Dreams take flight here on this wall. The Israël-Palestine: pour mieux comprendre Mural stands as a testament to dialogue and understanding. This mural is not just paint on a wall. It embodies a journey of learning and reconciliation.
The Israël-Palestine: pour mieux comprendre Mural came to life through a unique collaboration. The project involved students from Athénée Marguerite Yourcenar in Laeken. They worked with the non-profit organization Actions In the Mediterranean AIM. The association aims to foster dialogue about the Israël-Palestine conflict.
What makes this mural so special? It is the result of a school trip to Israël and Palestine. Fifteen students participated in the trip after months of preparation. The preparation included debates and workshops. The students’ experiences were immortalized in this fresco.
The artists Samuel Idmtal and Orlando Kintero created the Israël-Palestine: pour mieux comprendre Mural. The students chose them. The artists were given creative freedom. The mural clearly references the Israël-Palestine project.
One part of the Israël-Palestine: pour mieux comprendre Mural depicts the wall between Israël and the West Bank. The second part shows the bridge of reconciliation. This alludes to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry quote. It says that man builds too many walls and not enough bridges.
The Israël-Palestine: pour mieux comprendre Mural also features two people on a bridge. They symbolize reconciliation. These are Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan. They are two fathers who lost loved ones in the conflict. They are part of the Parents Circle Families Forum. This association brings together Israëlian and Palestinian families who have lost a close relative.
The creation of the Israël-Palestine: pour mieux comprendre Mural aimed to combat hate speech. It also sought to address violence among young people in Brussels. These acts were based on anti-Semitic and Islamophobic stereotypes. The AIM wanted to engage young people through the school system.
The Israël-Palestine: pour mieux comprendre Mural has become part of the city’s Street Art Parcours. Aldermen Karine Lalieux and Faouzia Hariche supported the mural.
Since 2014 public education has participated in the AIM project. The project has a dual objective. It allows young people to form critical opinions on the Israël-Palestine conflict. It also promotes solidarity for peace. The project encourages students from different backgrounds to work together. This fosters dialogue and mutual respect.
Before the Israël-Palestine: pour mieux comprendre Mural, students participated in workshops and debates. They had the opportunity to travel to Jerusalem. They returned as ambassadors to deconstruct stereotypes.
The Israël-Palestine: pour mieux comprendre Mural serves as a concrete reminder of their experiences. It symbolizes the project. Every element in the fresco connects directly to the project. The Israël-Palestine: pour mieux comprendre Mural stands as a symbol of hope. It embodies the possibility of understanding in a conflicted world.