The media coverage of the recent war in Gaza brought us painful scenes that have lingered in our memory. We empathized with the people of Gaza and, since the outset, wished the invasion would end. The Gazans have gained the sympathy of world public opinion and the war has entered history, considering its bloodiness and ferocity. It raged on unabated for 23 days, without no prospects for a solution.

As a Palestinian youth living in Jerusalem, I wish that Palestinian and Israeli youths who live in the conflict zones could exchange houses in order to see how the other side lives and, mostly, to see that war kills peace, which is the only just solution to the conflict between the two peoples.

In this essay, I will attempt to address the question: What can the youth do to strengthen the opportunities for a just peace? Yet, at the same time, I wonder about the international treaties between heads of state that have failed to bring a peaceful solution to the protracted conflict. I also wonder: Have civil society organizations and other institutions which seek to promote peace succeeded in their endeavors? Perhaps the answer would be that the conflict is still ongoing. The last war has encouraged killings without clemency or concessions to end the fighting.

So what can I, as a Palestinian youth, do? What is in my power?

Solutions abound, but the first step towards peace should begin by putting a stop to the slogans used by the media like: "killing," "armed gangs," "defense forces," "terror," "terrorist groups," "the brutal Zionist enemy." Such terminology points to the degree of hatred between the two sides.

Another thing that could promote a solution would be to end the blockade that Israel has imposed on Gaza and the rest of the Palestinian areas and not to isolate Gaza from the Palestinian Authority (PA) areas, for it is part and parcel of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

We, the two peoples, have to unite and to bring pressure to bear The first step towards peace should begin by putting a stop to the slogans used by the media like: "killing," "armed gangs," "defense forces," "terror," "terrorist groups," "the brutal Zionist enemy." on our respective governments before they take any decision that will bring only more suffering and death to the people. Thus we should seek reconciliation ahead of our governments; otherwise, our fate will be a struggle for survival.

In spite of the recent war, the views of both sides on how to reach peace do not coincide. And, as we know, the two sides have been trying to arrive at peace agreements before the war, but to no avail. Thus, the people should take it upon themselves to promote reconciliation among themselves; we could, for example, check the areas that were bombed and destroyed by the occupation and visit the other side, the Israeli citizens whose homes were bombed by the Palestinian resistance. Of course, this will not be possible if the two governments do not try to work for national reconciliation between them.

We as Palestinian and Israeli youths should not accept the policies of zoning, of the separation wall and barriers, of the establishment of settlements and settlement blocs, and of arrests, but we must support the concept of two peoples living on the same land as if they were one people, despite the differences in religion, creed and nationality.

We have to pressure public opinion and religious leaders to bring about changes within the two societies, the Israeli and the Palestinian, and to call on the leaders and citizens to work for peace and to use the case of Gaza as a sobering example. Think of the simplest things to promote peace, for example, contributions that will mutually benefit the parties, such as treating Palestinians in Israeli hospitals or providing assistance in kind in the case of wars; raising a new generation of children on a foundation of love and forgiveness and teaching them about the civilization and culture of the other side; rejecting the use of incitement and hatred and placing a great value on the words "freedom," "justice," "peace," "equality" and "reconciliation" - all this to underline the value of peace for the sake of the youth of the future who dream of peace.

As youth from both sides, we have to launch Israeli and Palestinian lobbying and media campaigns which call for peace, to let the whole world know that we demand peace, in spite of the ongoing conflict between us, and to convince the world that we are advocates of peace and coexistence, and that we abhor terrorism and armed struggle, especially the use of internationally banned weapons.

Although there have been some internationally recognized peace agreements, like the Oslo Accords, perhaps the two peoples should try to forge some peace agreements among themselves; then the governments will eventually adopt them as part of achieving peace and putting an end to the conflict. For it is only with peace that we can attain security and stability.

We will convince the world that the two peoples want to live in peace. And the Palestinian people want a state where they will be able to live in peace.