Just after Israel broke the ceasefire with Hamas, FUF correspondent Josephine Forthmann spoke to students at the Arava Institute in Ketura, Israel. An environmental institute where young Israelis and Palestinians study side by side. Achieving real peace requires more than silence between the bullets: it requires trust, cooperation and meetings between people who have learned to fear each other for generations, they say.
- The absence of war does not mean there is peace.
With these words, a Palestinian student at the Arava Institute describes the complex reality after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
– We have no ID, no airport, barely any access to water. We are surrounded by a wall and controlled in every aspect of our lives. For me, peace means being able to leave my home without fear.
The words come from Ahmad, a young Palestinian from the West Bank. He is one of many young Israelis and Palestinians who are currently studying together at the Arava Institute in southern Israel – a place that, in a time of war and mistrust, offers something so unusual as meetings, conversations and mutual respect.
Almost eighteen months have passed since the sixteenth war between Israel and Palestine broke out. The ceasefire that began in January has recently been broken by new Israeli bombings of Gaza. In a reality marked by violence, trauma and deep political deadlock, young people like Ahmad are trying to understand and change the world they are growing up in.
“The absence of war and violence does not mean there will be peace,” says Wajd, a young Palestinian woman. “It was far from peaceful before the latest war broke out.”
At the Arava Institute, Israeli, Palestinian and international students come together to study environmental challenges in the region. But just as important as the academic knowledge are the personal experiences – getting to know the other person as a human being.
“After living and studying here, I feel more trusting of the other side. I feel comfortable with people I previously had negative thoughts about,” says Itay, a Jewish Israeli.
For him, the experience has been transformative. In a conflict so often based on fear, stereotypes and mistrust, his story shows that change is possible – but far from self-evident.
The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has been ongoing since 1948. Since then, it has been characterized by land disputes, war, occupation and resistance. After the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, when 1200 Israelis were killed, Israel responded with an invasion of Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, around 50000 people have been killed since then, the majority of them civilians. A deep humanitarian crisis prevails, and no concrete peace plan yet exists.
Trust is the key to peace
The students at Arava believe that a fundamental reason for the deadlock is the lack of trust on both sides.
“Many Israelis believe that we will not be safe if we give Palestinians more power. They are afraid that a Palestinian state would lead to more attacks,” Itay explains.
At the same time, Palestinian students bear witness to a reality of occupation, surveillance, and dehumanization.
“Israelis have grown up believing that we must defend ourselves to survive. Palestinians grow up with a sense of powerlessness and oppression,” says one student.
Another compares the situation to an abusive relationship:
– It's like a man beating his wife and justifying the violence by blaming her. That's what's happening in our country.
In this climate, it becomes difficult to see the other as an equal, let alone as a partner.
– Here we treat each other as equals, regardless of identity or religion. What we experience here shows that coexistence is possible, says Ahmad
But what does the way forward look like? For the students, the solution is not just about politics – but about relationships.
“Peace for me means being able to live in the place my family comes from without being judged because of the conflict. If we want to live in peace, we must forgive and look forward,” says a student.
“A Palestinian state must be established, but stable peace requires more than that. We must educate people from a young age and break our ingrained thinking about the other,” adds Tomer, an Israeli student.
The students at Arava agree that the future requires both structural changes – such as a Palestinian state, functioning institutions and an end to the occupation – and a profound societal change in how people view each other.
“We must see each other as potential partners, not enemies. Only then can we create a future where both our peoples can live in security, freedom and dignity,” Tomer continues.
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