The Conflict
Understanding the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the multitude of competing narratives surrounding it exposes students to a disconnect between public perception and reality that overlooks a vast spectrum of views and opinions. First-hand exploration of the core issues at the center of the conflict, and witnessing efforts to constructively deal with the issues, empowers participants to foster a more considered and nuanced view.
Chen Kotler Abrahams
Activity description:
Israeli communities near the border with Gaza have endured thousands of rocket attacks over the last decade. Hear what it’s like to live and bring up children in an area where terror and trauma are commonplace, learn why Kotler Abrahams’ mantra is “resilience” and why, despite it all, she still believes her kibbutz is a beautiful place to live.
Chen Kotler Abrahams is a member of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, located on Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip, where she lives with her 16-year-old son. Kotler Abrahams’ aunt and uncle were among the founders of the kibbutz and most of her family still lives there today. She has been active in the social arena and voluntary sector since 2005, primarily in resource development and management roles as well as voluntary positions in a number of organizations including Gvanim Association in Sderot, the Israel Reform Movement, and the OR movement. She recently joined Ma’ase Center as the Director of Partnership Development.
Medium
South
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Roni Keidar
Activity description:
Meet Roni Keidar in her home on the border with Gaza, visit her community, and discuss the prospects of peace in the area.
Keidar lives in Netiv HaAsara, a moshav founded by families evacuated from the Sinai as part of the Camp David Accords. Following a career as an educator, health secretary, and export officer, as a retiree, she is active in the “Other Voice,” a nonpartisan grassroots peace group, where she strives to help people in Israel understand the perspectives of Gaza residents. Despite living in an area under constant rocket fire from Gaza, she believes that understanding the needs of the “other” is imperative, and the only way to solve the conflict. She also helps Palestinians from Gaza get emergency health care in Israel.
Low
South
Nadav Tamir
Activity description:
Hear Nadav Tamir’s unique perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a former Israeli diplomat and be inspired by his doctrine on peace.
J Street Israel’s Executive Director, Nadav Tamir has also served as the Director of International Policy and Government Affairs at Peres & Associates Global Advisory Ltd., Senior Advisor for International and Governmental Relations at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, Senior Policy Adviser to the President of Israel, Consul General of Israel to New England, and in the Policy Planning unit of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also served as a policy assistant under three Foreign Ministers—Shimon Peres, Ehud Barak, and David Levy. In 2003, Tamir was chosen to be a Wexner Israel Fellow and earned a Master’s in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is currently the chairperson of the Wexner-Israel Alumni Association.
Medium
Tel Aviv
Yossi Klein Halevi
Activity description:
Sit down with Yossi Klein Halevi and dive deep into a grassroots view of Israeli society.
Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and co-director, together with Imam Abdullah Antepli of Duke University, of the Institute's Muslim Leadership Initiative (MLI), which teaches emerging young Muslim American leaders about Judaism, Jewish identity, and Israel. Halevi has written numerous books, beginning with “Memoirs of a Jewish Extremist”, called “a book of burning importance” by the New York Times, which tells the story of his teenage years as a follower of the militant right-wing Meir Kahane and his subsequent disillusionment with Jewish radicalism. His 2013 book, “Like Dreamers”, won the Jewish Book Council's Everett Book of the Year Award, and his latest book, “Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor”, is a New York Times bestseller. Halevi writes for leading op-ed pages including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic, and is a former contributing editor to the New Republic. Born in Brooklyn, he moved to Israel in 1982 and lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Sarah, who runs a center for Jewish meditation.
High
Tel Aviv / Jerusalem
Haviv Rettig Gur
Activity description:
Get the story behind the headlines in this open discussion with Haviv Rettig Gur about Israel’s political situation and the key issues concerning Israelis today.
