Theoretical and Experience Based Lens” course at Tel Aviv University under the direction of Dr. Nava Sonnenschein and Abeer Halabi. The course has sixteen students, with an equal number of Palestinian and Jewish students. Throughout the semester, through bi-national and uni-national dialogue, students get to explore their own identity and that of the other group, the power relations that shape the encounter, and personal and group responsibility.

One of the Palestinian participants shared about her current experience in the course: “The course has helped me mentally, every time we meet I feel I get to be more authentic… we are able to take down our walls… and this makes me feel strong… which is a feeling I don’t get to have outside of here. “

We believe it is important to create a safe space for students within the academy, where they can express and process their feelings in relation to their national identity, the asymmetric power relations, and the events of the war.

In the second semester, 4 similar courses will be initiated in different academic institutions across the country, and we are particularly excited to share that we have formed a new partnership with Achva College, where a dialogue course will be held in the second semester this year.