Oasis of Peace UK

15/04/2026

On Holocaust Memorial Day, a room of Jewish and Palestinian children sat together, remembering, listening, and speaking about compassion.

Small voices, carrying a simple but powerful message.

07/04/2026

How long can a “temporary” war last before it becomes the norm?

Dear Friends,

It is hard to believe that we are now more than a month into the latest escalation. Perhaps it feels hard to believe because, in truth, the previous war never truly ended. Without a real and lasting peace agreement, large parts of Gaza remain inaccessible to its residents, preventing families from returning to their homes, rebuilding their lives, or mourning their dead with dignity. Without a real peace agreement, violence and instability continue to spread across the region, forcing families to flee their homes and leaving civilians on all sides living under constant threat and uncertainty.

In this ongoing reality, daily life is shaped by insecurity and unpredictability. The so-called short path to “total victory” has instead become longer and murkier with each passing day.

Fortunately, here in the Village we have access to shelters and safe rooms. While we continue to undergo the daily disruption brought on by sirens, we are grateful that our community has remained physically safe. At the same time, we remain deeply aware that many others across the region are facing far more severe conditions.

Throughout this period, Village teams have remained active, focusing on preparedness and community resilience. We continue to train for emergency scenarios, including medical response and fire safety in the unlikely but possible event of missile impact. In parallel, we have worked to support children and young people whose routines have been disrupted by the war, providing activities that can take place safely within reach of shelters.

At present, all schools and educational frameworks are on spring break, and students are expected to return to classes next week. We hope that learning will resume fully for all children, including those who travel to the village from outside the community. Maintaining educational continuity remains one of our highest priorities.

For the School for Peace, this period has been dedicated to planning, reorganization, and preparation for new courses scheduled to begin in June. Registration is currently underway for the next facilitators’ training program, reflecting our continued commitment to dialogue and peace education even during times of crisis.

We are pleased to share that the General Assembly of the Association recently convened, during which the annual budget was formally reviewed and approved. This step allows us to continue our work and move forward, despite the challenging circumstances.

In addition, during the General Assembly, Dr. Roi Silberberg announced his decision to step down from his role as director of the School for Peace. The Association board has now published a call for applications for his successor. We would all like to express our appreciation for Roi’s years of dedicated leadership and his crucial contribution to advancing binational dialogue and peace education.

Our own Samah Salaime recently participated in a conference of peace organisations in the Netherlands, aimed at promoting European Union policies that support shared society initiatives and organisations working toward coexistence. The conference provided an important platform to amplify the voices of communities committed to cooperation, dialogue, and sustainable peace, and we hope her participation will pave the way toward EU partnership in our activities.

Although public demonstrations have been restricted during this period, and some colleagues who chose to protest despite these limitations were arrested, our commitment to peace and justice remains steadfast. Many families, including our own, are focused on the daily task of maintaining stability for our children and communities. This slower pace has affected projects such as the renovation of the Garden of Rescuers, which is currently on hold, yet our long-term vision remains unchanged.

Finally, we would like to share another leadership update. Judy Halper has announced her retirement, and we express our deep appreciation for her years of contribution. We warmly welcome her successor, Robert Swift, and look forward to continuing our work with him in the years ahead.

As we leave behind the celebrations of Eid al-Fitr and mark a muted Passover and Easter, we pause to reflect on the meaning of spring — renewal, resilience, and the courage to move forward into an uncertain future while holding on to hope. In these difficult times, we continue in every possible way to oppose war and ongoing violence, and to advocate for genuine efforts to achieve peace that allow all peoples in our region to heal and rebuild their lives.

Yours for the WASNS Educational Institutions,

Samah

23/03/2026

We want to take a moment to acknowledge the pain so many are feeling.

Last night, there was an arson attack targeting the Hatzola ambulance service in Golders Green, London. It was an attack on Jewish life in Britain that has left the community shaken and wounded by hate.

Hatzola is a non-profit volunteer organisation that offers emergency response services to thousands of individuals in need, irrespective of their identity or religion.

I am sure you’ll all join me in holding the Jewish community in our hearts, and sending our solidarity and support to the Jewish community in Golders Green.

Moments like this are deeply unsettling. They remind us how fragile our sense of safety can be, and how quickly hatred can make itself known in the places we call home.
Those of us connected to communities shaped by conflict know, in different ways, what it means when violence touches everyday life.

Having experienced two arson attacks ourselves, the Village knows the fear and violation that come with being targeted simply for what you represent.

Because of that experience, we can recognise this moment for what it is, and empathise deeply with the fear and pain felt by the Jewish community.

