- The 2024 Peace Prize is set to be bestowed by the Klaus Jensen Foundation
"Jouanna Hassoun, a German-Palestinian, and Shai Hoffmann, a German-Israeli, have been chosen as this year's recipients of The Reconciliation Prize from the Klaus Jensen Foundation," the announcement stated. Since the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the ensuing conflict in Gaza, these two individuals have been leading nationwide discussions in schools about the Middle East conflict.
According to Klaus Jensen, the foundation's chairman, "Hassoun and Hoffmann are setting the bar for a culture of dialogue that bridges divides" with their popular discussion format. The prize, worth 10,000 euros, will be awarded on September 27 during a ceremony in Trier. In May, the two winners were already recognized as ambassadors of democracy and tolerance by the Federal Agency for Civic Education.
Jensen emphasized that "in times of war, displacement, bloodshed, and hatred, a respectful culture of dialogue must be fostered to make reconciliation possible and achieve peaceful coexistence." These objectives have been the focus of Hassoune's and Hoffmann's work for quite some time. Hassoun, daughter of Palestinian refugees from Lebanon, noted that "it's not about who's right or wrong, or which side we're on; it's about people first and about supporting each other in Germany." For the school project "Trialogs," it's essential to engage in dialogue respectfully, listen attentively, and provide a platform for everyone's voice, according to Hoffmann. This approach enables students to express their feelings and experiences regarding the Middle East conflict.
The Klaus Jensen Foundation aims to honor the international, civic engagement of individuals in the context of civilian conflict resolution, condemn all forms of violence, and contribute to a culture of non-violence and reconciliation. The laudation will be delivered by social psychologist Eva Walther from the University of Trier.
The Klaus Jensen Foundation supports various projects focused on violence prevention, mediation, and reconciliation both domestically and abroad. It was established in 2003 by Jensen, who served as mayor of Trier (SPD) from 2007 to 2015. The co-founder is Malu Dreyer (SPD), former Rhineland-Palatinate Minister President who is married to Jensen.
Shai Hoffmann, along with Jouanna Hassoun, has been actively engaging in nationwide discussions about the Middle East conflict in schools since the recent conflict in Gaza. The German-Israeli Hoffmann emphasizes the importance of respectful dialogue in projects like "Trialogs," allowing students to express their feelings and experiences regarding the Middle East conflict.
