School for Peace

The School for Peace (SFP), established 1984, was the first Jewish – Palestinian institution to bring professionals and activists together in non-confrontational dialogue courses that lead to cooperation and a greater understanding of the issues faced by each side in the conflict. Nearly 100,000 Jews and Palestinians from Israel, as well as Palestinians from the Occupied Territories have taken part in its programs.

Mental health professionals, environmental activists, human rights lawyers, journalists, tour guides, politicians, artists, architects and urban planners are just some of the professionals who have benefited from the unique dialogue courses offered in the SFP. In addition, courses are offered in a number of universities and institutes of higher education.

The courses are led by facilitators who are trained in a special, intensive SFP course. These facilitators work in pairs – one Arabic-speaking, one Hebrew-speaking – to lead binational courses in the dialogue method developed in the SFP. This proven method is designed to help participants face their own preconceived notions, to evaluate their primary issues, and to speak about them and hear the other side in positive, cooperation-building sessions.

The facilitators also work with the SFP to offer consultancy to organizations in which Palestinians and Jews work together, and where the power structure is unequal. Their clients have included mental health centers, hospitals and university faculty.

Graduates of the facilitators program and similar dialogue courses have gone on to lead peace, social change, and human rights organizations in Israel and Palestine. The SFP invests in its alumni by creating alumni hubs in which professionals meet to develop projects and ways to positively influence their professions; and it has started an annual alumni conference in which alumni of all the courses can meet and discuss general issues that affect the ability of Palestinians and Jews to work toward common goals.

For more information please visit the School for Peace website: https://sfpeace.org/