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
