Last week, we were very pleased to welcome Syrian born Palestinian peace activist and former political prisoner Manar Al-Sharif to Canada.
Her ordeal, which began in solitary confinement in a Gazan prison, is over, and a new chapter can begin.
About Manar Al-Sharif
Al-Sharif is a Syrian-born journalist and peace activist who attended university in Gaza. While there, she became involved with the Gaza Youth Committee, a dynamic group of young Gazans working to create a better life for the people of Gaza, including through grassroots peacebuilding initiatives for Israelis and Gazans.
She and her colleagues regularly hosted small online video chats with Israelis under a bridge-building initiative they called “Skype with Your Enemy.” After a particularly well-attended online gathering in April 2020, Hamas arrested the youth committee’s leadership and charged them with “holding a normalisation activity” with Israelis. Most organisers were sentenced to six months in prison.
After spending three months behind bars, some of that time in solitary confinement, Al-Sharif was released but forced to stay in a “home for women” under 24-hour supervision. Labelled a “dangerous person” by Hamas, she was then deported from Gaza to Egypt in October, 2020. Her situation remained precarious and vulnerable.
Our Centre’s Role
Our team became involved in advancing Al-Sharif’s immigration case and facilitating her safe and smooth arrival to Canada, where she is now pursuing further studies.“In a time marked by increasing polarization and tragedy, finding moments of inspiration can be challenging. Welcoming Manar to Canada and to freedom is one of those moments. I look forward to witnessing her light shine brightly in her new home.”
- Gila Cotler, RWCHR CEO
We are deeply grateful to community members who asked us to assist in bringing Manar to Canada. We express special thanks to Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, to Citizenship Canada, and the collaborators inside and outside this country who helped secure this life changing (and quite possibly life saving) opportunity for her.
“My overarching mission goes beyond merely amplifying the voices of the disenfranchised in light of diverse social and political challenges. It extends to actively resolving long standing conflicts, curbing the pervasive loss of life, and propelling the establishment of enduring freedom and stability across the region.
Upon my arrival in Canada to pursue my education at Concordia, I am one step closer to achieving my goal. The journey to get here was arduous, yet it was made possible by the support of numerous individuals.
I sincerely thank Irwin Cotler and his team for collaborating with my immigration lawyers. My heartfelt thanks extend to dozens of others who have been instrumental in my journey.”
- Manar Al-Sharif, peace activist
Manar’s goals align with our values and hopes for her region. We have no doubt that her important voice will be heard by many in the years ahead, and we wish her every success.
For more on Manar’s ordeal and activism, read this feature in Forbes or this New York Times story.
HRF submits joint petition to the United Nations on behalf of Iranian dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi
Last week, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted an individual complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) in the case of Iranian dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi in conjunction with Doughty Street Chambers and Index on Censorship.
The groups requested the UNWGAD declare Salehi’s detention arbitrary under international law and urge Iran to immediately and unconditionally release him. Salehi has been tortured, has gone long periods without contacting his family or his lawyer, and has spent more than 300 days in solitary confinement.
Salehi has faced continuous judicial harassment for his songs advocating for democracy in Iran. The latest series of charges stemmed from a song supporting the protests following Mahsa Amini’s murder at the hands of the morality police in September 2022. Salehi was first arrested in October 2022 and faced eight charges, among them “corruption on earth,” which automatically carries a death sentence. In November 2023, the Supreme Court overturned these charges, only for him to be rearrested 12 days later after posting a video detailing the torture he endured in detention.
“Salehi is serving sentence after sentence with no end in sight. The Iranian regime knows the impact he has on the Iranian people and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep him in detention. The countless charges against Salehi show that they will go to extreme lengths to squash dissent,” HRF Legal and Program Officer Claudia Bennett said. “But enough is enough. Art is a human right, and supporting gender equality is not a crime.”
On April 23, 2024, Branch 1 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death. And on June 22, the Supreme Court once again overturned his death sentence, which HRF welcomed. But just last week, two new cases were opened against Salehi with two new charges for another song, “Typhus,” which was released while he was detained. These new charges are “propaganda against the regime and incitement of the public to murder and violence” and “insulting sacred values, and spreading falsehoods.” These new baseless charges have been sent to different courts in an attempt to continue oppressing and silencing Salehi.