A senior political correspondent and analyst for the Times of Israel, Rettig Gur was born in Jerusalem to American-Jewish immigrant parents. He lived in the United States from 1989 to 1999, returning to Israel to serve in the Israel Defense Forces as a combat medic. After completing his military service, Rettig Gur studied history and Jewish thought at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Prior to his current position, he served as the Director of Communications for the Jewish Agency and the Jewish world correspondent for the Israeli English-language daily The Jerusalem Post where his reporting focused on trends in Jewish identity, especially in the United States and Israel.
Medium
Israel
Avi Melamed
Activity description:
Join Avi Melamed on a fascinating tour of the geopolitics of Jerusalem or on an “Intellitour” in the West Bank, adjacent to the Gaza border, or on Israel’s northern front learning from his unique insights and perspectives on the Middle East and Israel’s security situation.
Avi Melamed is an intelligence analyst and expert on current affairs in the Arab and Muslim world and their impact on the Middle East and Israel's geopolitical environment. A former Israeli intelligence official and senior advisor on Arab Affairs to two Jerusalem mayors, Avi is fluent in Arabic, English, and Hebrew and has a unique understanding of Arab society and culture. A former Salisbury Fellow of Intelligence and Middle East Affairs at the Eisenhower Institute in Washington, DC, he created an undergraduate course “Inside the Middle East: Intelligence Perspectives (ITME)” that teaches critical analysis in an innovative and engaging fashion. Under Avi's leadership, ITME has become an independent institute that provides customized educational experiences, tools, and resources to organizations and private individuals and runs workshops, seminars, and courses across the globe. Avi also conducts intelligence analysis, briefings, and geopolitical tours to diplomats, Israeli and foreign policymakers, global media outlets, and a wide variety of international businesses, organizations, and private clients on a range of Israel and Middle East Affairs.
Medium
Israel
Matti Friedman
Activity description:
The Israel-Palestinian conflict receives extensive, some would say disproportionate, coverage in the international media. Matti Friedman will help you examine why the media’s eyes are fixed so firmly on Israel and argue that the extensive coverage is leading to less, rather than more understanding of the situation.
A journalist and the author of four works of nonfiction, Friedman’s book “Spies of No Country: Secret Lives at the Birth of Israel” (2019), won the Natan Book Award and the Canadian Jewish Book Award and “Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier’s Story of a Forgotten War” (2016) was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book and one of Amazon’s 10 best books of the year. “The Aleppo Codex”, an investigation into the strange fate of an ancient Bible manuscript, won the 2014 Sami Rohr Prize, the ALA’s Sophie Brody Medal, and the Canadian Jewish Book Award for history and was translated into seven languages. Friedman’s work as a reporter has taken him from Israel to Lebanon, Morocco, Moscow, the Caucasus, and Washington, DC. A former Associated Press correspondent and essayist for the New York Times opinion section, he currently writes a monthly feature for Tablet Magazine.
Medium
Jerusalem
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Oded Revivi
Activity description:
Visit the Jewish settlement of Efrat and discuss the challenges and opportunities of life in the area with Mayor Revivi.
Oded Revivi is the mayor of Efrat, a settlement in the West Bank. Prior to his election, Revivi practiced law, specializing in litigation and real estate transactions. He has a master's degree in public policy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and has served as the Chairman of the Board of the Society for Economy and Insurance, a member of the board of the Israel Antiquities Authority, and chairman of FMA - Human Resources Development. He is also a mentor for new mayors and CEOs of local authorities. Revivi has six children with his wife, Lisa, and was chosen by The Jerusalem Post as one of the fifty people of the year in 2020.
Low
Efrat / Jerusalem
Khalil Shikaki
Activity description:
Discuss the challenges and hopes of Palestinians in the West Bank with Professor Shikaki.
Khalil Shikaki is a professor of political science and director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) in Ramallah and a senior fellow at the Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis University. He received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1985 and taught at several Palestinian and American universities including al-Najah University, Birzeit University, the University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee), the University of South Florida (Tampa), the University of Utah, and the University of Michigan.
Low
Israel
Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans
Activity description:
Tour the Craft Village, where a plethora of artistic talent is displayed under one roof. Meet the artisans, participate in an embroidery, glass, or recycled paper painting workshop, and eat an authentic Palestinian homecooked meal.
