In May 2021, a period of fear and violence shook Israel: A conflict that started in Jerusalem expanded into Gaza, and soon boomeranged and escalated inside the Green Line. Interethnic violence erupted in Israel’s mixed cities, where the country’s Jewish and Palestinian citizens live side-by-side, leading to death and destruction. Following the devastating October 7 attacks, however, there has been no repetition of intercommunal conflict inside Israel, in spite of the efforts of those seeking to incite racism and violence.
What has Israeli civil society learned from the past to prevent such violence and how might it apply those lessons in the future so that Jews and Arabs can come together across differences?
To discuss these questions and more, join us on Wednesday, February 28, at 9am PT / 12pm ET for a webinar discussion featuring our Co-Deputy CEOs, Shahira Shalaby and Ruth Lewin-Chen, and moderated by Partners for Progressive Israel board member, Professor Sam Fleischacker. There will be time at the end for audience Q&A. Register here to take part in this crucial conversation, which is cosponsored by Partners for Progressive Israel and The Abraham Initiatives.
I hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Lydia Woolley
North American Program Director
RSVP HERE
Shahira Shalaby is Co-Deputy CEO at The Abraham Initiatives, where she oversees our work in mixed cities. She is the former Deputy Mayor of Haifa, a former city councilor, and was among the founders of the Palestinian Feminist Movement in Israel. She has established several initiatives and organizations working to improve the status of Arab women in Israel and has consulted for social change organizations on issues of leadership, strategic thinking, teamwork, developing and managing resources, and community work. She is a group facilitator, specializing in dialogue, conflict resolution, and facilitator training. She holds a Masters' degree in religious studies and a Bachelor's degree in social work.
Ruth Lewin-Chen is Co-Deputy CEO at The Abraham Initiatives, and previously led The Abraham Initiatives' Mixed Cities program. Her skillset comes from her experience directing conflict resolution programs and advocating for the representation of women in decision-making positions in the local council of Mevasseret. For the past decade, Ruth has been promoting a shared society in Israel, mainly through the facilitation of dialogue groups of Arab and Jewish youth and by developing knowledge on social movements with Shatil. Ruth holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Comparative Literature and a Master’s in Organizational Sociology from Hebrew University.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to lydia@abrahaminitiatives.org with any questions.