Parents Circle – Family Forum

when & where?

Sunday, May 10, 2026, 6 pm
Haus am Westbahnhof,  Landau
Admission is free! Please register in advance. 

Parents Circle – Family Forum 

Presentation and discussion with: Laila Alsheikh (Palestine) und Michal Halev (Israel)

For over 30 years, Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost loved ones to terrorism and war have been working together in "Parents Circle ­— Family Forum". Despite their deep personal grief, they consistently advocate for dialogue, understanding, and an end to violence. They choose the shared path of mourning. Their goal is not forgiveness, but the transformation of pain into hope.

The Parents Circle is active to this day, despite all escalations. In 2025, the Parents Circle was awarded the International Nuremberg Human Rights Prize — one of many significant honours recognising the organisation's work. This event offers a rare opportunity to hear voices that consciously break free from the spiral of violence and retaliation — and instead advocate for humanity, dialogue, and peace.

The introduction will be in German; the presentation will be in English. Participants may contribute to the discussion in either language.

SPEAKERS

Laila Al-Sheikh lives in Bethlehem and studied accounting and economics. In 2002, her six months old son Qussay died after inhaling tear gas during an operation by the Israeli army and being denied timelymedical care. Rather than seek revenge, Laila began advocating a more peaceful future for her children. She joined the „Parents Circle“ in 2016.

Michal Halev worked as women's advisor and used art to connect people. Her only child, Laor Abramov Halev, was killed at 20 years old by Hamas on October 7th 2023 at the Nova music festival. This loss changed her life. Since then she works in memory of her son and joined the „Parents Circle“ in 2024.

I N F O 

registration

Please register at: friedensakademie-rlp[at]rptu.de

Language

The introduction is in German, the presentation in English.

LOCATION

Haus am Westbahnhof, Landau

photo and audio recording

Notice

Cooperation