Robi Damelin is the mother of David, an Israeli soldier who was shot by a Palestinian sniper. Together with other Israeli and Palestinian parents who lived a similar experience because of the war between the two nations, she joined the Parents Circle - Families Forum (PCFF). Robi and Laila Alshiekh, another member of the PCFF, propose to exhibit the photo project “The Presence of the Void” made by ten Palestinian and Israeli bereaved women seeking to photograph the presence of their lost loved ones, and to give voice to the absence. This project was also exposed at the Willy Brandt House in Berlin.
Robi is also the protagonist featured in the International Prize winning documentary "One day after peace", directed by Erez Laufer with his sister Miri Laufer. In the film Robi travels to South Africa, the country where she was born, wondering if the means used to resolve the conflict in South Africa, particularly with the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, can be applied to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This thought-provoking journey originated from Robi's personal story of suffering, due to the death of her son David. Robi attempted to initiate a dialogue with the Palestinian sniper who killed David, but these proposals were rejected.
The virtual photo exhibition is still available below. The film was available only during REstART. On 4 December 2020, the talk with Robi, Laila and Miri was moderated by Claudia Mazzucato, one of the restorative facilitators of the "group of the encounter", that brings together ex-combatants and victims of the Italian years of lead. Scroll down to watch the recording.
