Tools for Respectful Conversations Across Political Divides
Resources and programs designed to foster empathy, critical thinking, and constructive dialogue in the context of Israel-Palestine.
For the Sake of Argument
For the Sake of Argument is a non-partisan educational initiative that develops tools and techniques to help you engage in healthy arguments.
For class room educators, I especially recommend downloading these stories written during the 2024 war surrounding the question of how to have conversations about the hostages, antisemitism, ceasefire, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Moral Courage College
Moral Courage College teaches people to turn contentious issues into constructive conversations and healthy teamwork.
This video highlights five essential skills for constructive dialogue:
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Breathe Deeply
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Create common ground
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Ask a sincere question
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Listen to learn
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Tell me more
Parallel Histories
In December 2024, about 50 students aged 13 to 18 took part in a session, organized by Parallel Histories, an educational charity working with more than 1,000 schools across the UK and a further 400 worldwide. The Parallel Histories method -- developed by the late LRGS history teacher Michael Davies after he took pupils on what now seems an unimaginable school trip to Israel and the West Bank in 2014 -- encourages children not to shy away from competing narratives but to lay them out, side by side. They are taught to examine the source evidence and debate alternative interpretations before coming to their own view.
Dual Narrative Education Centre
A project of InterAct International, this is a multilingual (English, Hebrew, Arabic) and interactive hub offering comprehensive information on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from various perspectives. Through storytelling, opinion pieces, academic articles, books, and films, the DNEC aims to foster mutual understanding and empathy among Israelis, Palestinians, and the global community.
I highly recommend watching the Personal Stories Series, which features the stories and experiences of Palestinian and Israeli women in a series of interviews and conversations hosted by InterAct.
Solutions Not Sides
Israel-Palestine Education that promotes critical thinking about Win-Win solutions.
Solutions Not Sides has been teaching skills of empathy, active listening, communication, critical thinking and conflict resolution through exploration of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict since 2010. Their program is based on three key values: non-violence, equality for all, and the rejection of hatred.
Recommended Resource
SNS School Assembly - Listening to Palestinian & Israeli voices when violence is in the media.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is currently prominent in our media headlines, and may be affecting students at your school. It is better to support students to learn about and discuss this difficult topic than trying to shut it down. Please click here to download presentation resources that include a script for the presenter and a short film for an assembly (approx 30 minutes).
Watch and Discuss
'The Narrow Bridge"
Award-winning documentary The Narrow Bridge tells the powerful stories of Israeli and Palestinian women and men who lost a child or parent in the ongoing conflict. Yet alongside their terrible grief, Bushra, Rami, Meytal and Bassam show us how to engage in constructive dialogue with empathy.
All four are members of Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families, a grassroots organisation committed to understanding the pain of the other and working towards peace. Through the film we witness their tools for Respectful Conversations as they hold regular parallel narrative workshops and an annual joint memorial for victims of the conflict on both sides, demonstrating a model for people dealing with trauma and conflict everywhere.
The film is at the heart of the Bridge Builders Social Cohesion Program that fosters respectful conversations, breaks down stereotypes and builds intercultural understanding. The program, which also Includes a comprehensive study guide and educational modules, is designed for high schools, universities and community organisations.
Within Australia The Narrow Bridge can be viewed on Apple TV+ and an abridged version on Compass
Since Oct 7 and the war in Gaza, the film has been updated. From anywhere in the world, please contact the filmmaker for a link to The Very Narrow Bridge and enquiries about the Building Bridges Social Cohesion Program.