In the midst of ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, civil war, and political discord, courageous civilians from both sides are working together toward mutual understanding and peace. In 40 captivating chapters, experts tell intriguing personal stories, interwoven with psychosocial models and principles, describing how people living in hostile cultures can establish harmony. We come to know established programs like Seeds of Peace and Search for Common Ground, as well as lesser-heralded, yet valiant efforts by children and adults of the region. This hope-filled work will be of interest to everyone who cares about peace, as well as to professionals and students in the social sciences, psychology, international relations, public policy, human rights, and cross-cultural studies. In the midst of ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, civil war, and political discord, courageous civilians from both sides are working together toward mutual understanding and peace. Israeli Jews and Arabs, and Palestinian Muslims and Christians, young and old, men and women, are cooperating in grassroots people-to-people projects, developing educational programs and creating activities to bridge their differences. Beyond Bullets and Bombs showcases such impressive and important projects that deserve more support and world attention. In 40 captivating chapters, experts tell intriguing personal stories interwoven with psychosocial models and principles proving how people living in hostile cultures can establish peace. This collection is the perfect companion to Kuriansky's earlier book, Terror in the Holy Land: Inside the Anguish of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, an unprecedented work that presents more than 30 chapters written by Israelis, Palestinians, and psychological experts on the underpinnings and effects of the conflict. In the volume at hand, we come to know established programs like Seeds of Peace and Search for Common Ground, as well as lesser-heralded, yet valiant efforts by children and adults of the region working together for peace. Both volumes will be of interest to everyone who cares about peace, as well as to professionals and students in the social sciences, psychology, international relations, public policy, human rights, and cross-cultural studies.

Most men go to work in an office but Christopher "Kit" Dobson went to the world's battlefields. When his children were asked where he was they said he was "playing soldiers again." It became more serious when the anti-terrorist police turned their house into a mini-fortress when they found his name on an IRA "hit-list."

In response to lessons learned, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) launched a comprehensive program, in 2009, to make all Airmen cross-culturally competent (3C). As part of this program, the USAF has included cultural training in all levels of professional military education (PME), expanded the cultural training content of pre-deployment training courses, and begun adjusting doctrine to better reflect the need for cultural considerations in planning and conducting operations. While this approach is a step in the right direction, it is not without flaws that may prevent it from meeting the needs of the 21st Century. By relying on the PME system to deliver cultural training, the program does not adequately support the continuous learning process needed to become 3C. In addition, the program fails to address the motivational aspect of cultural learning. In only addressing the cognitive and behavior aspects, the program misses opportunities to develop greater cultural understanding through self-initiated study. Finally, the program lacks an effective method or tool to assess, categorize, and track each Airman's cultural skills. Without these tools, the USAF will be unable to accurately gauge program success, will miss opportunities, to enhance each Airman's cultural skills, and will continue to inefficiently use personnel resources.

"In this report, U.S. and Pakistani development experts urge a substantial revamp of the U.S. approach to Pakistan, saying that U.S. efforts to build prosperity in the nuclear-armed nation with a fledgling democratic government, burgeoning youth population, and shadowy intelligence services are not yet on course. Much of the report focuses on how to improve the U.S. aid program in Pakistan, but a revamped U.S. strategy would start with a greater reliance on trade, offering duty-free, quota-free access for all Pakistan exports to the U.S. market for at least five years, and increased incentives for investment, such as new forms of risk insurance and credit programs for Pakistan's small and medium enterprises. Among the report's five substantive recommendations are three on better ways to deploy aid resources, including paying for verified outcomes and cofinancing with other donors for established education programs that are already working, and two on the largely untapped potential of trade policy and private investment"--Publisher's description.

This book addresses the universal theological dimension of reconciliation in the context of the Israeli Messianic Jewish and Palestinian Christian divide. Palestinian Christians and Israeli Messianic Jews share a belief in Jesus as the son of God and Messiah. Often, though, that is all they have in common. This remarkable book, written in collaboration by a local Palestinian Christian and an Israeli Messianic Jew, seeks to bridge this gap by addressing head on, divisive theological issues (as well as their political implications) such as land, covenant, prophecy and eschatology which separate their two communities. The struggle for reconciliation is painful and often extremely difficult for all of us. This unique work seeks to show a way forward. COMMENDATIONS "In a world that wants to see only one side of every conflict (and this one especially), where people believe only their own propaganda, and where many Christians inhabit hard shells of theological, political and apocalyptic certainties, this book is a bravely different voice. Rather, it is two voices talking carefully, honestly, graciously, respectfully and truthfully to each other - as sisters and brothers in the Messiah should. This is a unique conversation in which each partner, Messianic Jewish Israeli and Palestinian Christian, gives full expression to all that they are and think and feel about themselves and the conflict in their land. We are treated to some stretching theological debate and some honest self-criticism. But above all we come to share the hope and courage that shines through the pain and struggle." - Christopher J. H. Wright, International Ministries Director, Langham Partnership, UK "The Palestinian-Israeli divide may be the most intractable conflict of our time. With great courage, honestly facing the turbulent political, historical, and theological landscape which authentic reconciliation must engage, Munayer and Loden open up fresh space. Given the divides between their communities, this book is a remarkable achievement, a cry of hope from the land where Jesus walked." - Chris Rice, Director of the Center for Reconciliation, Duke Divinity School, USA