There are many pressures that simplify the humanity of everyone touched by this conflict. A central requirement of peacebuilding is rejecting such dehumanization and othering in all of its forms. Our effort therefore has focused on maintaining spaces where the full dignity of every person is recognized, and where we can hold community together on our campus and in our region despite significant disagreements.

In addition to the campus-wide programming shared below, the Center has also supported community-building among students with diverse identities in relation to this conflict. Several of the programs below are still upcoming, while others have already passed. 

What do the humanities have to do with the crisis in Gaza and Israel?

Sunday, April 28, from 6:00 - 7:30 pm, Lutnick 200 

Swarthmore College Associate Professor and Department Chair, Peace & Conflict Studies Sa’ed Atshan and Arnon Degani, Fellow at the Molad Center for Renewal of Israeli Democracy and the University of Pennsylvania Middle East Center, will offer their insights, followed by questions and facilitated discussion from Associate Professor and Peace, Justice, and Human Rights Program Director Jill Stauffer. Join the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship, Department of Political Science, Department of Religion, and concentration in Peace, Justice, and Human Rights for this dialogue.

AFSC Gaza Updates and Activities with Jennifer Bing, National Director, Palestine Activism Program 

April 15, 4:30 - 5:45 pm., Lutnick 200 

Jennifer Bing helped produce the recent documentary on Palestinian child detention “Detaining Dreams” (2015). In 2022 she co-edited the anthology Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire (Haymarket Books). She is the National Director, Palestine Activism Program, American Friends Service Committee. Join the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship, Department of Political Science, and Department of Religion for this presentation and discussion.  Individuals attending agree that they will not disrupt the presentation or discussion.  Banners and signs are not permitted.

“Supernova: The Music Festival Massacre.” April 14, 5:00 - 7:00 pm. 

Stokes Auditorium and Online. Registration Required. 

Nova,” is a 52-minute documentary about the October 7 attack by Hamas on revelers at the Supernova music rave in Southern Israel. The Haverford College Center for Peace and Global Citizenship, Department of Political Science, Department of Religion, and campus community welcome this screening, with ensuing discussion with film co-director Duki Dror and a survivor of the terrorist attack, Dor Kapah. The screening auditorium is already full. However, individuals who wish to join online are able to do so by registering at this link. Online registrants will have the opportunity to watch and participate in the entire program, including the introduction, film screening, and submitting questions for consideration during the post-screening discussion. Individuals attending in-person or online agree that they will not disrupt the screening or discussion. 

Navigating Media in Times of Conflict and Crisis, Friday, 3/1, 4:15 - 5:45 p.m., LUT200

During this event, a panel of anthropologists will discuss the underlying biases, values, and perspectives that influence the creation and reception of media messages. At a time of rising tensions over truth claims in media and beyond, this event aims to foster a more critical, informed, and nuanced understanding of the information we consume in times of conflict and crisis. Panelists include: 

• Narges Bajoghli, Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies
• Wazhmah Osman, Associate Professor, Temple University, Klein College of Media and Communication
• Introduced and facilitated by Zeynep Sertbulut, Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Haverford College 

Transforming Violent Conflict into Peace: A Global Perspective 

Friday, December 15, 1:00 - 2:15 pm, Stokes Auditorium 

Learn more about methodologies, opportunities, and challenges in moving from high conflict to peaceful coexistence with Vice President for Strategy for Search for Common Ground, Michael Shipler '99, during a campus presentation and discussion. 

Drawing on more than twenty years of experience in global peacebuilding, he will speak to how societies move from high conflict to living peaceably. Michael has worked from the community to political levels in peace-building, recently serving as Asia Regional Director for Search for Common Ground where he led programming in eleven countries and offices in Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste. Michael has served as the Senior Program Advisor for SFCG providing technical support to programs in Yemen, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Angola and elsewhere. Prior, he served as Director of Programs for SFCG’s Nepal office where he co-founded and directed a multi-pronged media and community program in support of the country’s peace process. He holds an MA in War in the Modern World from Kings College in London. He is the author of The Dancing Country and Other Stories.

Moving toward Deeper Understanding: Israel and Palestine 

Sunday, November 19, 6:00 - 7:30 pm, Lutnick 200 

Join Professors Gina Velasco (Haverford College), Sa'ed Atshan (Swarthmore College), and Aisha Mershani (Gettysburg College) for a teach-in on Palestine and Israel, coming from diverse Palestinian and Jewish positionalities with a focus on civil society movements and human rights. 

Moving toward Deeper Understanding: Israel and Palestine - Attending to Difference in our Campus Community

Friday, November 17, 12:00 - 1:30 pm, Lutnick 200

Director and Associate Professor of Peace, Justice, and Human Rights Jill Stauffer will facilitate a faculty and broader campus community conversation, centered in listening to and hearing one another. Following discussion of community norms, Professor Stauffer and Professor of Religion Naomi Koltun-Fromm will offer brief histories of their thoughts and feelings about the conflict over Israel and Palestine, discussing what they know, how they feel, and their uncertainties. The whole community present will then be invited to share their own reflections, understanding, and uncertainties. Moderators will interrupt harmful speech or curtail speakers taking longer than three minutes. By attending this event, participants are expressing willingness to be engaged listeners and to embrace the purpose of the event: attending to difference in community and sitting with that tension.

The events above were organized in the context of several student-led teach-ins and programs, multiple vigils organized by upper administration, and the first public campus event on the topic following 10/7, organized by Political Science Professor Barak Mendelsohn, here: 

Teach-In: Israel at War!

Wednesday, October 11, 12:00 noon

VCAM 001- Screening Room

After a surprise Hamas attack that led to the killing of at least 800 Israelis and kidnapping of another 150 Israelis, including elderly and little kids, Israel declared war on Gaza. The teach in, hosted by Professor Barak Mendelsohn of political science, will discuss the events of recent days, their strategic consequences, and where the war could be going.

For more information on College-wide responses, visit Community Care and Resources in Response to Israel-Gaza.