In November 2007, the Peres Center for Peace and ImpactGames distributed some 80,000 copies of the groundbreaking "PeaceMaker" computer game, which reached subscribers of Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz and Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds Daily on the very day that the Annapolis Conference began in the United States.

 

 

Following this widespread distribution, the Peres Center, in cooperation with ImpactGames, launched "The 'PeaceMaker' Educational Program". Based on the "PeaceMaker" computer game, the program involves Palestinian and Israeli high school pupils in both playing the game itself and participating in guided discussions led by trained facilitators.

 

The "PeaceMaker" game – developed independently by ImpactGames – is the first of its kind, and it allows a player to take on the role of either the Palestinian President or Israeli Prime Minister with a view to solving the conflict through tools such as diplomacy, military action, infrastructural development and more. Importantly, the game allows players to open their minds, consider the complexity of the conflict situation, and understand the “other side's” pressures and constraints.

 

 

The PeaceMaker game taps into the widespread appeal of internet, technology, and video games to involve the younger generation in such crucial political issues. Through this innovation, youth are empowered and given the challenge and responsibility to analyze the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, experimenting with choices and decisions that could, someday, actually come to fruition and bring an end to years of conflict.

 

To launch the "PeaceMaker" Educational Program, the Peres Center organized an event for 16 and 17 year-old Israeli pupils from Sha'ar Hanegev (an Israeli community adjacent to the Gaza Strip), during which the youth played the game and participated in guided discussions. They analyzed their experiences in the role of the Palestinian and Israeli leadership, and demonstrated new understanding regarding the complex realities facing the negotiating teams. Many workshops for Israeli pupils have been held since, including additional workshops in Sha'ar Hanegev. These pupils are directly affected by the conflict, as demonstrated by the pupils having to take shelter in response to a siren announcing a rocket attack at the beginning of one of the workshops in January 2008. Positive feedback has been received from the workshops, and a number of teachers have expressed their willingness to extend the program to younger pupils.

 

 

In May 2008, the Peres Center, together with a Palestinian partner, launched a series of workshops for youth from Birzeit, Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Ramallah. Altogether, some 300 Palestinian pupils played the "PeaceMaker" computer game. After playing the game, and gaining more of an insight into the constraints, limitations and internal predicaments of the two sides, a trained facilitator led guided discussions with the pupils in order to help them process their thoughts and express their feelings. The Palestinian teachers commented that, interestingly, many of the youth chose to act as the Israeli Prime Minister. The teachers were impressed by the pupils' determination to fulfill the game's mission of seeking peace, and remarked that the workshop led the pupils to undertake critical thinking in regard to the political situation.

 

Following more than 50 workshops held for over 1,600 Israeli and Palestinian teenagers during 2008, a new series of workshops for the "PeaceMaker Educational Program" commenced in 2009 with groups of high school students from both sides. Delivered by the Peres Center, together with a Palestinian partner, recent workshops have reached youth from Holon, Petach Tikvah (Israeli communities), Bir Zeit, Ramallah and Beit Sahour (Palestinian communities).

In September 2009, three Israeli and four Palestinian instructors from the IT Peace Project Department’s "PeaceMaker Educational Workshops" program gathered for a professional workshop, marking their first meeting as a team. In addition to receiving professional training and enrichment, the meeting allowed the instructors to share their experiences with the program, and to discuss the needs that arise from the youth participants.