BFTA is a Fair Trade organization that works with local artisans specializing in olive wood carving, embroidery, mother-of-pearl creations, olive oil soap, recycled glass, handmade paper, jewelry, felt work, and ceramics. The organization aims to promote fair trade principles and develop the craft economy in Palestine by providing support services for local marginalized artisans. Located in the heart of the old city of Beit Sahour close to the Church of the Nativity in a beautifully renovated building, BFTA showcases Palestinian crafts and history and the uniqueness of its society.
Other
Jerusalem
Khaled Abu Toameh
Activity description:
Discuss the situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as the status of the Arab minority in Israel with Khaled Abu Toameh, and look at the role of the media in covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Khaled Abu Toameh is an award-winning Arab Israeli journalist who has been covering Palestinian affairs for more than three decades. He is currently the Palestinian Affairs Correspondent for The Jerusalem Post and previously worked as a Senior Producer for NBC News in the Middle East. His articles have appeared in numerous newspapers around the world, including the US and Europe and he has also worked with many foreign journalists in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Medium
Tel Aviv / Jerusalem
Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed
Activity description:
Meet with Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed in Jerusalem or at the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. Hear his unusual personal story as the first Palestinian to head an academic institute in Israel and learn about his achievements and the challenges he faced on the path to training young leaders from the entire region on a path of hope and collaboration. Explore the groundbreaking institution he leads, where Jewish Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, and international students work together to create a better future for the regional environment.
Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed is the Director of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies,. The 48-year-old native and resident of Sur Bahar, East Jerusalem, holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Ankara University and an M.A. in Public Policy from the Hebrew University. He did his first postdoctoral research at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and his second post-doctorate at the University of Minnesota, focusing on renewable energy and energy poverty, as well as oil alternatives, energy poverty in Israel, Palestine, and Jordan, and solar air heaters.
Other
Jerusalem / South
Kids4Peace
Activity description:
Meet educators and participants from Kids4Peace, experience elements of programs run for youth, and learn about the benefits and challenges of cross-border contact between cultures and societies whose people are at war.
Founded in Jerusalem in 2002, Kids4Peace is a global interfaith youth movement dedicated to ending conflict and inspiring hope in divided societies around the world. Through a network of local chapters, Kids4Peace operates award-winning dialogue, leadership, and social action programs for over 500 youth in Jerusalem, North America, and Europe, spurred by the belief that youth have the power to bring new questions and new answers to the struggle for peace and justice.
In the face of violence, hatred and injustice, Kids4Peace connects youth from across religious and social divides and gives them tools to become agents of change. The organization aims to create a global movement of peace leaders and activists who transform divided societies into communities of lasting peace.
Medium
Jerusalem
Palestinian Internship Program
Activity description:
Meet the PIP staff and participants in Jerusalem, Ramallah, or Tel Aviv and hear the personal stories of people that are building bridges to the future in an intimate encounter.
The Palestinian Internship Program helps recent Palestinian graduates jump-start their careers in high-tech with a paid internship at leading multinational and Israeli companies, monthly workshops, and opportunities to grow their network. PIP empowers young Palestinian professionals, bolsters Palestinian economic development, and bridges the gap between the Palestinian and Israeli tech ecosystems.
Medium
Jerusalem/ Ramallah/ Tel Aviv
Gilead Sher
Activity description:
Meet Attorney Gilead Sher for a discussion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and negotiations, regional dynamics and processes in the Middle East, or international law and national security.
