Understand the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict at the GTA Peace Forum

By John Hamer, Director of Outreach and Innovative Mission

The wars in the Middle East have had dramatic effects here in Canada. In his presentation at the Greater Toronto Area Peace Forum, Brian Carwana of the Encounter World Religions Centre proposes to help us step away from the noise of social media in order to better understand the historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He will explain the stories of this land and these peoples and explain how key events in the past have led us to this place of conflict. 

Listeners will learn:

• The impact of key events in the past century including wars, peace attempts, and protests
• The impact of key figures who won Nobel Prizes and suffered assassinations
• How antisemitism and a history of persecution impact Jewish attachment to Israel
• How anti-Arab racism has led to the patronizing and ignoring of Palestinians
• A greater understanding of how each side interprets history and their place in this story

The presentation aims for balance by sharing facts as well as explaining both pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian perspectives to help listeners understand different stances and interpretations. Dr. Carwana has given this presentation in many settings including workplaces, community groups, the general public, with both Jews and Muslims present, and the response has been consistently positive.

The Greater Toronto Area Peace Forum will include many other presentations, workshops, and intergenerational activities! This is a great opportunity to connect with church members and to invite young people in our network who are more interested in activism than Sunday services.

Registration now open