The Parents Circle Families Forum (PCFF) is a joint Israeli – Palestinian organization made up of more than 600 bereaved families. Their common bond is that they have lost a close family member to the conflict. The overall objective of PCFF’s actions is to drive a reconciliation process among Israelis and Palestinians as a necessary catalyst for a negotiated agreement. The PCFF relies on the use of the parallel and personal narrative to achieve its goals. At the root of the conflict, are the mutually exclusive narratives of the Israeli and Palestinian populations. Both sides see their version of history or narrative as the truth and this leads to significant challenges in advancing reconciliation. The core goal of this methodology is to help people move beyond exclusive truths, and begin to empathize and understand other perspectives on the same events.
Robi Damelin’s son, David, was killed by a Palestinian sniper in 2002 while guarding a checkpoint near a settlement during his army reserve service. She speaks to Israeli and Palestinian audiences all over the world as the Israeli spokesperson for the Parents Circle – Families Forum, to demand that reconciliation be a part of any peace agreement. She was named a 2015 Woman of Impact by Women in the World. She is the protagonist featured in the documentary One Day After Peace.
