It was a miracle that we ever met at all. I had lived in Israel for 35 years, but didn’t really know any Palestinians when, a few years ago, I received a strange letter. It suggested I go to a meeting a 20-minute walk from my home in the West Bank. I told my wife, “I’m going to meet some Palestinians.”

“Don’t go,” she cried, “it’s too dangerous!”

I feared she was right, but went anyway.