Bridging Divides: Former German Minister Kerstin Müller on Dialogue, Peace, and the Future After October 7

In this special episode of Tel Aviv Diary, host Marc Schulman sits down with Kerstin Müller, former member of the German Bundestag and ex–Minister of State in the Foreign Office, to discuss her years in Israel, her work fostering dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, and her reflections on rebuilding trust after a year of war and trauma. Speaking candidly, Müller recounts her time heading the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Tel Aviv, her current work at the Center for Liberal Modernity in Berlin, and her recent efforts to organize joint Israeli–Palestinian conferences—even amid political resistance from both sides.The conversation moves from the personal to the political: the challenges of keeping the two-state vision alive, the role of regional actors like Saudi Arabia, the surprising empathy in international diplomacy, and the rise of anti-Semitism across Europe. Recorded in the aftermath of new dialogue initiatives in Israel and the West Bank, this episode offers a rare glimpse into what genuine reconciliation might require—and why, despite deep wounds, both sides still have voices willing to talk. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marcschulman.substack.com/subscribe