Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Sami Adwan described the steps taken by the Peace Research Institute for the Middle East (PRIME) to create a historical dual narrative for schools in Israel and Palestine.

Fulbright Scholars-in-Residence Dan Bar On from Israel and Sami Adwan from Palestine spoke at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC, earlier this year. Both scholars are on lecturing grants at Monmouth University in New Jersey and are co-directors of the nonprofit organization Peace Research Institute for the Middle East (PRIME) headquartered in Beit Jalah.

At the lecture, Bar On and Adwan discussed PRIME's dual-narrative approach to teaching the histories of Israel and Palestine in both regions' schools. This is a bottom-up approach to improving relations in the tense region. Bar On and Adwan explained that for there to be peace, people must understand the other side's point of view, and this begins with the countries' children.

As part of its mission to pursue mutual coexistence and peace-building through joint research and outreach activities, PRIME developed text focusing on different stages of development of nationhood. Adwan explained that the nations' histories covered both the monolithic and the neo-monolithic stages in the Palestinian and Israeli societies. The text was developed after meeting educators and historians from both Israel and Palestine in a neutral setting.

The meetings faced challenges such as deciding what language should be used, Arabic or Hebrew. In order to avoid creating an asymmetry of power, they decided to use English to identify and discuss key historical moments from the perspective of both nations. The text was then compiled with a historian from each side writing their own country's view of historical events. These narratives lay side by side in the booklet, allowing students to instantly compare the two historical accounts. The educators then discussed how to teach each other to see the other side and the roadblocks they would encounter when doing so.

Currently Adwan and Bar On are working on approaching the ministries of Israel and Palestine and asking them to employ the dual-narrative approach in the public school system. Both scholars acknowledged that they face a variety of obstacles, but they feel that their work is important enough to keep pushing forward despite the resistance they face from their governments. Adwan described his motivation as being "our children and our children's children, and the possibility that they may humanize each other and coexist in a peaceful way." Both scholars share the hope that if this educational strategy is integrated into their school systems successfully, it could serve as a model for other parts of the world.