The groups state Salehi’s detention resulted from exercising his fundamental right to freedom of expression. His songs are his voice. The petition also details numerous other violations, such as the denial of a public hearing before an independent and impartial court, the vague and overly broad charges against him, the excess time in pre-trial detention, and the denial of communicating with his lawyer and family.
We urge the international community to keep highlighting Salehi’s case but also raise awareness for the numerous other prisoners of conscience in Iran who are detained for demanding human rights.
Supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.
HRF Submits Petition to United Nations on Egyptian Human Rights Activist Ahmed Amasha
This month, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted a petition to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) on behalf of Ahmed Amasha, an Egyptian veterinarian, environmentalist, and human rights activist. Amasha has been arbitrarily detained for more than three years without having been convicted of any crime. Amasha’s detention results from his work highlighting torture, detention conditions, and enforced disappearances in Egypt, as well as the lack of freedom of speech.
In 2020, Amasha was arrested at his home in Cairo without an arrest warrant and without being informed of the reason for his arrest. He was interrogated about his human rights work and blindfolded, stripped naked, electrocuted, beaten, handcuffed, and hung from his hands — torture that resulted in broken ribs. Following his arrest, he was forcibly disappeared for 26 days and held incommunicado for nearly three years, without medical care.
“Ahmed Amasha’s case is an emblematic example of Egypt’s use of arbitrary detention to target individuals for their activism. It mirrors the experiences of countless others who have faced similar treatment at the hands of Egyptian officials,” HRF Chief Advocacy Officer Roberto González said. “Egypt’s use of arbitrary detention as a tool to silence dissent and suppress opposition is an alarming example of the regime’s disregard for the rule of law and basic human rights. Urgent international intervention is needed to secure his release after enduring over three years of detention on trumped-up charges, including torture and inhumane prison conditions.”
Amasha is a member of the Coordination Committee of the Kefaya opposition movement, also known as the Egyptian Movement for Change, and is known for campaigning against the Agrium petrochemical factory in his hometown of Damietta. He also founded the League of the Families of the Disappeared, which raises awareness of enforced or involuntary disappearances and provides domestic and international legal assistance to victims’ relatives.
Amasha was charged with crimes of terrorism in August 2022 and sent to one of the most dreaded prisons in Egypt: Tora high-security prison, also known as Scorpion 2. Amasha was denied gallbladder surgery, an adequate amount of food, and sunlight for an extended period of time and has been held in a cell with 24-hour video surveillance.
Today, Amasha remains in prison, in deteriorating physical and psychological health, and without information regarding when the court will issue its decision. He has been denied any form of due process, including not being brought promptly before a judge to rule on his detention and being denied proper access to an attorney.
HRF calls on the UNWGAD to investigate Amasha’s case, determine that his detention is arbitrary and in violation of international law, and request that Egypt release him immediately.
Supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.
B Ventures – Liftoff!
I have been asked by Brian Abrams to join a taskforce to think about in how philanthropy can be used to reconstruct the societal and infrastructural devastation of Gaza.
From Brian — I'm thrilled to announce that we have officially completed the first closing of the new B Ventures fund! This is a first-of-its-kind in the world, applying the venture capital model to the age-old problem of war with a mission to both generate top-tier returns and make the world incrementally more peaceful and less violent. We're now off to the races, and we expect to announce our first couple of investments by the end of next quarter.
For those who joined the first “friends and family” round, I'm immensely grateful. For those who weren't able to join yet or are just hearing about this for the first time, it's not too late. We're now looking ahead to our second closing around year end.
Exiting a portfolio company before you launch the fund falls in the “good problems to have” category. ODR.com was an online dispute resolution (ODR) company whose mission I often described as “disrupting Judge Judy,” moving thousands of small claims from the courtroom to the smartphone. It had what I believed to be a huge domestic US market opportunity that could generate an exceptional return. Once expanded internationally, I envisioned how it could also help resolve the 10,000 small conflicts that underpin the big ones. While my personal investment generated a stellar return (74% IRR) in May when it was acquired by the American Arbitration Association (AAA), I wish we could have made it a fund-level investment in B Ventures. At a minimum, it offers an excellent proof-of-concept of how we intend to both generate top-tier returns and simultaneously resolve conflict.
