As I write this, we are still witnessing the darkest days the Israel-Palestine region has ever known. And yet, rather than working to end the devastation and move towards a shared future, we are seeing from political leaders the same ultranationalist ideologies, with calls for continued destruction, expulsion, killing, and refusal to recognise that this is the homeland for all. 

At Solutions Not Sides, we do not align ourselves with any political agenda that seeks victory for one side through the suffering of the other. We stand on values that transcend political goals: non-violence, equality, and the rejection of hate. These values are not neutral - they are moral imperatives. And in times like these, when moral clarity is desperately needed, we reaffirm them with conviction.

Our work in the UK is focused on education that promotes these values and teaches young people to open their eyes, examine all angles, come to their own conclusions, and play their part in making change. We empower young people to become active citizens who pursue peace and justice through democratic means. Our programmes use human needs theory to understand conflict and rely on international law as the foundation for learning and discussion. We believe that human life and human rights are sacrosanct. That belief informs everything we do.

The central teaching point of our Youth Education Programme - and the very reason we named our organisation Solutions Not Sides - is the importance of pursuing a resolution that supports a win-win outcome for both Palestinians and Israelis. This means listening to and understanding both narratives, recognising the pain and legitimacy of both peoples, and rejecting the false choice that peace for one must come at the expense of the other.

The future does not have to belong to ultranationalists who choose war over peace. It can - and must - belong to those who believe in shared humanity, community, and justice. We will continue to educate the next generation to understand this, to challenge destructive leadership, and to realise that the true purpose of power is to serve the needs of the people - not to sacrifice them for political gain.

Now more than ever, we will give a platform in British schools to the voices of Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilders, who speak (often at great personal cost) not of vengeance, dominance, or eradication, but of dignity, dialogue, equity and peace. That is what we teach. That is what we stand for. That is what we will continue to do.



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Sharon Booth is the Executive Director and Founder of Solutions Not Sides - an educational charity aiming to depolarise discussions of Israel-Palestine through humanising encounters with Palestinian and Israeli peacebuilders. Find out more about our work here.