The resources below are a good faith effort to provide as unbiased and non-partisan historical context to understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The resources are not an exhaustive accounting of the Israeli-Palestinian (or Israeli-Hamas) conflict. They are meant to be informational, not argumentative. Additional resources about mental health, dealing with grief and restorative justice practices are included, as well as a question-and-answer (Q&A) section and links to NIU resources.
We hope and intend that these resources provide relevant and reliable information to the Huskie community, and all other interested parties, in the effort of supporting informed participation in this truly profound experience, and taking a step toward a more beloved, inclusive community.
The resources were curated by:
- Jessie Alex (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences)
- Gibson Cima (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
- James Cohen (College of Education)
- Joseph Flynn (College of Education)
- Eric Junco (College of Education)
- Simón Weffer-Elizondo (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences)
History and Context of the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict
American Friends of the Parents Circle - Families Forum
According to their vision and mission, "American Friends of the Parents Circle-Families Forum (AF-PCFF) shares the human side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the American public to foster a peace and reconciliation process. The AF-PCFF is committed to supporting the Parents Circle-Families Forum (PCFF) through raising public awareness, constituency building and fundraising in the U.S."
Their website offers a complete explanation of their purpose, projects, media resources and how to get involved with the organization. It is a great way of becoming acquainted with the amazing work they do.
Articles
Books
- Apeirogon, by Colum McCann: This book tells the story of an extraordinary friendship between two fathers, Rami Elhanan, an Israeli, and Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian, united by the loss of their daughters to the violence in the Middle East conflict. The narrative structure is inspired by the geometric shape of an apeirogon, reflecting the complexity and endlessness of their shared grief and quest for peace. The book draws upon the true events of their lives, showcasing how personal tragedy can lead to a mutual understanding and a shared mission towards reconciliation.
- The Age of Coexistence by Ussama Makdisi: Although not a novel, this book provides a crucial historical account that can help understand the complexities of coexistence in the Levant, offering insights into the legal and political shifts that have shaped the modern conflict.
- The Book of Gaza: A City in Short Fiction (Edited by Atef Abu Saif): A collection of short stories by authors from Gaza, offering a diverse range of perspectives on everyday life, dreams, and the struggle amidst conflict. This compilation brings to light personal stories that navigate the legal and political complexities of life in Gaza.
Video
The complicated history of conflict between Israel and Palestinians: from PBS NewsHour
Mental Health, Trauma and Grief
Articles
Talking to Children About Hate Crimes: This tip sheet from the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center explains the impacts incidents of violence and hate crimes can have on people of all ages and suggests ways for parents and others who care for children to talk to children about a hate crime. The tip sheet describes common reactions to hate crimes; emphasizes the importance of talking about safety with children; and encourages adults to talk openly with children about bias, prejudice and discrimination.
- Talking to Children about Antisemitism and Hate Crimes: In this online article, the Center for Children and Youth within Jewish Family and Children's Services advises parents and other important adults in the lives of children about ways to talk to children about antisemitism, including suggestions focus on starting a conversation on the topic, discussing measures to increase safety, allowing children to talk about their fears and relying on community.
- Talking with your Children about Islamophobia and Hate-Based Violence: This NCTSN fact sheet describes Islamophobia, identifies factors that can heighten Islamophobia in society, and describes ways Islamophobia may affect children and parents. The fact sheet recommends several ways for parents to communicate with and support their children, and themselves, in coping.
- What Is a Hate Crime? And What You Can Do if You Experience One: This article from the website of KQED, a public media organization, defines hate crimes and hate incidents, suggests steps to take if experiencing or witnessing a hate crime, and discusses documenting and reporting hate crimes. The article also offers mental health information and resources for people who have experienced a hate crime or incident or other incident involving racism and prejudice.
- Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Traumas: This NCTSN fact sheet describes how collective traumas such as war may impact parents and other caregivers and offers strategies for coping. The fact sheet also suggests ways parents and other caregivers can help their children.
- Talking to Children about War: This fact sheet from the NCTSN explains how international wars and conflicts may affect children and families, offers tips for talking with children about war and suggests ways to manage exposure to the conflict through the media. The fact sheet concludes with suggestions for helping children build and increase resilience.
- War's Enduring Legacy: How Does Trauma Haunt Future Generations?: This American Psychological Association article explores research on the effects of collective trauma experienced in war, genocide, disaster and historical marginalization on not only the original experiencers but also on their descendants. The article discusses signs and symptoms of historical or intergenerational trauma, ways trauma and its impacts are transmitted from one generation to another, and promising interventions.
- Coping With Distress after International Disasters: Tips and Resources for Individuals, Families and Communities: This guide from Vibrant Emotional Health is a collection of resources and information for those experiencing anxiety, fear, confusion or loneliness during and after an international incident. It includes links to person locator resources, tips for self-care and more help.