Fortunately, we think we've got the next great investment already in the queue! More on that next time…
We sponsored a live online event featuring seven peacetech founders organized by our dynamic new team member, Shane Ray Martin. If you haven't already, please make sure to follow B Ventures, Brian, and Shane on LinkedIn and stay tuned for more great events and podcasts in the months ahead.
Since October 7th, I've been working to advance a “Marshall Plan” for post-war Gaza in the belief that it could benefit all parties: greater security for Israel, hope and opportunity for Gazans, closer alignment with the Gulf states for regional cooperation, etc. After an extraordinary meeting a few months ago in Helsinki of high-level Israelis, Palestinians, Egyptians, Jordanians, Europeans, and Americans, we're now working to knit together the various plans as per the Ethiopian saying, “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.” I hope to share more in the weeks and months ahead.
We'd like to give a quick, spread-the-word shoutout to our new friends at the Peace and Security Funders Group (PSFG), which connects and supports a network of foundations and individuals across six continents with expert insight on conflict dynamics, evidence-based peace approaches, and investing in the future of humanity. For more information about PSFG, feel free to contact their executive director, Alex Toma.
RWCHR Senior Fellow Vladimir Kara-Murza freed in prisoner swap
In response to confirmed reports of the largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War, we are elated to share that our dear friend and Senior Fellow, Russian pro-democracy activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, is among the 24 prisoners released.
We are proud that our team - along with our partners - played a small role in advancing this deal and in ensuring that Kara-Murza was included on the prisoner list, which also includes Canadian-US citizen Paul Whelan, American journalist Evan Gershovich, and several other Russian political prisoners.
Every day since Kara-Murza was arrested in April 2022 for publicly condemning the Putin regime and its war in Ukraine, we have feared for his life. His 25-year sentence on baseless charges of high treason, which he served in a harsh Siberian penal colony for over a year, were meant to send a message to any who would stand up for truth and justice in Russia.
Our sustained advocacy for his release over the past two years, including our podcast on his harrowing ordeal, our efforts to ensure he was granted honorary Canadian citizenship, our recent joint efforts with the Free Russia Foundation (FRF), Human Rights Foundation (HRF), and the McCain Institute, as well as our sanctions recommendation to the Canadian government, have finally borne fruit.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all who supported our campaign for his release.
This news is a tremendous relief to all those who know and love him- none more than his wife and fellow activist Evgenia Kara-Murza and their three children.
This is also a victory for all who believe in the principles of human rights and justice to which Vladmir has dedicated his career and risked his life.
Each of the 24 prisoners released from Russian state custody today represents freedom restored and a family reunited. We wish each one a full recovery from their horrific ordeals.
As we celebrate their release, we also renew our commitment to advocating for political prisoners, prisoners of conscience, hostages, and all those unlawfully detained worldwide, including the thousands still unjustly behind bars in Putin’s Russia.
Welcome back to freedom, Vladimir!
Your unwavering spirit and dedication to democracy shine brighter than ever.
We look forward to hosting you in Canada as our honorary citizen soon, and to resuming our work together to build a world in which justice prevails.
Joint Situation Report #2 The Platform – Israeli NGOs for Human Rights
For more on the State of the Occupation by Israeli NGOs for Human Rights, please refer to this link.
Completion of the Ideation 50:50 Program organized by Convisero mentor Amir Grinstein
After an intensive three months of dedication and hard work, our entrepreneurs have successfully transformed their ventures into real startups.
We are proud to have hosted the Ideation 50:50 Demo Day 2024, in collaboration with 50:50 Startups and the AtoBe Startup Accelerator. Following an intensive three-month ideation program, six teams showcased their innovative ideas.
A special thanks to our fascinating panel of judges and keynote speakers:
Hanan Brand, VP and Head of Startup Division, Israel Innovation Authority
Gidi Etzion, Vice President of Innovation and External Relations, Azrieli Jerusalem College of Engineering.
