JOURNEY to Israel and Palestine
Note: After our 34 journeys to Israel-Palestine, the Compassionate Listening Project is unable to offer peacemaking journeys there at this time due to on-going safety concerns for our prospective participants.
The deeply painful events that have been unfolding in the area have left an indelible mark on the hearts of all of us.
May true healing and recognition of the one-ness of all beings somehow result from the terrible suffering that has infused the region for so long.
If you are interested in being notified about our next Journey to Israel & Palestine please fill out this form:
Today, after 34 Journeys and many conflict transformation workshops for Israelis and Palestinians, we are one of the oldest organizations engaged in people-to-people peacemaking. We are thrilled to return to Palestine-Israel this year for our 35th Compassionate Listening Journey during these unprecedented times.
The unfathomable events that have taken place over the past two years have left an indelible mark on the hearts of all of us witnessing them, and have re-centered Palestine-Israel on the global stage. We are going back with a renewed intention:
To help foster courageous, well informed change-makers for the sake of Palestinian and Israeli co-liberation, and a shared future for everyone on the land.
This is not a tourist trip. We will be journeying into the hearts and homes of Israelis and Palestinians who are profoundly impacted by this conflict, and will learn from their lived experiences. We will visit the West Bank and meet with Palestinians living under occupation. We will visit Israelis communities impacted by October 7, 2023. We will hear directly from Palestininas in Gaza. We will meet with scholars, ex-combatants on both sides, settlers and, most importantly, Israeli and Palestinian peace makers who are working side by side for the sake of a different future. Participants give the gift of bearing witness and in exchange, receive an education on key components of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from its inception to this day.
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We will be grappling with some tough questions, such as:
• What is Zionism, and what have been the implications of it for Israelis and Palestinians, respectively?
• What has been the role of intergenerational trauma in shaping the minds and hearts of people impacted by it?
• What is the role of political violence?
• Why has this conflict been so intractable, despite several meaningful peace attempts?
• What could a different path forward look like?
Throughout this journey, we will consider the lens of co-liberation, in which one’s safety and dignity are intertwined with the other’s. It is a lens which says, “I am not free, until you are free.” We will challenge ourselves to hold the humanity, pain and dignity of everyone involved.
View our video, Pathways to the Heart, filmed on a Journey in Israel and Palestine
Pathways to the Heart
About our Journey leaders:
Gil Bar Sela is a native of Israel where he experienced the dynamics of political conflict first-hand, both as a civilian and a combatant. Seeking to become part of the solution, Gil got certified as a Compassionate Listening Facilitator, and now co-leads the Compassionate Listening Project's annual delegations to Palestine and Israel. Other trainings and certifications include: HeartMath; Trauma, Somatics and Resilience; Restorative Circles; Theory U; and Internal Family Systems. Gil is the co-founder of the leadership development company Finding Human. He trains leaders and teams in the emotional intelligence and communication skills needed to create work cultures where everyone thrives. He also has a trauma-informed private practice in Seattle where he helps people reconnect with their own wholeness.
Laurie Archbold was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has B.A. in Comparative Religions and Middle East studies. She's traveled to and connected with the region through various people and organizations, including with Soliya's Connect Program, Mideast Wire's Beirut Exchange, and The Compassionate Listening Project. She is a Certified HeartMath Trainer and a Certified Compassionate Listening Facilitator. Her facilitation work is holistic by design and has spanned the realms of Conflict Resolution, Resilience Training, Emotional Intelligence and Nature Connection. Laurie is passionate about cultivating connection between humans and the power of heartfelt communication. She loves being a part of this delegation and supporting people in learning these embodied listening practices that are applicable across all aspects of life. She leads a variety of workshops and has a coaching business that you can find out more about here.
Munteha Shukralla came to the Compassionate Listening Project in 1998 with a background in social activism and a commitment building bridges of understanding and reconciliation. To that end, she has organized ecumenical peace conferences, led Compassionate Listening journeys, and has trained and coached thousands of people in communication, productivity and leadership. Munteha spearheaded CLP's first delegation to Syria and Lebanon, has co-led multiple delegations to Israel/Palestine and is a long-standing member of CLP's Board of Directors. Currently she is the Director of Operations for the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, and her academic background includes a BA in International Studies from Portland State University, Masters Degree in Applied International Studies from the University of Washington, and was awarded the esteemed Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship, (FLAS). Munteha's over 25 years experience in facilitation, management, and coaching, and her deep love for the Middle East, has given her both the experience and knowledge to connect with people from all walks of life, backgrounds, disparate beliefs and circumstances.
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To learn even more about our Journeys, we invite you to view our documentary, Children of Abraham.
