Next Monday: The Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial

The Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial is taking place on next Monday, 24th April, on the eve of Yom Hazikaron, sponsored by Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle – Families Forum a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization of over 600 families all of whom have lost an immediate family member to the ongoing occupation of the territories

According Combatants for Peace, “Now in its 18th year, the Ceremony is a chance to reflect, to mourn all of those lost to conflict, and to acknowledge the pain, suffering, and sorrow of the other. In the midst of the violence, civil unrest, and the most divided Israeli society in history, we are choosing to follow a different path. To achieve true democracy in Israel, and to end the occupation in Palestine, we must first acknowledge the other. There is no other way forward.”

“For the first year since the Corona outbreak, we are going back to the park! We expect to be joined by over 10,000 people in Ganei Yehoshua Park in Tel Aviv, and over 300,000 worldwide, in a huge show of defiance, of strength, and of humanity.”

Since the first ceremony in 2006, the number of people who attend has grown tremendously. In 2022, 300,000 people participated in the live broadcast event and over one million people streamed it. Throughout the years, participating guests have included leading intellectuals and artists such as: Mubarak Awad, Yoni Rechter, Professor Yehuda Ne’eman, Alon Oleartchik, Achinoam Nini (Noa), Mira Awad, Professor Eva Illouz, Eliezer Yaari, Dr. Amal Abu Said, David Grossman, Dr. Sami Shalom Shitrit, Richard Gere, and many others.

According The Parents Circle Families Forum, the memorial is the largest Israeli-Palestinian jointly organized peace event. “The joint ceremony provides a unique opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians to grieve together and stand strong in demanding an end to the ongoing violence. Joining together, Israelis and Palestinians to mourn each other’s pain, we aim to challenge the status quo and set the foundation for a new reality based on mutual respect, dignity, and equality for all. In mourning together, we seek not to equate narratives, but rather transform despair into hope and build bridges of compassion. We remind ourselves and society that occupation, oppression, and violence are not inevitable.”

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=30284