Israel & Palestine - Windows For Peace

On June 18^th 2009 Point Blank tutors began a groundbreaking course in Tel Aviv, bringing a group of nineteen young Israelis and Palestinians together to show that music can overcome conflict by creating a unique track and video.

The project was a collaboration between Point Blank and an Israeli charity Windows for Peace, funded by the Rayne Trust and private donors. Robert Cowan, founder of Point Blank, is a frequent visitor to the Middle East; four years ago he formulated an idea for using the Point Blank training system to engage young people from Israel and Palestine and bring them together through music and film-making. He says:

"I saw their [Windows for Peace] message as bigger than politics. It was more about people and understanding at a grassroots level… Whatever your views, both sides have to talk. When you do music with young people, they respond exactly the same and that's when you realise they are all exactly the same. Music has brought these kids together and broken down barriers and predetermined perceptions."

The group recorded an original track and made an accompanying music video exploring issues relevant to their lives and experiences. In the process they learned valuable new skills enabling them to apply their talent and imagination to help bring about peaceful change, all through the power of music. More than just working together on a creative project, they also lived together and shared every moment of their lives for a two-week period.

The resulting track was named ‘Step for Peace’ and you can watch the video here.

Once disseminated via TV and web to reach a worldwide public, the music video will show the young people within the region that communication with the ‘enemy’ is not only possible, but desirable and fruitful.

The media interest in the project has already been significant resulting in coverage in various news publications and outlets. You can see some of that coverage by clicking on the following links:

Medialine news story (video)

Israel 21C news story (video)

Online and offline news articles (downloadable PDF)

At a time when it is more important than ever for both sides in the Middle East conflict to understand each other, it is the hope of Point Blank and Windows that this project has sown the seeds of reconciliation.

"At first it was kind of weird. We all have different stories. We all had a bit of trouble trying to understand each other. Just our traditions are different; we are living different lives. After some time, we got to know each other and be friends." – Natalie, Palestinian from Bethlehem, 15.

"It has changed my life. Before, I thought Israeli people were bad and that they thought of us as bad. When I met the group it was a shock for me – now I've changed my thoughts about Israelis" – Tamara, Palestinian from Bethlehem, 15.

"It's fantastic we are talking, because we are supposed to be enemies. I came here because I wanted to understand more the other side. It's hard for me to talk about the hard things [Palestinians] go through. There is something in their voice that blames me and I can't blame them for that" - Gili, Israeli from Tel Aviv, 14.

"[The song] won't make people meet the other side, but it will change the way they think about the conflict" – Orin, Tel Aviv resident, 14.