Pro-Israel - Pro-Palestine - Pro-Peace

Under the title "Israelis and Palestinians in dialogue - for peaceful coexistence in the Holy Land", the University of Siegen and the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation Siegerland, funded by the federal program "Live Democracy!", invite you to two panel discussions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on 4 and 6 November 2025.

October 7, 2023 and the ensuing war have also hardened positions here in Germany and thus largely prevented dialog. However, the two guests, the Israeli historian Fania Oz-Salzberger and the German-Palestinian university lecturer Jules El-Khatib, show that dialog is definitely possible. Both speakers already know each other and are familiar with each other's positions. There are similarities and differences. At the beginning of both events, they will present their positions on the current situation and then enter into a moderated dialog about the common life and common future of both peoples.

If there is enough time, there will then be room for questions from the audience. The questions must be formulated briefly and concisely. The contributions and the subsequent panel discussion will be held in English.

The first event will take place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 7 pm, Friedrich-Schadeberg-Hörsaal (US-C-116), Campus Unteres Schloss, University of Siegen.

The second event will take place on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 7 p.m., Spandauer Saal Siegerlandhalle.

The broad civil society, representatives from politics and society and interested citizens who are willing to enter into a respectful conversation with each other are invited to both events. Both events are free of charge. Registration is not required. Admission is at 6:30 p.m. The doors to the event venues will close promptly at 7 p.m. to ensure that the event runs as smoothly as possible. Admission for university members will be from 6.15 pm on Tuesday.

Background

Fania Oz-Salzberger is a professor of history at the University of Haifa and an author. She is the eldest daughter of the writer Amos Oz, who died in 2018. She received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2021 and an honorary doctorate from Uppsala University in 2020. She is active in the Israeli pro-democracy protest movement. Her book "Germany and Israel after October 7" was published in 2024.

Jules El-Khatib is a German-Palestinian university lecturer with German and Israeli citizenship. He has been teaching at the IU International University since 2022. For many years, he has campaigned for an end to the occupation of Palestine and for security and peace for all people in the Middle East. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis on the family relationships of the Mhallamis in the context of the flight from Lebanon.