Beyond the daily violence of the Middle East conflict, there are numerous civil society protagonists and initiatives campaigning for comprehensive peace and a two-state solution in the region. We present just a few of them in this dossier. More »
Interview with Daniel Barenboim
Pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim has founded an academy in Berlin for musicians from the Middle East, an effort at easing decades of conflict. Peter Zimmermann talked to him about the background and his hopes for the project More »
The Hand in Hand School in Jerusalem
In the Holy City of Jerusalem, Jews and Arabs tend to keep out of each others' way. The Hand in Hand School, right on the Green Line, is a remarkable exception. Classes are taught there in both Arabic and Hebrew. Hans-Christian Rößler reports More »
Rabbi Arik Asherman of Rabbis for Human Rights
The Israeli organisation Rabbis for Human Rights protects Palestinian olive farmers and helps in the reconstruction of Palestinian houses. Co-founder Arik Asherman bases the group's commitment on religious sources. Andreas Baum spoke to him More »
Interview with Juliano Mer Khamis
Juliano Mer Khamis is an Israeli actor and director. His father was a Palestinian, his mother a Jew. Igal Avidan spoke with him about political radicalism, the traumas of Palestinian youths, about his most recent film and his "Freedom Theatre" project More »
Interview with the Jewish Palestinian Politician Ilan Halevi
In this interview, Palestinian politician Ilan Halevi describes the hurdles that have to be overcome on the road to statehood and speaks of the rapprochement and the animosity between Fatah and Hamas. Igal Avidan spoke to him at a conference organised by the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Berlin More »
The Israeli NGO ''Breaking the Silence''
The Israeli NGO "Breaking the Silence" shows the excesses of the Israeli army in the Palestinian territories. The activists are not pro-Palestine activists, but former Israeli army soldiers More »
Interview with Sari Nusseibeh
The Palestinian intellectual Sari Nusseibeh has been engaged for many years in different Israeli-Palestinian peace initiatives. In this interview with Igal Avidan he talks about the chances for an Israeli-Palestinian accord More »
Obituary: Dan Bar-On
The Israeli psychologist and author Dan Bar-On died in Tel Aviv on 4 September. Bar-On was a leading force in the field of intercultural conflict management between Israelis and Palestinians. An obituary by Alexandra Senfft More »
Parents Circle – Families Forum
The Israeli-Palestinian organisation Parents Circle – Families Forum is made up of families who have lost close relatives in the conflict and want to work towards reconciliation. A report by Thomas Becker More »
Interview with Uri Avnery
Uri Avnery, a journalist and founder of the Israeli peace movement "Gush Shalom", says that Israel lacks a strong leader who would be able to push through a peace agreement with Syria and the Palestinians. He spoke with Lina Hoffmann More »
Interview with Sari Nusseibeh
Sari Nusseibeh, a prominent Palestinian philosopher, says that the two-state solution is no longer viable. In this interview with Naima El Moussaoui, he argues that a single Jewish state on the whole territory in exchange for second-class Palestinian status could help move the situation out of gridlock More »
Interview with the Israeli Historian Moshe Zimmermann
According to Moshe Zimmermann, the Israeli government is opposed to anything that could lead to the foundation of a Palestinian state. Susanne Knaul spoke to the historian More »
The Middle East Conflict in the Schools
In a jointly written history textbook, Israelis and Palestinians attempt to understand 60 years of hostility. Arnfrid Schenk reports on a unique project of reconciliation More »
Peace Prize for David Grossman
Not a pacifist, but an advocate of negotiation: Lothar Müller explains why the Israeli author David Grossman is being awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade More »
Interview with Uri Avnery
The Palestinian leadership wants the United Nations to recognise it as an independent state. In an interview with Diana Hodali, the well-known Israeli human rights activist Uri Avnery says this could finally lead to some progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict More »
Sari Nusseibeh: A Palestinian Looks Back
Sari Nusseibeh's account of his life in Palestine is a story which goes well beyond the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Andreas Pflitsch says the book is a multi-faceted portrait of its times More »
The Photographer Judah Passow
The photographer Judah Passow, four times awarded with the World Press Award, abhors religious fervour and works towards social tolerance. Alexandra Senfft met with Passow in London and offers us a portrait of the man More »
Israel and the Peace Process
Current upheaval in the Arab world has even reached Syria – but Israel's actions could yet push it into further international isolation. By Avi Primor, former Israeli ambassador to Germany More »
Portrait: Uri Avnery
Uri Avnery has been a leading figure in the Israeli peace movement for a long time. Ulrike Vestring portrays the journalist and politician - the first Israeli peace activist who officially met with Yassir Arafat More »
