Women who give me hope 

After October 7, like many Jews, I lost faith. A peacenik all my life, I was no longer sure whether there were partners in peace.

Seeing Palestinians stream over the border on a killing spree or goading hostages taken back to Gaza, I started to doubt if talking to the other side was even possible. 

Part of the trauma was that I was no longer clear who was a terrorist and who a civilian. I knew there were many in Hamas disguised as civilians, but surely that did not mean all civilians were the enemy? The whole situation was and is very confusing.  

I want to know if, after so much hurt, it is possible to change the narrative. Can Israeli Jews ever again trust Palestinians? Can Palestinians ever again trust Israelis? How can we move forward and work together? 

Wars are mostly run by men, but it is women who give me hope. Riman Barakat and Peta Jones Pellach, who are visiting Australia later this month, are two such women.  

Hailing from opposite sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Riman and Peta represent grassroots movements for non-violent resolution, intercommunal dialogue, and the essential role of women in peacebuilding.  

Riman Barakat is a Palestinian peacebuilder and cultural entrepreneur based in East Jerusalem. She is a Muslim, for whom religion and culture are important factors in her life. She is the co-director of FeelBeit, a visionary Israeli-Palestinian cultural centre that uses the arts to foster dialogue and trust.