'It was a ticking bomb': Inside Israel's most unconfortable dialogue

A grassroots initiative called TEMA has facilitated a profound dialogue between individuals from vastly different backgrounds, aiming to foster listening and understanding amidst the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Three participants, Tzippy Diskind, a Haredi journalist; Kholoud Abu Ahmad, a Palestinian civic leader from Nazareth; and Prof. Benjamin Ish-Shalom, a religious-Zionist philosopher, shared their experiences in a Jerusalem Post podcast.

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October 7 is still bleeding in our hearts, and it is very hard to talk about.

Two years into a war that has significantly reshaped Israeli society, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has largely receded from public discourse. Diskind noted the difficulty of discussing the issue, stating, "October 7 is still bleeding in our hearts, and it is very hard to talk about." TEMA's methodology involves participants first studying the conflict within their own communities before engaging with groups holding sharply contrasting worldviews.

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It was a ticking bomb

Diskind described her encounter with the Palestinian group as a "ticking bomb," explaining that only after an outburst of emotion did the conversation become authentic. She also expressed surprise upon learning that Israel's Arab citizens lived under military rule for the state's first eighteen years. Abu Ahmad highlighted that for Palestinians in Nazareth, political engagement has always been a necessity, not an option. Ish-Shalom, initially suspicious of a hidden agenda, found none, arguing that government agreements do not foster peace between peoples.

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Agreements between governments, he argues, do not create peace between peoples: Israel has held a treaty with Egypt for more than fifty years, and Egyptian tourists still do not come.

None of the participants claimed the process provided definitive answers. Ish-Shalom observed a deep erosion of trust between Israeli Jews and Arabs that personal friendships cannot easily mend, suggesting a long path toward sustainable reconciliation. Diskind admitted she no longer feels certain about the solution, nor does she expect upcoming elections to offer clarity. Abu Ahmad emphasized that Palestinian citizens of Israel, who intimately understand both societies, hold a dual role, and no group can afford to disengage from the conversation.

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Palestinian citizens of Israel as holding a dual role, knowing both societies intimately because they belong to both, argues that no group can now claim the privilege of sitting the argument out.