Wild with Sarah Wilson A PALESTINIAN AND AN ISRAELI FATHER: “We must all stop being victims; victimhood causes the violence!”
Apr 4, 2024
In this compelling discussion, Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian peace activist, and Rami Elhanan, an Israeli peace activist, share their transformative journeys shaped by tragic losses. Both fathers, who lost daughters in the conflict, emphasize that victimhood perpetuates violence. They argue for empathy and understanding, challenging divisive narratives. Bassam's study of the Holocaust while imprisoned profoundly impacts their dialogue, while Rami highlights the urgency of breaking free from entrenched identities. Together, they convey a powerful message of reconciliation and hope.
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Victimhood Blocks Moral Imagination
- Rami argues Israeli collective victimhood and a sense of existential threat block empathy and moral change.
- He says overcoming both victimhood and beliefs in superiority is necessary for any solution.
Finding A Daughter In The Morgue
- Rami recounts searching hospitals and finding his daughter Smadar in the morgue after a bombing in 1997.
- He describes the moment hope vanished and the family's home filling with thousands of mourners.
Grief Built An Unlikely Family
- Bassam says Rami and Noreen stayed with him and other Israeli families for days while his daughter Abir died in hospital.
- He recalls telling them they were family and not responsible for the killing.