Podcasts
- All There Is With Anderson Cooper: Facing Our Grief: Anderson Cooper's podcast explores grief in a way that challenges the notion of stages of grief. He explores how he is still grieving the loss of his mother and how listeners work through living life without a loved one.
- CNN One Thing: Anderson Cooper on Grief, Loss, and Covering War in Israel: In this episode, we hear from Anderson Cooper about what drove him to keep exploring grief and loss and how he brought what he learned with him to cover the Israel-Hamas war.
- The Israel-Hamas War and Managing Grief: In this episode of The Anxious Achiever with Morra Aarons-Mele, Rebecca Soffer, author of "The Modern Loss Handbook." offers thoughts on dealing with grief - and work - through tragedy, and helpful frameworks for addressing grief.
- Amid campus tension, two college students grieve during Israel-Hamas war: As described on the WBEZ website, "Since the war started between Israel and Hamas, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel students on college campuses across the United States have been embroiled in their own conflict. Shouting matches have erupted, and the University of Pennsylvania president stepped down after criticism of her response to antisemitic comments on campus. But, away from the angry shouting matches, a lot of students are grieving. In this episode, we hear how two students in the Chicago area — one Jewish, one Palestinian — are coping."
Restorative Justice: An Orientation
This collection of articles, books, videos and podcasts provide a comprehensive overview of restorative justice. The contents focus on what it is, practices and effectiveness of approaches. The section is concluded with a question-and-answer section that offers additional information and introduction of restorative justice practices at NIU through the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center and Growing through Inclusive Vulnerability and Empathy (GIVE) Circles.
Article
Restorative justice circles: An exploratory study: This article reports on the development and use of peacemaking circles in South Saint Paul, Minnesota, representing the first exploratory study of circles in the US.
Books
Restorative Justice: How it Works - Chapter 1 - What is Restorative Justice?: This chapter provides students with definitions of restorative justice and practice as well as principles related to it. With attention to how systems work, it compares traditional (retributive) orientations towards offenses verses the potential of restorative approaches to heal victims and reform offenders.
- The Little Book of Restorative Justice: This book introduces restorative justice as an alternative to traditional criminal justice systems, emphasizing healing and solutions agreed upon by all stakeholders involved. It explores the significance of addressing victims' needs, holding offenders accountable, and the role of the community in the justice process. The book underscores restorative justice's potential to transform the way society handles crime and conflict, making it more equitable and effective.
Videos
- The Barnard Center for Research on Women: Introduction to Restorative Justice: This video offers insights into how restorative justice is applied in the academic setting, emphasizing its importance in creating a compassionate campus environment.
- Student Affairs Now Org: Restorative Justice in Higher Ed: The guests on this episode move beyond restorative justice in campus conduct processes to talk about the proactive and responsive ways higher education can utilize restorative philosophy, practices, principles, and justice processes. They discuss restorative approaches to community development, the critical roles of both accountability and grace, and the complexities of restorative justice's history and implementation.
- University of Minnesota Duluth Center for Restorative Justice and Peace Making: restorative justice practices have gained significant attention in criminal justice to resolve conflict and restore humanity for victims and offenders. This collection of videos from the University of Minnesota Duluth shows how this can look:
Podcasts
- Inspiring Radical Empathy Podcasts: Episode 1 - What is Restorative Justice?: Restorative justice is as ancient as it is innovative. In this brief 38-minute episode our directors shed light on these practices and demonstrate these ideas as tools for connection and conflict resolution.
- Inspiring Radical Empathy Podcasts: Episode 5 - Systems and Communities: The Bigger Picture of Restorative Justice: Shira May, Isobel Davies, and Majorie Isaacs to talk about the power restorative justice can have at a societal level, and how we can change the systems and communities we are all a part of.
- The Restorative Justice Life Podcast: Restorative Justice and Healing Circles w/ Ruth Jeannoel: Ruth Ifakemi Efungbemi Ajewole Ajeleti Ifaloro Jeannoeli, a Haitian American, cultural organizer, holistic healer and writer, shares her experiences in youth organization intertwining with movements spanning environmental justice, birth work and gender-based violence. She provides a deeper understanding of restorative justice practices and their potential to create more equitable and healing-centered communities.
- Restorative Justice on the Rise with Molly Rowan Leach: Arun Ghandi and Understanding Nonviolence: We can always learn a great deal by looking back at history and the work of others. Arun Ghandi, grandson of Mahatma Ghandi, shares his experiences growing up in Apartheid South Africa where he endured violence from both White and Black South Africans. In his story, he turns away from violent retribution to a path of nonviolence. He provides interesting insight into nonviolence that can help us all think about nonviolence anywhere on the globe.
Restorative Justice Q&A
What is restorative justice?
"Restorative Justice works to resolve conflict and repair harm. It encourages those who have caused harm to acknowledge the impact of what they have done and gives them an opportunity to make reparations. It offers those who have suffered harm the opportunity to have their harm or loss acknowledged and amends made" (Restorative Justice Consortium 2006, qtd. in Liebmann, 2007:25).
