Religion can reinforce tribal loyalties that lead to hatred and violence, but it also happens to be one of the oldest, deepest, most universal needs of the human soul. Religious leaders are continually ignored in the Israeli–Palestinian peace process even though they are essential to the implementation of any agreement. The Israeli settlements issue is an example of how a religiously‐based ideology can distort political processes. The best kind of religious witness is being willing to break a cycle of retribution and to try to establish something different. This is an edited and abridged transcript of a presentation and panel discussion.