Beyond Bullet and Bombs: Grassroots Peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians

Edited by Judy Kuriansky
"Young Leaders on the Front Lines for Palestinian-Israeli Peace" by Alumna Rachel Brandenburg (A'05, EPIIC '03)

About the book:
In the midst of ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, civil war, and political discord, courageous civilians from both sides are working together toward mutual understanding and peace. Israeli Jews and Arabs, and Palestinian Muslims and Christians, young and old, men and women, are cooperating in grassroots people-to-people projects, developing educational programs and creating activities to bridge their differences. Beyond Bullets and Bombs showcases such impressive and important projects that deserve more support and world attention. In 40 captivating chapters, experts tell intriguing personal stories interwoven with psychosocial models and principles proving how people living in hostile cultures can establish peace.

This collection is the perfect companion to Kuriansky's earlier book, Terror in the Holy Land: Inside the Anguish of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, an unprecedented work that presents more than 30 chapters written by Israelis, Palestinians, and psychological experts on the underpinnings and effects of the conflict. In the volume at hand, we come to know established programs like Seeds of Peace and Search for Common Ground, as well as lesser-heralded, yet valiant efforts by children and adults of the region working together for peace. Both volumes will be of interest to everyone who cares about peace, as well as to professionals and students in the social sciences, psychology, international relations, public policy, human rights, and cross-cultural studies.

Reviews:

“Frustrated that the goal of peace between Israelis and Palestinians remains thwarted in political channels, Kuriansky writes that she is however heartened by progress between Israeli Jewish and Palestinian civilians working together in grassroots projects. She presents 40 chapters, written by academics and practitioners, that profile some positive examples of such projects, which ‘range from educational endeavors and cultural activities to academic and public forums, art and filmmaking, interfaith events, dialogue and encounter groups, research and just fun.”
-- Reference & Research Book News November 2007

“With Beyond Bullets and Bombs Dr. Kuriansky has assembled an exemplary collection of accounts of Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers in action. These diverse stories of promise and possibility should be read by all concerned with the seemingly ceaseless violence of the region as these acts of courage, strength, and faith reveal that peace can and will come from the people and that the intractable conflict of Israel-Palestine is not as intractable as it seems.”
-- Tony Jenkins, Co-Director, Peace Education Center, Teachers College, Columbia University

(from Praeger Publishing)