The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has repercussions far beyond the Middle East, and German schools are no exception. Since October 7, 2023, teachers across Germany have reported a rise in emotionally charged classroom discussions, antisemitic incidents, and increasing difficulties in sustaining constructive dialogue on the topic.
Yet the situation in German classrooms is not simply a reflection of the conflict itself. The German situation is fundamentally different as Jewish students form a tiny minority (most schools do not have any), and the much more significant group of Muslim students is (for the most part) not Palestinian, may have never been to the Middle East, and is only indirectly affected by the actual grievances of Palestinians – if at all. In addition, classroom debates are intertwined with broader discussions about German identity, historical responsibility, Staatsräson, and the lessons drawn from the Shoah. As a result, these discussions often involve questions of belonging, solidarity, and justice, and they are frequently marked by limited factual knowledge and strongly felt positions.
Just as the Israel-Palestine conflict, the escalating aggression in German classrooms reflects a society increasingly divided along lines of class, migration background, and cultural belonging. In both cases, outbreaks of conflict and violence are eruptions of deeper, unresolved tensions that teachers are struggling to contain.
Givat Haviva is one of Israel's most significant civil society organizations working on Jewish-Arab encounter and peace education. For over seven decades, the organization has developed and piloted educational programs that bring Jewish and Arab youth together – in a country where this is far from self-evident.
Dikla Tomer-Kayal is the Educational Director of Givat Haviva. She brings many years of experience in developing and leading encounter and dialogue programs for Jewish and Arab youth in Israel.
Yakoub Ibrahim is an educator and group facilitator at Givat Haviva, working directly with young people from both communities in one of the organization's youth encounter programs.
Both speakers work under the conditions of ongoing conflict and have extensive practical experience in applying peace education approaches even in highly polarized social environments.

Veranstaltungsart

Fortbildung

Fortbildungsart

Tagung (eintägig)

Ausbildungsstunden

4.00

Dozenten

Yakub Ibrahim, Dikla Tomer-Kaial

Leitung

Dr. Jürgen Kost

Standort

Mainz

Veranstaltungsort

Bischöfliches Priesterseminar Mainz
Augustinerstr. 34
55116 Mainz

Termine

Module

Veranstalter

Institut für Lehrerfort- und -weiterbildung Mainz

Gültigkeitsbereich

landesweit