October 20, 2025 / 7 p.m. / German National Library, Deutscher Platz 1, 04103 Leipzig

Israel and Palestine: How can borders be overcome?

Saba-Nur Cheema and Meron Mendel in conversation with Nora Pester

The ceasefire recently agreed between Israel and Hamas, under which Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners were released, marks the first step in the Gaza peace plan. Whether this agreement will pave the way for lasting peace remains to be seen. The wounds are deep - and many questions remain unanswered.

By recognizing a Palestinian state, Canada, France, the UK and other Western countries have recently sent a clear signal in favour of a two-state solution. But what borders would a future Palestinian state have - especially in view of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank? What role do real and mental borders play in the Middle East conflict - and in the German debate about it?

Meron Mendel and Saba-Nur Cheema, who regularly search for common ground across social, political and religious boundaries in their joint FAZ column "Muslim-Jewish Evening Meal", will discuss these issues.

(The event replaces the originally planned discussion with Omri Boehm and Benny Morris, which has been canceled for scheduling reasons).

Meron Mendel, Professor of Transnational Social Work at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and Director of the Anne Frank Educational Center,
Saba-Nur Cheema, political scientist and publicist.
Moderation: Nora Pester (Hentrich & Hentrich)

Admission: 10,- / 8,- EUR. Tickets at https://rausgegangen.de/events/israel-1948-bis-heute-ein-land-an-der-grenze-diskussion-mit--0/

Event organized by Literaturhaus Leipzig e.V. in cooperation with the German National Library as part of the 12th "Politics in Independent Theatre" festival

The 12th Politics in Independent Theatre Festival is a cooperation between the Federal Agency for Civic Education, LOFFT - DAS THEATER, Schaubühne Lindenfels, Schauspiel Leipzig, Theater der Jungen Welt and Westflügel Leipzig.

The 12th Festival Politik im Freien Theater is funded by the City of Leipzig. The funding was made possible by the resolution of the Leipzig City Council on the submission VII-DS-06803 "12th Festival 'Politik im Freien Theater 2025 in Leipzig" and by the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism. This measure is co-financed by tax funds on the basis of the budget adopted by the Saxon State Parliament.