Canisius Conversation explores Israeli-Palestinian Peacebuilding

By: Madison Howard, Assistant Features Editor

Canisius University hosted its final Canisius Conversation of the year on Thursday, April 23, bringing together students, faculty and staff for a discussion centered on dialogue and peacebuilding in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Held in the Library Learning Center, the event featured guest speakers from the PeaceWorks Foundation who shared personal experiences and insight into conflict resolution.

Organized by Spencer Liechty, the monthly series is designed to create space for open and respectful conversations around complex issues. Liechty opened the event by emphasizing that the goal is not to debate or reach a single conclusion but to create space for honest dialogue. He encouraged attendees to listen carefully, ask questions and approach disagreement with humility, drawing from the tradition of St. Ignatius Loyola.

The conversation featured Ezzeldeen Masri, a Palestinian American peacebuilder originally from Gaza, and Iky Salinas, an activist and researcher involved in Israeli political and peacebuilding work. Masri currently serves as chief field officer for the PeaceWorks Foundation and the OneVoice Movement while Salinas is pursuing a PhD focused on evaluating peacebuilding efforts in the Israeli-Palestinian context.

Masri spoke about growing up in Gaza and becoming politically aware at a young age; he described how many young people feel pressure to join political groups, some of which are tied to violence and how his father intervened to guide him toward a different path. Instead, Masri chose nonviolent political engagement which eventually led him into diplomacy and peacebuilding work. He went on to describe his involvement in the first Palestinian uprising as well as his later work building peace initiatives in Gaza and the West Bank. Through programs like OneVoice, he organized town halls and leadership development efforts aimed at encouraging negotiation and coexistence. He acknowledged that this work is often met with skepticism especially in communities shaped by long term conflict but emphasized that small groups of students and young professionals are still willing to engage and grow into leaders.

Salinas shared a perspective shaped by his upbringing across the United States, Mexico and Israel. He described how his early connection to Israel evolved over time as he became more aware of social and political inequalities which led him to focus on peacebuilding and social justice. He reflected on the importance of meeting Palestinians in spaces where people could interact as equals rather than through systems defined by power imbalances. Those experiences shifted how he understood the conflict making it more personal and human rather than purely political. Now pursuing a PhD at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Salinas studies how peacebuilding efforts are measured. He explained that many organizations track their impact in different ways often based on outside funding requirements which makes it difficult to fully understand what is effective. He emphasized the need for more consistent methods of evaluation to strengthen these efforts and expand their reach.

Throughout the discussion, both speakers returned to the idea that the conflict is often driven by extremes while many individuals on both sides are working toward peace. They stressed that dialogue, especially face to face conversation, is essential in breaking down assumptions and building understanding.

During the question and answer portion, audience members raised questions about the role of the United States, the impact of social media and how young people can become involved in peacebuilding efforts. In response, the speakers emphasized the importance of critical thinking, direct engagement and building relationships across differences rather than relying only on online narratives.

They also discussed the challenges of misinformation and echo chambers, noting that real understanding comes from listening to lived experiences and engaging in conversation even when it is uncomfortable.

As the final Canisius Conversation of the year, the event closed with an invitation for students to stay involved and continue engaging with difficult conversations. More than anything, the discussion reflected the purpose of the series which is creating space for dialogue even when the issues are complex and encouraging a campus culture rooted in understanding and respect.