Britain Palestine Project

Political analyst and public opinion researcher Dr Dahlia Scheindlin examines how Israelis and Palestinians have responded to the events of recent years and what polling data reveals about attitudes towards war, diplomacy, coexistence and the future of the conflict.Drawing on decades of joint Israeli-Palestinian public opinion research conducted with Palestinian pollster Dr Khalil Shikaki, Scheindlin explores both the striking parallels and significant differences that have emerged in public attitudes on either side of the conflict.The session explores:Long-term trends in Israeli and Palestinian public opinion regarding diplomacy, conflict and political solutions.How attitudes shifted following the events of October 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza.Changes in support for political actors, armed groups and military responses among both populations.Israeli public attitudes towards the war in Gaza, ceasefire proposals and hostage negotiations.The extent of fear, mistrust and dehumanisation that has developed between Israelis and Palestinians.Trends in support for a two-state solution and what these shifts may indicate about future political possibilities.The relationship between public opinion and government policy in Israel.Generational differences within Israeli society and how younger voters view the conflict.Israeli perceptions of changing international attitudes towards Israel and Palestine.The potential influence of shifting global public opinion on future policymaking.Dr Scheindlin highlights the ways in which trauma, insecurity and prolonged conflict have shaped public opinion on both sides, often producing similar patterns of fear, hardening attitudes and declining confidence in diplomatic solutions.At the same time, she examines areas where public opinion diverges from political leadership and discusses the complex relationship between changing public attitudes, media narratives and policy decisions.The presentation concludes by considering how international opinion, political activism and evolving public discourse may shape future debates around Israel, Palestine and the prospects for peace.Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.Dr Dahlia Scheindlin is a political analyst, public opinion researcher and writer specialising in Israeli politics, Israeli-Palestinian relations and democratic governance. She has advised international organisations, governments and civil society groups and is widely recognised for her work analysing public opinion trends across Israel and Palestine. Dr Scheindlin is the author of The Crooked Timber of Democracy in Israel and a frequent commentator in international media on Israeli politics, conflict and peacebuilding.

Dr Anne Irfan argues that recognition of Palestine must extend beyond the territory of the West Bank and Gaza to include the rights, experiences and political agency of Palestinians worldwide, particularly the millions living as refugees.Drawing on historical research into Palestinian displacement, refugee camps and the history of UNRWA, Dr Irfan explores how the Nakba continues not only through the loss of land, but also through efforts to fragment Palestinian identity and marginalise Palestinian voices in international discourse.The session explores:Why recognition of Palestine should include recognition of all Palestinians, including refugees and diaspora communities.The concept of the Nakba as an ongoing process rather than a single historical event.The displacement of Palestinians during 1948 and the creation of one of the world's largest refugee populations.The importance of the right of return and its place in international law and Palestinian political identity.Early international responses to Palestinian refugees and the ways in which Palestinian identity was often obscured or depoliticised.The history of Palestinian refugee camps as centres of political organisation, community life and national consciousness.The origins and evolution of UNRWA and its relationship with Palestinian refugee communities.Palestinian resistance to efforts aimed at permanent resettlement outside Palestine.The central role of education in Palestinian refugee communities and national identity.Contemporary refugee activism, including campaigns centred on the right of return and solidarity across the Palestinian diaspora.Dr Irfan highlights the ways in which Palestinian refugees have consistently asserted their political agency, challenged attempts to erase their identity and maintained connections to Palestine across generations. She argues that refugee communities have played a central role in shaping Palestinian political history and continue to do so today.The presentation concludes by examining the relevance of refugee history to current events in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon, and by arguing that meaningful recognition must encompass the full Palestinian people, wherever they live.Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.Dr Anne Irfan is a historian of the modern Middle East and Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Race, Gender and Postcolonial Studies at University College London. Her research focuses on Palestinian history, refugee communities, international organisations and the politics of displacement. She is the author of Refuge and Resistance: Palestinians and the International Refugee System and is widely recognised for her work on the history of UNRWA, Palestinian refugees and the global dimensions of the Palestinian struggle.

