The first of two Agenda for Reconciliation conferences focussed on peace-building initiatives. It included private 'dialogues of the heart' between citizens from the Great Lakes area of Africa (Rwanda, Burundi, Congo and Uganda) and also among people from Sierra Leone; and a round table meeting of people from Bosnia Herzegovina involved in setting up a truth and reconciliation process there. Here we print extracts from Donald Shriver's keynote speech on forgiveness, and (below) Mary Lean meets some of the peace builders who took part.

The Open House centre for Jewish-Arab reconciliation in Ramle, Israel, was established 10 years ago to help heal the deep emotional wounds and distrust among Jews and Arabs. The house was originally the home of a Palestianian family, then of a Jewish family, but it now brings Jewish and Arab children and their parents together to help them understand one another.

Peter Everington returns often to 'The Testing of Hearts', a book written amid the tensions of the Holy Land.

At a time when some are predicting increasing conflict between Western and Muslim nations, Abdul-Nabi Isstaif writes from Damascus with a call for partnership.

For 45 years, a succession of mayors promised to develop Ramle's Palestinian neighbourhoods on the 'periphery of the periphery' of the town. 'Nobody did anything,' says Michail Fanous, a Palestinian educator, for years one of only two Arabs on the 19-member Council. Schools were so crowded that homes had to be used as classrooms. Roads were pot-holed.

For the last three years, western Christians have been retracing the steps of the first Crusaders--with a message of peace and repentance. Christy Risser explains:

'Islam and the Myth of Confrontation - religion and politics in the Middle East' by Fred Halliday, IB Tauris £12.95

On the day that her husband was taken hostage in Beirut, Sis Levin went into action. Her 11-month struggle for his release plunged her into controversy. She talks to Mike Brown.

Peace activists, especially when motivated by religious or moral convictions, must speak to our emotions - especially fear, anger and grief.

Christians, Muslims and Jews have in the past waged war on each other and thought themselves justified in doing so.