This research explores the lived experiences of Palestinians involved in environmental peacebuilding efforts, focusing on how they navigate the contradictions inherent in these initiatives. It examines how the broader context of occupation and settler colonialism profoundly influences their encounters with peacebuilding efforts. Palestinians often grapple with conflicting emotions, as they must balance ideals of cooperation and dialogue with the ongoing realities of oppression and dispossession. The study situates these experiences within the concept of slow environmental violence, which refers to the gradual, often unnoticed environmental harms that accumulate over time. This framework helps illuminate how Palestinians experience increasing alienation from their land and environment. Through this lens, the research aims to understand how these contradictions shape their participation in environmental peacebuilding, offering insights into the dilemmas and challenges they face. The findings of this research are based on in-depth interviews conducted between April and June 2024.
Author Keywords: environmental justice, environmental peacebuilding, normalization, Palestine-Israel, settler colonialism, slow violence