‘When they see us [together], this puts the first crack in the wall. A little light comes in. No one can listen to us and remain the same.’ – Rami Elhanan Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan represent two worlds torn apart. Aramin is a Palestinian academic who spent seven years in an Israeli jail for his role in the Palestinian resistance. Elhanan is an Israeli graphic designer who served in the Israeli Army as a young man. On the first day of the school year in 1997, Elhanan’s daughter, Smadar, was killed by two Palestinian suicide bombers. In 2007, Aramin’s 10-year-old daughter, Abir, was killed by Israeli border police in front of her school. United by this shared grief, these two unlikely friends have devoted their lives to building peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Their quest to overcome hatred, reconcile and ultimately heal from unimaginable loss carries inspiration and hope in a time of unprecedented polarisation. Their moving story has been shared around the world, and was the inspiration for Colum McCann’s Booker-Prize-longlisted novel Apeirogon. Now, for the first time, the pair will appear together in Australia for a very special Fifth Estate event, hosted by Sally Warhaft. Join Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan as they share their powerful story of loss, forgiveness and peace.
Presented in partnership with Plus61J Media
For in-depth insider analysis of current affairs, it doesn’t get any better than The Fifth Estate. This long-running series is a mainstay of the Wheeler Centre’s programme, and of public conversation in Melbourne. Our in-house news anchor Sally Warhaft hosts guests from the world of politics, culture, journalism and international relations to dissect pressing questions of policy, power and public affairs. It’s a chance to give complex local and global issues the thoughtful discussion they deserve.
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Bassam Aramin was sent to Israeli prison as a 17-year-old for his role in the Palestinian resistance. He spent seven years there, and eventually started questioning the value of armed resistance. Several years after his release ...
Rami Elhanan is a 7th generation Jerusalemite graphic designer. He identifies himself as a Jew, an Israeli, and before everything else, a human being. On the first day of the school year in 1997, Rami's daughter, Smadar, was killed by two ...
Sally Warhaft is a Melbourne broadcaster, anthropologist and writer. She is the host of The Fifth Estate, the Wheeler Centre’s live series focusing on journalism, politics, media, and international relations, and The Leap Year ...