Mahmoud Khweis, CEO of JIINNOVATE Jerusalem Innovation Health-Tech Center.
Aiman Abu Ammar, Senior Lecturer at Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem.
Taleb Idkeidek, CEO of Ishraka, Consulting and Training.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all attendees, investors, venture capitalists, and angel investors who participated in the event.
Congratulations to the winners
1st Place: Lazman Team -Ruba Sbeih, Aseel Farrah, with a central online platform for discovering and enrolling in local extracurricular programs tailored to your interests.
2nd Place: Wurkit Team - Irina Ditiatovskaia, Ahmad Abu Gosh, and Saleh Abdeen - Wurkit instantly connects employers with on-demand workers, ensuring secure payments, flexible work, and fair compensation.
3rd Place: Cartly - Hanan Himoni - Cartly helps customers compare grocery cart prices and provides supermarkets with valuable pricing analytics.
A special thanks to the Israel Innovation Authority רשות החדשנות, for sponsoring this program.
Join Our Next Monthly Session
Don't miss the chance to register for the next monthly session about Why Ventures Don’t Get Funded, scheduled for August 15th at 18:00.
This session will be led by T. A. Brysch, With more than 23 years of organizational leadership experience in innovation & exponential growth management and strategic business development across various industries, including security applications, behavioral biometrics, IoT, and CyberSecurity.
This invitation is extended to you, your partner, and anyone else who might benefit from it. Register Here
CYPRUS BOOTCAMP
Applications are open!
Apply today to the Startups BootCamp, designed for early-stage teams, taking place from October 27 to November 9, 2024, in Nicosia, Cyprus.
In collaboration with the Social Tech Lab, we offer young entrepreneurs the best resources and expertise to build successful startups. Throughout the program, you will be guided by industry-leading mentors, meet diverse entrepreneurs, and participate in workshops designed to propel you and your ventures forward. To learn check our website: Cyprus Bootcamp.
Combatants for Peace wins 2024 Organizational War Abolisher Award
World BEYOND War has given the 2024 Organizational War Abolisher Award to Combatants for Peace (CfP), a joint community of Palestinians and Israelis working in solidarity to end the occupation and all forms of oppression in Palestine and Israel.
The timing of the awards ceremony will be July 22, 2024, at 16:00 UTC, which is 6 a.m. in Honolulu, 9 a.m. in San Francisco, 10 a.m. in Mexico City, 12 noon in Washington D.C., 5 p.m. in Dublin, 5 p.m. in Yaoundé, 6 p.m. in Berlin, 7 p.m. in Rafah, 7 p.m. in Jerusalem, 7:30 p.m. in Tehran, and 9:30 p.m. in New Delhi.
The event is free and open to the media and the public. Register for the Zoom link here.
Convisero Intern Nitya Srinivasa performs her Arangetram
Can this conference inspire a new Israeli-Palestinian peace movement?
Maoz Inon (left) and Aziz Abu Sarah (right), Israeli and Palestinian peace activists. (Uri Levy)
For activists Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah, reviving a joint peace effort that learns from past obstacles is ‘the biggest antidote to extremism.’
By Oren Ziv
Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah are an unlikely pair. Inon, 49, is an Israeli tourism entrepreneur and the founder of Abraham Hostels. He lost both of his parents, who lived on Kibbutz Netiv HaAsara, during the Hamas-led assault on October 7.
Abu Sarah, 44, is a Palestinian peace activist, journalist, and tourism entrepreneur who founded MEJDI Tours, and a resident of East Jerusalem (and a former +972 contributor). When Aziz was 9 years old, his older brother Taiseer was arrested and held in prison for nearly a year; shortly after his release, Taiseer died of internal injuries he sustained while being tortured in prison.
The two met after Abu Sarah wrote to Inon in the days after October 7, expressing his condolences for Inon’s murdered family. Since then, they have been leading a personal and public campaign against revenge and in favor of reconciliation. They have spoken in media interviews, conferences, and home circles, held an open conversation at a TED conference, and met with diplomats and, recently, with the Pope.
