War Over, Real Battle Begins

By Ittay Flescher
The Jewish Independent
Oct 7, 2025

"…At a time when denial is still so high in both societies about the extent of pain across the wall, how do we begin to heal? Can one even ask forgiveness for acts that so many view as unforgivable?

"…Building peace means more than a ceasefire or a treaty. It means Israelis and Palestinians choosing new leaders who will reject the politics of fear and revenge.

"Building peace means changing the way we teach our history in Israeli and Palestinian schools, so that the next generation is taught that there are two nations with deep ties to this land, neither of which is made up or invented, with each having deep cultural and religious connections to this land that is their only home…

"Building peace means embracing a new kind of journalism, one that not only reports on violence and tension but also seeks out stories of cooperation, empathy, and practical solutions that help societies heal and move forward…

"When the guns finally fall silent, the real work of healing and reconciliation must commence, not through a distant, grand negotiation, but through the immediate, daily decisions of Israelis and Palestinians…"

Ittay Flescher is author of the book The Holy and the Broken: A Cry for Israeli-Palestinian Peace from a Land that Must Be Shared.

About Heart of a Nation

Empowering the next generation of American, Israeli, and Palestinian change-makers to embrace better, together.

אנחנו מכנסים הוגים מובילים, פעילים חברתיים, ומחוללי שינוי לעתיד, אמריקאים, ישראלים ופלסטינאים, המחויבים לשיפור החברות שלהם.

نحن أمريكيون وإسرائيليون وفلسطينيون نبني ونكوّن روابط من أجل التعلم والتفكير والمشاركة معًا حتى نشجع الحلول التقدمية بشأن القضايا التي تهمنا جميعًا.