Historian, author and Britain Palestine Project patron William Dalrymple opens the Recognition is the Beginning conference with a sweeping exploration of Palestinian history, identity and Britain’s historic role in the region.Drawing on archaeology, genetics, historical records and personal testimony, Dalrymple challenges narratives that deny Palestinian continuity and traces the story of Palestine from the Bronze Age to the present day. Beginning with the story of the village of Isdud (modern-day Ashdod), he examines how communities endured for millennia before being displaced during the Nakba of 1948.The keynote explores:The historical continuity of Palestinian communities over more than 3,000 years.Archaeological and genetic evidence linking modern Palestinians to ancient Levantine populations.The shared ancestral heritage of Palestinians and many Israeli Jews.The origins and enduring history of the name “Palestine” from the Bronze Age to today.Palestine’s role as a centre of trade, culture, religion and scholarship throughout antiquity and the medieval world.The impact of the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate on Palestinian self-determination.Britain’s historic and contemporary responsibilities regarding Palestine.Why recognition of Palestine is only a starting point and must be accompanied by meaningful action.Dalrymple argues that understanding the depth of Palestinian history is essential to understanding the present crisis and to building a future based on justice, accountability and equal rights. He concludes by reflecting on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the importance of transforming recognition into practical support for Palestinian self-determination.This keynote was recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.William Dalrymple is an award-winning historian, broadcaster and bestselling author whose books include The Anarchy, The Last Mughal, White Mughals and From the Holy Mountain. He is co-host of the hugely popular Empire podcast and a patron of the Britain Palestine Project. His current research focuses on the history of Palestine from the Neolithic period to the Nakba.

H.E. Dr Husam Zomlot, Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, reflects on the significance of UK recognition of the State of Palestine while arguing that recognition must be followed by meaningful action to uphold international law and Palestinian self-determination.Drawing on his recent visit to the occupied Palestinian territory, Ambassador Zomlot describes the realities facing Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, outlines the diplomatic progress achieved in recent years, and sets out what he believes governments must do to turn recognition into lasting change.In this session, Ambassador Zomlot discusses:Current developments in the occupied West Bank, including settlement expansion, displacement and annexation.The continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and its impact on Palestinian families and communities.The history of Palestinian diplomacy and international efforts to achieve a just peace.The significance of UK recognition of Palestine and its historical context.Growing international recognition of Palestinian statehood and changing global public opinion.The role of civil society, human rights organisations and international solidarity movements.The importance of accountability, international law and multilateral institutions.Practical measures governments can take to support Palestinian rights and uphold legal obligations.Ambassador Zomlot argues that the Palestinian cause has become part of a wider global movement for justice, equality and human rights, and suggests that growing international support presents an opportunity to advance meaningful political change.While welcoming recognition as an important milestone, he emphasises that recognition alone is insufficient without concrete steps to enforce international law, address humanitarian needs and create the conditions for Palestinian freedom and self-determination.Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.H.E. Dr Husam Zomlot is the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and one of Palestine's most prominent diplomats. He has previously served as Head of the Palestine Liberation Organization Mission to the United States and as Strategic Affairs Advisor to the Palestinian leadership. A leading advocate for Palestinian rights, diplomacy and international engagement, he works extensively with governments, civil society organisations and international institutions to advance Palestinian self-determination and a just and lasting peace.

In the opening address of the Britain Palestine Project's annual conference, Professor Adam Sutcliffe reflects on the importance of public debate, informed discussion and meaningful action in response to the ongoing crisis in Palestine.Introducing the conference theme, Recognition is the Beginning, Professor Sutcliffe argues that recognition must extend beyond diplomacy to encompass a deeper understanding of Palestinian realities, historical context and the responsibilities of governments and citizens alike.In this opening session, Professor Sutcliffe discusses:Why public debate remains essential in confronting injustice and humanitarian suffering.The significance of Palestinian recognition and recent diplomatic developments in the United Kingdom.The wider meaning of recognition beyond formal statehood and diplomatic status.The need to acknowledge the human consequences of the war in Gaza and ongoing pressures facing Palestinians in the West Bank.The importance of understanding the historical and political factors that have contributed to the current situation.Britain's role and responsibility in relation to Palestine.The challenges facing public discourse on Palestine and the need to defend open discussion and informed engagement.Turning knowledge and understanding into practical action and advocacy.Professor Sutcliffe emphasises that while conferences alone cannot bring about political change, they play a vital role in fostering understanding, challenging complacency and helping participants identify practical ways to contribute to a more just future.The address also highlights the importance of academic freedom, civil discourse and institutional support for open discussion of Palestine and the wider Middle East.Recorded at the Britain Palestine Project annual conference, Recognition is the Beginning, held at the Greenwood Theatre, London, on 2 June 2026.Professor Adam Sutcliffe is Professor of European History at King's College London and Chair of the Britain Palestine Project. A leading scholar of intellectual, religious and cultural history, he has chaired the project's annual conferences and has been a longstanding advocate for informed public engagement on issues relating to Palestine, Israel, international law and human rights.