Together with dozens of organizations, Inon is now leading an event titled “It’s Time — The Great Peace Conference,” which will take place on July 1 in Tel Aviv, and is expected to be the largest formal left-wing gathering in recent decades. Delegations representing vast swaths of Israeli and Palestinian society will be in attendance, with artists, politicians, and intellectuals expected to speak. The event will screen a video message from Abu Sarah, who is currently abroad.
In an interview with +972 and Local Call, Inon and Abu Sarah discussed the new peace process they are promoting, the goals of the conference, and how they plan to convince their respective general publics to support their work. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Israeli security forces guard while Muslim worshippers arrive for the last Friday prayers of the holy month of Ramadan, in Jerusalem’s Old City, April 5, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Where did the idea for the conference come from?
Inon: It all started in Geneva in March. Aziz and I were there with 70 other Palestinians and Israelis. We wrote a charter for a common future and started thinking about a road map to achieve peace between the river and the sea. This is the first step, to make the calls for peace and to build legitimacy for the peace process and for us — the leaders of the future.
The conference is the first public event in Israeli society in which Jewish and Palestinian citizens will come out publicly and begin a peace process that derives from the people. This is the first time, at least from what I remember, that more than 50 civil society organizations are working together to build the infrastructure for such a process. Since we aspire to build legitimacy, it will take place in the Menorah Hall and not in demonstrations in the streets. This is just the first event in a series of events we plan to organize.
We have seen protests against the war in recent months, as well as demonstrations calling for a ceasefire. What is the difference between that and the conference?
Inon: We are not against anyone; the demonstrations are important, and some of us participate in them. But this is not a demonstration. We’re changing the framing and talking more about hope and the future. The idea is to build a coalition and work together.
Abu Sarah: I look at when I was a child in East Jerusalem, and, honestly, I never saw or heard from the Israeli peace movement, and there are Israelis who have never seen a Palestinian peace movement. The inability to see these movements has established a perception that there is no one on the other side who wants to bring peace, who cares about human rights, and so on. This event, which is making a lot of noise, will have thousands of people say they want to live together, to find a way to end the bloodshed, and to work with partners on the other side. This declaration itself is very strong and will be an important message to the Palestinian side.
This is something new. The only way we will have an impact is with a sort of unity, even if we are not exactly the same and there are differences here and there. A meeting of thousands of people will not end the bloodshed and will not bring peace tomorrow, but it is an important step. And if we continue on this path, and organizations learn to work together, everyone’s power will double.
Israelis take part in a protest calling for the end of the war and the release of the hostages, as they march through the streets of Tel Aviv, May 09, 2024. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)
One of the major obstacles to a ceasefire is the Israeli government, which refuses to make a deal. Is the event also a message to the government, meant to pressure them to agree?
Inon: That’s a good question, but I won’t answer it directly. We have been kidnapped by extremists, on both sides, and those extremists thrive on bloodshed, revenge, and killing. Now is our time to draw up an alternative — ideological and political — that will change the discourse, and that’s what we’re doing.
I lost both my parents and so many childhood friends on October 7. I felt angry, and a desire to punish and take revenge on the Israeli government, which repeatedly promised my parents security and protection. After every cycle of bloodshed, they continued to make this promise to us. Of course, they failed, and my parents paid the price. But I decided to forgive them. I’m not interested in punishing them, they’re irrelevant to me.
We will open the event with a reading of the poem ‘Revenge’ by Taha Muhammad Ali. [The speaker of the poem initially imagines how he will take revenge on his father’s killer]. This beautiful poem ends by saying that the revenge on his father’s killer will be to ignore him as he passes by on the street. In the same way, I decided to ignore the government. They are part of the past. I prefer to focus on the future, not on one government or politician or another. Whoever wants to join, the door will always be open. Even to those who now choose violence.
Abu Sarah: I don’t think many attendees support the Israeli government’s policies or what Hamas has done. If the event had focused on either, it would have been bad; we could focus on governments that have failed for decades and got us to where we are today, or we can focus on how to move forward and work together despite those obstacles.
