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Media coverage

The Tablet | Palestinian and Israeli bereaved families’ reconciliation work recognised by Nobel nomination, 2 April 2026

Peace activist Sharon Dolev, founder of the Middle East Treaty Organisation and the Israeli Disarmament Movement, nominated the Parents Circle-Families Forum (PCFF) for the Nobel Peace Prize, with the support of the International Peace Bureau.

“In a time marked by war, distrust, and despair, the Parents Circle-Families Forum offers a rare spark of hope for the future,” the nomination said, “and demonstrates that the true moral choice is between those committed to shared humanity and those perpetuating violence.”

Read article


The Tablet | Common Ground - Mai Albini Peri and Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, 10 January 2026

Excerpt from the article:

The greatest difficulty they each face is in managing relations with their own communities. Mai is accused of being a “leftist traitor” and Ibrahim of being a “normaliser,” which for him seems to carry the implication of “collaborator.” Both have their responses ready.

Ibrahim asks "How can you call me a normaliser when the people I work with work for human rights and are against the occupation?” Mai’s response is to point out that the best way to honour those who have died is to make sure nobody else dies. “And,” he adds, “we each have this privilege as a member of a bereaved family: you can’t tell us we don’t know what we’re talking about.”

Click below to read full article.


Sky News | 'War should always be the last resort' - bereaved grandson, Mai Albini Peri, 14 November 2025

Palestinian Ibrahim al-Jafaari and Israeli Mai Ablini Peri spoke to Sky News about their hopes for their nations' futures.

BBC Woman's Hour | Women Pursuing Peace - Layla Alsheikh and Mor Ynon, 14 November 2025

Despite the fragile ceasefire, some see hope for lasting peace. Kylie is joined by Layla Alsheikh from the West Bank, and Mor Ynon from Tel Aviv - both are members of the Parents Circle Families Forum, a group of bereaved families working for reconciliation. 

Listen here


The Times of Israel | Consequences by Robi Damelin, 14 August 2025 

Click below to read full article.


Haaretz Opinion | By Co-Director Ayelet Harel, 21 July 2025

Click below to read full article.


ABC News, 18 November 2024


BBC Breakfast, 8 October 2024


Tony Robbins: Bridging the Divide, 25 July 2024


News articles

The Gaurdian, 2013
'Why are men so angry that they kill children to get what they want?'

‘In the end there will be a peace agreement, that is absolutely clear. It will happen at the moment when the price of not having peace exceeds the price of having peace.’ – Rami Elhanan.

Read article
The Gaurdian, 2012
The Israeli and the Palestinian: 'We have discovered this joint pain'.

‘It’s very easy for both the Muslim and Jewish communities in the diaspora not to compromise; they’re not exactly put to the test every day.’  

Read article

The Gaurdian, 2012
A Mother's Plea - Hugh Muir's account of a reception held in the Speaker's House.

"We must convince people not to import our conflict into their countries. Help us, listen to us. But don't take sides." 

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'Bereaved' Photographic Essay - New York Times, 2012

See photo slideshow

New York Times, 2012
Opinion | Another Gaza Flare-Up is Over - The New York Times

‘You don’t need a curriculum to make you hate if you live in Gaza. And it is the same for Israeli children in Sderot…’

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Emel, 2010
Friends Between Enemies

‘It is often difficult for us to meet; she lives in Israel and I in Palestine. There is a wall, checkpoints and Israeli soldiers that divide us. But our friendship is so established that no matter how many barriers we encounter, we will always find a way of keeping our friendship alive.

Read article

SKY TV NEWS, 21 NOV 2012

‘I wish Obama could help us find a solution…’ – Mazen Faraj and Robi Damelin.


SUSSEX UNIVERSITY, 22 NOV 2010

‘If I kill someone in revenge, will that bring my baby back to me? And if I cause someone else pain, will that ease my own pain? Absolutely not.’ – Extract from pamphlet distributed at meeting hosted by Sussex University Students’ Union.

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THE TIMES, NOV 2009

‘Revenge? What for? It does not bring anyone back.’

Read article


CHURCH TIMES, MAY 2009

‘Being a victim, there is so much pain… but giving up victimhood, there are so many responsibilities.’