Why is restorative justice relevant to our discussion about the Israel and Palestine conflict?
Restorative justice provides a safe and engaging pathway for:
- Healing and reconciliation
- Empowering victims
- Creating sustainable peace
- Encouraging accountability and responsibility (Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking, 2021)
What are the purposes of restorative practices or processes?
- Dialogue to achieve understanding
- Reintegration of community
- Focus on victim support and healing
- Offenders take responsibility for their actions
- Reparative measures to right the wrong committed
- Discussions of how to prevent reoccurrence (Liebmann, 2007: 26-27)
What are the benefits to restorative justice and practices?
Benefits can include victim satisfaction, offender accountability, reduced recidivism, community engagement and the healing of relationships. It aims to provide more personalized justice and healing compared to the conventional justice system (Barnard Center for Research on Women, 2020).
What role do victims play in restorative justice?
Victims play a central role in restorative justice processes. They have the opportunity to express how the crime has affected them, what their needs are, and to have a say in how the harm might be repaired. This is a departure from traditional justice systems, where victims often have a more passive role (Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking, 2021).
How is restorative justice implemented in schools and communities?
Implementation often involves training facilitators, developing policies that support restorative approaches, and creating systems for referral and follow-up. Schools and communities typically start with small pilot programs to build understanding and buy-in from all stakeholders (Barnard Center for Research on Women, 2020).
How effective is restorative justice?
Studies have shown that restorative justice can be effective in reducing recidivism, increasing victim satisfaction, and fostering a sense of community. Its effectiveness can vary based on the implementation and the willingness of parties to engage in the process genuinely (Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking, 2021).
NIU Resources Q&A
What are GIVE Circles offered here at NIU?
Growing through Inclusive Vulnerability and Empathy (GIVE) Circles are a key initiative as part of NIU's Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center (TRHTC). GIVE Circles fosters meaningful growth through open dialogue. The GIVE Circle offers a safe space for individuals to share stories, thoughts and experiences related to race, identity and human connection. This intentional circle aims to challenge biases, break down barriers and promote genuine connections within a dedicated community.
What is TRHT?
Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) is a community-driven initiative addressing historical and contemporary racism effects. By promoting healing, narrative change and equity, it seeks to create a just and inclusive society. Using a multifaceted approach, TRHT engages communities in transformative conversations and activities to break down racial hierarchies and foster understanding.
What is the TRHT framework?
The TRHT framework fosters community healing and actionable change through community-led collaboration, addressing impediments to progress. It focuses on narrative change (truth-telling), racial healing (trust and relationships), and allows communities to address additional pillars like separation (segregation, colonization, concentrated poverty), law, and economy. Narrative change counters false narratives, racial healing fosters respectful relationships, separation addresses issues like segregation and poverty, the law pillar reviews discriminatory laws, and the economy pillar studies structured inequality to recommend equitable solutions.
What are TRHT centers?
TRHT centers, led by the American Association for Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in partnership with higher education institutions, aim to establish self-sustaining, community-integrated centers at academic institutions. Their goal is to prepare future leaders to actively challenge systemic racism, dismantle hierarchies of human value and build more equitable communities. Guided by the TRHT framework, each center engages stakeholders, uproots biases and inspires justice-driven leaders.
What is the purpose of NIU's TRHTC?
NIU's Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Center (TRHTC) facilitates collective action to address systemic racism effects on the campus and local community. It engages in building trust, relationships, restorative justice practices, and educating on the intersectional effects of racism and marginalization. The goal is to address systemic challenges, leading to a more just and equitable environment for all at NIU.
References
Barnard Center for Research on Women. (2020, July 16). Introduction to restorative justice. YouTube.
Castro-Harris, D. R. (2023). 124. restorative justice and healing circles w/ Ruth Jeannoel - this restorative justice life. Buzzsprout.
Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking. (2021b). Training Videos Volume 1: Restorative Justice: For Victims, Communities, and Offenders. Training Videos | Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking | UMN Duluth.
Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking. (2021b). Restorative Justice: Victim Empowerment through Mediation and Dialogue. Training Videos | Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking | UMN Duluth.
Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking. (2021b). Victim Sensitive Offender Dialogue in Crimes of Severe Violence. Training Videos | Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking | UMN Duluth.
Coates, R., Umbreit, M., and Vos, B. (2003). Restorative justice circles: An exploratory study. Contemporary Justice Review: CJR, 6(3), 265–278.
Liebmann, M. (2007). Restorative justice: How it works. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Mahar, R. (2020). Season 1: Episode 1 - what is restorative justice?. Camp Stomping Ground.
Mahar, R. (2020b). Season 1: Episode 5 - systems and communities: The bigger picture of restorative justice. Camp Stomping Ground.
Student Affairs Now Host. (2022). Restorative justice in higher education. YouTube.
Zehr, H. (2002). The Little Book of Restorative Justice. Good Books.