One of the things that Israeli governments have been saying for decades is that there is no Palestinian partner on the other side. You can argue and yell that they’re wrong, or you can show that it’s bullshit, that there’s a partner, that we’re here. The existence of Maoz and me is the greatest threat to the extremists, who claim that war, bombing, and killing are the only way. We are demonstrating what the alternative is, what the road to peace will look like. When people find a meeting point, it’s the biggest antidote to extremism.
Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah meeting Pope Francis in Verona, Italy, May 18, 2024. (Vatican Media)
You call for making an “All for All” deal, meaning the release of all Palestinian prisoners and all Israeli hostages. At the beginning of the war, this call was heard in Israel as well, but it has since been marginalized.
Inon: We have to go back to the ‘All for All’ deal that was on the table. Prisoners can play a significant role in reconciliation and peacebuilding.
Abu Sarah: If you look at who are the people who can speak on behalf of the Palestinians, who have power and legitimacy, they are all prisoners. I understand that people say, “But how is it possible, given what they did?” But in conflict, everyone involved has blood on their hands, and they are the people who can legitimize an agreement that will last, as in Northern Ireland and South Africa. Without the prisoners, there would be no agreement.
[Former U.S. President] Barack Obama said we have to admit that everyone is to blame for not acting before October 7. When there is a ceasefire, we don’t want to say, “Everything is good” and not do anything else, like before October. We don’t want to say that the status quo is sustainable; we hope to push for the status quo not to be maintained.
I was in Northern Ireland earlier this month. It seems that before the Good Friday Agreement there, there was a feeling on all sides that they had had enough. In Israel, there is a feeling that the public, or at least some of it, is still not tired of war and violence, and perhaps even the opposite, that people want to continue with all their might.
Inon: There was a poll conducted by “aChord” showing that 74 percent of Israeli citizens support a diplomatic agreement. The poll shows that maybe we’re not reading the map correctly. Besides, no one is currently offering an alternative, and that’s where we come in. For the first time in many years, we are proposing a solution to the unsustainable status quo and the ongoing bloodshed. That’s our mission.
Jews attend a prayer for the return of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, at the Western Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem, March 21, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Abu Sarah: I worked a lot in Northern Ireland. I met soldiers and members of organizations, police officers and military personnel. At some point, they realized that peace was coming. They understood that what they did would only prolong the war and suffering, and they saw friends and family paying the price for what they had done. It took time, but once the understanding of the depth of impact on families and lives was internalized, it helped create the transformation.
To this day, the society in Northern Ireland is very fragmented. About 92 percent of schools are segregated. Nevertheless, they understood that even though the Good Friday Agreement was not perfect, the alternative was much worse. Everyone I met there said it wasn’t the agreement they dreamed of, but that it was better than the alternative. We need to get the people here to see this too.
Dialogue meetings between Palestinians and Israelis have been held since the 1990s, and there has been much criticism of them, including that they maintain the imbalance of power and serve only the strong side.
Abu Sarah: I’m a little more cynical than Maoz. I was very critical of the idea of “people to people” work. I felt it wasn’t enough, that there was a lot of talk but not much happened. This is something the peace movement needs to be careful about.
I remember in the late 1990s, when I came to the peace movement, there was a lot of hope. I remember a huge meeting of Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza in 2000, before everything exploded. But that peace movement eventually delegitimized itself, and that’s why, as Maoz said, one of our goals is to create legitimacy ourselves.
In the past, they were unable to advance beyond dialogue. What’s different now, at least for some, is that there’s more than just talk. You see it in movements like Standing Together, Combatants for Peace, Rabbis for Human Rights. You see that it’s not just dialogue, but also working together, building stronger bridges, seeing what is needed and how we can fill those needs. This movement is much stronger, and it learns from the past.
Inon: We are dreaming, but with a plan – to make peace by 2030. We need to constantly check that our actions are effective. This is exactly the formula to create hope, imagine a better future together, and make that future a reality. We have already been very effective and we are growing. The dialogue is just one phase of the plan. The goal is not dialogue, but peace.
