Hagit Mendellevich and Nonie Darwish first met last week. According to the usual geopolitical criteria, they would have no reason to get on. Ms Mendellevich, an Israeli, lost her 13-year-old son, Yuval, in a Palestinian suicide bombing; Ms Darwish grew up in Gaza, the daughter of an Egyptian military commander assassinated by Israel and was told to avenge his death by killing Jews. But the two women have the same goal - they want peace. While visiting London with the campaign group Mothers for Peace, they told their stories to Guardian Unlimited.
While reconciliation is never easy, both believe women, and especially mothers, could play a bigger role in peace making. Ms Darwish said she was speaking out against violence to encourage moderate Arabs and Muslims - the "true freedom fighters", she called them - to speak out too. Ms Mendellevich said she longed for the day when Palestinian mothers held parties to celebrate their children becoming doctors and architects, not, as in the case of the mother of her son's killer, when they became suicide bombers.
When I was grieving for my son, at the same time, the mother of the suicide murderer, she was celebrating. She welcomed her guests with sweet coffee and sweet cakes. She was so proud of her son, so she wanted to celebrate his choice to become a shaheed - a martyr - and she encouraged her other children to follow his example.
This is the reality. That mother hates our children more than she loves hers.
You can listen to the interview here.
