Many people who care deeply about Palestine and Israel still find themselves hesitating when they try to speak about it. The conversation can feel loaded, polarized, and unforgiving. Even choosing a single word can place you in a political camp or prompt an awkward silence.

In a context shaped by prolonged occupation and deep inequality, language is never neutral. The terms used to describe places, policies, and people carry history and ideology with them. Should we say “West Bank,” “Judea and Samaria,” or “Occupied Palestinian Territories”? Each of these reflects a different political framework and signals a different understanding of reality. The same is true for the language used to describe settlements, security, resistance, or apartheid. Words do not simply describe the conflict, they shape how it is perceived and debated.

 We are pleased to invite you to a special discussion on Language as a Tool for Social Change, in partnership with This is not an Ulpan, an alternative language school for Arabic and Hebrew learners, run by a non-profit cooperative of language teachers and students.

Language as a Tool for Social Change
Monday, February 23, 2026
12:00 PM New York | 7:00 PM Jerusalem | 5:00 PM London

This conversation will explore how language education can expand political awareness, challenge dominant narratives, and support more informed and responsible engagement — not only in theory, but in the conversations you are having within your own communities. 

You will hear from educators and activists who work daily with the complexities of teaching Arabic and Hebrew in a deeply divided society, and who understand language learning as closely tied to questions of power, history, and rights.

At Combatants for Peace, Israelis and Palestinians work together every day, and we know from experience that the words we use matter. We hope you will join us for this important conversation.