We also understand the responsibility to respond differently to hatred and division. The Village stands as a refusal of that logic. We insist, even in the face of violence, that our shared humanity is stronger.

16/03/2026

Civil society and peace activists from Israel and Palestine were meant to gather in London today for the International Peace Fund Conference — to discuss real steps toward peace, and explore the British Government’s commitment to the Israel–Palestine Peace Fund. But with the ongoing war, that event has been postponed.

Tonight, we’re bringing part of that conversation to you online with a special Zoom session featuring residents of Neve Shalom ~ Wahat al-Salam, a Village where Israelis and Palestinians live and work together peacefully. Hear firsthand what is happening there, ask questions, and learn how peace is being built on the ground.

https://www.oasisofpeace.org.uk/Event/zoom-meeting-with-village-residents

TalkMatters Wahat al-Salam - Neve ShalomThe Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP)The Scotsman

02/03/2026

An Update from the Village of Neve Shalom ~ Wahat al-Salam
March 1, 2026

To all of our friends,

Once again, we started our day with sirens and rocket fire, as the US and Israel began a new operation against Iran. We, and much of the country, spent most of the day in shelters and safe rooms, as missiles bound for the airport, or just for anywhere in the county, rained down on us. What should have been a day of rest, a quiet day in the holy month of Ramadan, a day in which we might have walked outside to enjoy the first signs of spring, was, instead, a day of renewed fear and anxiety.

Once again, we are caught in a battle of enormous egos, intransigence and narrow economic interests. Despite the bold words, it is doubtful whether the current operation will benefit the people of our region, or even the embattled, battered citizens of Iran. It is clear to us, who stand against violence, that is innocent civilians who ultimately pay the price of war. The deaths of 148 schoolgirls in Iran, the death and wounding of innocent civilians in Bet Shemesh are unforgiveable: We cannot abide the fresh collateral killing and the world’s indifference.

We have not yet begun to recover from the shock and trauma of over two years of war in Gaza. Tens of thousands of Gazans killed, millions homeless with no hope of a real solution, and Jewish Israelis still trying to process the horrific Oct. 7 massacre and the conditions in which hostages were held for so many long days and months.

So please forgive us if we are not gung-ho supporters of a new military operation – one we knew, before the first missile fell, would send those with access to shelters running for cover, those without access trying for cover as best they can. By continuing to draw our attention to a new-old war arena, our government enables the extreme right-wing Jewish settlers to continue their theft and terrorism of innocent Palestinian families, and it pushes aside our dreams of true healing, renewal and peace and understanding between Palestinians and Jews. At the same time, it ignores the needs of its own citizens, including Palestinian-Israeli citizens who are killed daily in unchecked violence.

The actions of these countries – the US, Israel and Iran – come just as local civil society organizations and peace activists are getting reading for a huge peace conference in London, in cooperation with other European countries, to jump-start the realistic, policy-based peace process. It was planned for the 12th of March, and its existence is now uncertain. As in previous attempts, we first need to learn to sit at a table together.

In the village, school is cancelled until further notice – another disruption in the lives of young people who may be traumatized by sirens and the reverberations of falling missile shards. We are physically safe, being among the lucky ones with access to shelter. Some of us even use the long time we spend sitting in the shelters to get to know neighbors, read new books, practice hobbies or even perfect our Wordle scores.

Our faith in the simple idea that peacebuilding is the only way forward – for humanity – and that it must be valued above all else, remains unshaken. As always, we continue to educate for peace in every way possible and to work to bring people to our side in the shared struggle to bring justice, equality and a truly peaceful shared society to our region. The violence and aggression around us threaten our dreams of peace, but we refuse to stop believing that peace is both possible and necessary.

To those who have reached out and those who are thinking of us and sending prayers, we thank you. Even when we are isolated within our concrete bomb shelters, your words remind us that good friends are always there to support us.

Yours,

Samah Salaime and the WASNS Communications and Development Team

20/02/2026

“I take the side of life and peace.”

These were the powerful words of a resident of Neve Shalom ~ Wahat al-Salam today.

At a time when so many feel pulled toward anger, fear, and division, this is the quiet courage we hold onto — choosing life. Choosing dignity. Choosing to see one another’s humanity.

Peace is not passive. It is a decision, made again and again.
Today, we stand with those who take the side of life and peace.

We’re delighted to share that Oasis of Peace UK has been featured today on BBC Sounds:

The challenges faced by Israeli Jews and Arabs living together in a unique community

02/02/2026

Israeli and Palestinian children come to the Forest School carrying the weight of years marked by conflict and trauma. Among the trees and poppies, they find space to breathe, play, and heal - learning resilience, navigating complexity, and discovering that even in the shadow of pain, growth and understanding can take root.