Through the wall of fire

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Muriel Mirak-Weissbach, the daughter of Armenian immigrants, has spent much of her life in Italy and Germany, working as a political journalist for over two decades. She has traveled extensively throughout the Arab and Islamic world and participated in humanitarian efforts for young Iraqi victims of Desert Storm while monitoring Arab-Israeli relations. The book explores whether nations in conflict can achieve true reconciliation and peace. It examines the Armenian genocide of 1915, the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians since 1948, and the Anglo-American wars in Iraq, presenting these tragedies through the eyes of children affected by the events, highlighting their emotional and psychological impacts. Drawing on her personal experiences and journalistic work, she uses an episode from Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy as a metaphor for overcoming conflict. The Wall of Fire symbolizes the necessary emotional purification needed to transcend past hatred and ignorance. This journey involves confronting historical truths and acknowledging the brutality of the past, allowing for the possibility of “forgiving and forgetting.” By embracing a new relationship based on mutual commitment to progress, the author offers an optimistic vision for the future, inspired by recent initiatives in the crisis areas discussed.