Dear Friends,

Today we are launching the 17th Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Ceremony, co-hosted by Combatants for Peace and Parents Circle-Families Forum. The ceremony transforms the single, militarised narrative by bringing together Israelis and Palestinians to remember their loved ones that were lost to the conflict, and to share the pain of the “other” – all this while the conflict continues around us. The ceremony carries an inspirational and unique message of peace and reconciliation, transforming despair into self-reflection, personal responsibility and ultimately, to hope.

The theme for the Memorial this year is ‘Place’ or מקום in Hebrew and مكان in Arabic. The ideals of belonging and roots are engrained in Israeli and Palestinian societies, and are both concepts and emotions that we will explore through the ceremony.

This year the ceremony feels even more poignant and relevant. As the humanitarian crisis continues in Ukraine and more lives are lost, the effects of this violence will be felt for decades to come. Our memorial is an opportunity to pause and re-frame beliefs, challenge the status-quo, and look for humanity even in the darkest of places.