Read article


THE GUARDIAN, 10 MAY 2009

‘She’s Israeli, he’s an Arab. War has made them like mother and son’.

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CHURCH TIMES, DEC 2006

‘Why do they always concentrate on revenge? It encourages the extremist minority, and dehumanises the conflict. It also denies a voice to the majority on both sides who yearn for peace.’ – Chani Smith, Israeli-born musician and teacher.

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BBC NEWS, 19 SEPT 2005

‘Pain equalises you and you start to listen and that’s when you start to understand.’

Read article

Published: 27th April, 2020

Updated: 6th May, 2026

Author: Peter Singer

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Latest

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    On Sunday 14 June, the Jerusalem District Court reinstated the Parents Circle – Families Forum's school dialogue programme, overturning the Ministry of Education's ban. The ruling is a significant victory for peace education, dialogue and freedom of expression.

  • Parents Circle Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2026

    Parents Circle Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2026

    We are honoured to announce that the Parents Circle - Families Forum has been nominated for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.  We do not take this recognition lightly. Nor do we see it as a moment of arrival. Rather, it is an urgent call to continue the work of humanising the 'other,' of breaking cycles of hatred, and of demanding peace and the sanctity of human life above all.

  • Women's Day Webinar

    Women's Day Webinar

    On Monday 23rd March, we held a special International Women's Day webinar, Voices of Pain and Hope from Gaza, featuring bereaved Palestinian women from Gaza and a peace activist from Israel. The webinar provided a unique opportunity to hear directly from women living in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel about the intersection of being women, activists, and building hope during war.

  • 2025: Parents Circle Speaking Tour

    2025: Parents Circle Speaking Tour

    In November 2025, UK Friends of the Parents Circle – Families Forum hosted four bereaved Palestinians and Israelis for a week-long tour, sharing powerful stories of loss, hope, and reconciliation across the UK.

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  • Stand for Peace and Donate Today

    Stand for Peace and Donate Today

    We are committed to raising funds to help bereaved Israeli and Palestinian members spread their message of peace of reconciliation. Please support our work by making a donation.

  • History of the Forum

    History of the Forum

    The Parents Circle-Families Forum (also known as the Bereaved Families Forum) was founded by Yitzhak Frankenthal in 1995, a year after his 19-year-old son Arik was killed by Hamas. He declared that as a religious Jew he could not justify seeking revenge for his son’s murder. Despite his pain, he said, the only ethical response to the loss of his son was to try to prevent further deaths and suffering.

  • Our work

    Our work

    We are a UK support group of the Parents Circle - Families Forum - a joint Israeli/Palestinian organisation of families who have lost a close family member to the conflict. Instead of seeking revenge, they have chosen the path of reconciliation.

  • Privacy Policy

  • The team

    Our patrons are a group of individuals, all distinguished in their own spheres, who have agreed to lend their support and endorsement to PCFF. The Trustees are a group of PCFF supporters who oversee the management of the charity and guarantee its adherence to the highest legal and ethical standards. The Steering Committee are enthusiastic volunteers who undertake the planning and execution of our promotional and fundraising activities.

  • What we do

    What we do

    We are a UK support group of the Parents Circle - Families Forum; a joint Israeli and Palestinian organisation with over 850 bereaved families who have lost a close family member to the conflict. Instead of seeking revenge, they have committed to dialogue, reconciliation and peace.

  • Judith Elkan, peacemaker

    Judith Elkan, peacemaker

    Chani Smith, former Hon. Secretary of UK Friends of the Bereaved Families Forum,, pays tribute to Judith Elkan who died aged 92 on Thursday 24th February.

  • Talking peace in person

    Talking peace in person

    ‘I didn’t think about revenge. If you consider violence you are a victim again. I decided not to be a victim' - Bassam Aramin, bereaved father

  • Breaking down walls of fear

    Breaking down walls of fear

    An Israeli and a Palestinian, who each lost a sister, spoke online to hundreds of FBFF supporters about advancing reconciliation between their communities.

  • Leave a legacy

    Leave a legacy

    Help spread the Parents Circle - Families Forum's message of peace and reconciliation in the UK by leaving a legacy to the UKF-PCFF.

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