‘SHALOM SALAAM PEACE’
This name means PEACE in Hebrew, Arabic and English, and we see it as part of a developing student political movement on the British University Scene. For too long the approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict among British students has been one of polarization. In absence of a real dialogue on the Middle East, we have become entrenched in a counterproductive and, indeed, damaging war of words. British students have lost sight of the overall objective of supporting grassroots peace, and an end to the Israeli-Arab conflict.

As ‘Shalom Salaam Peace’, we have three main aims:

EDUCATION – We want to try and find a way to make education on the debate as near to objective as possible. We want people to learn from both sides of the debate about the truth and to reject any biased exposure or propaganda they may have been subjected to. Thus we hope to look honestly at divergent narratives from all sides, and to strive to determine fact from fiction, myths from grievances, support for one side from hate for the other. We will deliver top-class speakers and facilitators using an already existing network to provide this education.

DEBATE – We believe that positive and constructive debate is vital for Jews and Arabs, Zionists and anti-Zionists, Left and Right, Religious and Non-Religious to come together. All of these typical divides (and the list goes on) can be bridged through dialogue, and only then can we truly understand what human beings in the conflict go through. We have access to professionally trained facilitators who can help facilitate debate.

ACTIVISM – We want to develop projects and initiatives both within the UK and in the Middle East that encourage enemies to talk and find ways to peace through grassroots initiatives. If there is to be a political solution to the conflict, the relationships between human beings also need to improve, and we need to find a path towards a process of reconciliation.

These are our aims, as founders of the society. We do not want to marginalize anyone by taking a specific political stance such as ‘Supporting the Two-State Solution.’ We are neither Pro-Palestinian nor Pro-Israeli, but Pro-Peace and Pro-Humanity.