Gilead Sher was Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s Chief of Staff and policy coordinator as well as a senior negotiator at the Camp David summit and Taba talks (1999-2001), and a delegate to the 1995 Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement negotiations under Israeli Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin. He is a Middle East Peace and Security fellow at the Baker Institute and served as a senior fellow at the Tel Aviv Institute for National Security Studies, INSS. His law firm, Gilead Sher, Talhami & Co., has extensive experience in complex commercial, civil, and administrative cases and represents leading clients from the business, private, governmental, and public sectors. Sher was a visiting professor and Israel studies fellow at Georgetown University in 2019, a lecturer at Harvard Law School in the fall of 2016, and a non-resident guest lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. As a reserve officer in the IDF, Colonel Sher served as a company, battalion, and brigade commander, and as a deputy armored corps division commander. During his compulsory service, he fought in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Sher has authored many books including “The Israeli-Palestinian Peace Negotiations, 1999–2001” (2006), “The Battle for Home” (2016), and “Reflections on Conflict Resolution” (2022).
High
Tel Aviv
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Sinsila Community Center and founder Tariq Nassar
Activity description:
Meet Tariq Nassar, a Palestinian from East Jerusalem and the founder of the Sinsila Center, and learn about this initiative and other opportunities for community development. This is a unique opportunity to connect with remarkable Palestinian women, learn about the inspiring beekeepers' project, and discover how this grassroots organization is making a positive impact in East Jerusalem. By participating, you'll not only support the cause but also contribute to a greater understanding of the challenges faced by communities in East Jerusalem. You can also meet Tariq in another location to talk about his involvement in the Sinsila Center or about his life as a Palestinian in East Jerusalem.
Located in the heart of East Jerusalem, the Sinsila Community Center is dedicated to educating, inspiring, creating with, and empowering local communities to heal the urban environment of Jerusalem with sustainable, local solutions. Since its inception, the center has trained 130 Palestinian women as beekeepers, tending bees on their home rooftops.
Tariq Nassar, the founder of the Sinsila Center, is a Palestinian East Jerusalemite. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Architectural Engineering from Bir Zeit University and a double Masters's degree in Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design from Stuttgart University (Germany) and Ain Shams University (Cairo).
Medium
Jerusalem
Joe Perlov
Activity description:
Participate in a creative experiential program with Joe Perlov, an experienced educator and community activist, who uses a map of Israel and the Middle East—constructed together with the participants—to focus on the history, competing narratives, and contemporary political, social, cultural, and security issues facing Israel and its neighbors. Topics covered include the Jewish people, Israel, and Zionism; Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza—a history; War and Peace: Israel, the Palestinians, and the Arab world; Two state/One state: What does the future hold?; and Homeland: Who is indigenous to the Land of Israel? Does it matter?
Joe Perlov is an American-born Israeli educator and the founder and former CEO of the educational travel company Israel Experts. Joe has pioneered innovative programming in Israeli Arab society that looks into the critical issues of shared citizenship, identity formation, and coexistence. He works with colleagues in the Palestinian Authority and creates opportunities for engagement and dialogue with Palestinians and Israelis dedicated to reconciliation and resolution. Together with veteran educator Rabbi Shimon Felix, Joe established Re:IL, Regarding Israel and he is also active with Heart of a Nation, bringing together Americans, Israelis, and Palestinians who are committed to improving their respective societies.
Medium
Israel
Mahmoud Muna
Activity description:
Mahmoud Muna shares his story focusing on the Palestinian narrative and unpacks the Palestinian perspective on the conflict, making the case for the Palestinian National Movement. He discusses possible solutions for the Israel-Palestine conflict looking at questions like: What are the best terms to solve the Israel-Palestine conflict? What makes the two-state solution seemingly unattainable, and why is the one-state solution far away? What does it mean to be Palestinian in the 21st century? Who are the Palestinians, how does their unifying cultural identity differ from their varied political identity, and what does it mean to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Mahmoud Muna was born in Jerusalem to a Palestinian family and attended school in Jerusalem's Shu'fat refugee camps where his father taught for decades. Before finishing his studies at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, he was forced to relocate to the UK where he completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science. He is currently known as ‘the bookseller of Jerusalem’ as he works in his family bookshop, organizing cultural events related to literature and art. When Mahmoud is not reading, he is writing for local and international cultural magazines and newspapers.
Medium
Jerusalem