Left-wing activists protest against the war, calling for ceasefire in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, January 18, 2024. (Itai Ron/Flash90)
Regarding a peace plan toward 2030: do you intend to publish a concrete plan, which includes steps and demands from the parties?
Abu Sarah: This is not the time to say exactly where the borders will be; in my opinion, that was never the problem. The problem was mustering the will, a critical mass that would support an agreement. The problem was that people hijacked the political process. In the field of ideas there is, for example, A Land for All [which promotes a confederation], the Geneva Initiative [which promotes two states], and more. Ideas are not what’s missing.
Do you intend to deal with core issues in dispute, such as the right of return?
Abu Sarah: I think we will look at all the issues. The basic principle we are talking about is equality, dignity, and security. It doesn’t matter if that’s in one country or two. There will be no peace with occupation or injustice. We are delusional if we think it is possible to talk about peace and not talk about all these issues. The question is what are the basic human values on which we agree.
People across the world have expressed their sympathy and support for your project. Do you think that at this point in time, the project can be accepted here as well, given the current political situation — in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Jerusalem, in Israel, and in light of all the criticism of the peace process in the past?
Abu Sarah: I think so. People are still very pragmatic, despite the pain and anger. One of my dearest friends from Gaza, 50 members of his family were killed, his whole family was wiped out — uncles, aunts, cousins, everyone is gone. I wanted to talk about this friend’s story at the event, so I asked him how he felt about me doing so. He didn’t even hesitate, and replied: “One hundred percent, that’s what we need.”
Yulia Navalnaya is Elected Chair of HRF
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is pleased to announce the election of Yulia Navalnaya as its new Chair, succeeding Garry Kasparov after the conclusion of his third term as chairman.
“As someone who has personally witnessed the threat dictatorships pose to our loved ones and the world at large, I am deeply honored to take on the role of Chair of the Human Rights Foundation,” said Yulia Navalnaya. “In these challenging times, defending fundamental rights and freedoms is more crucial than ever. The mission of HRF is close to my heart, and I look forward to helping advance it.”
Yulia Navalnaya, renowned for her unwavering commitment to democratic principles and human rights and for her steadfast support of her husband, the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, brings a wealth of experience and a passionate vision to HRF.
“I believe in term limits. Unlike the dictators that we fight,” said Garry Kasparov, who has chaired HRF since 2012. Kasparov, who endorsed Navalnaya, expressed enthusiastic confidence in her leadership: “I look forward to supporting Yulia and HRF in this new chapter. It has been a privilege to serve as Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation. Yulia’s courage and commitment to justice are inspiring. HRF will continue to thrive and make an ever-growing impact in the fight for human rights.”
“This leadership transition continues HRF’s proud tradition of advocacy under the guidance of notable leaders, following in the footsteps of former chairs Václav Havel and Armando Valladares,” said HRF Chief Executive Thor Halvorssen. “Garry Kasparov has provided exceptional service to HRF and it’s reassuring that his successor can match his energy, courage, and moral authority.”
HRF President Céline Assaf-Boustani also praised the appointment: “We are thrilled to welcome Yulia Navalnaya as our new Chair. Her personal experiences and advocacy work make her uniquely qualified to support HRF. We are grateful to Garry and look forward to building on the many achievements of the last decade.”
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a New York-based nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. Founded in 2005, HRF unites people in the common cause of defending human rights and promoting liberal democracy.
This month at Abraham Initiatives
Keeping the Peace in Mixed Cities Since October 7th
Last month, Yoni Arie, our Safe Communities Director, participated in an important meeting of the State Audit Committee in the Knesset. Presenting data collected by The Abraham Initiatives and partners, Yoni explained that in order to sustain positive relations between Jews and Arabs in mixed cities, cooperation between the police, the municipality, and civil society is imperative. Our advice to the government and public officials is informed up by careful research and the relationships our shared cities coordinators in the field build.
Our work in mixed cities during this emergency period has helped prevent a recurrence of the intercommunal violence of May 2021. We have repeatedly called on the police and municipalities to strengthen cooperation with civil society and local residents. You can read more in our most recent policy paper examining the state's response to the May 2021 violence and lessons learned for today.
On June 24th, Yoni will make a public presentation of The Abraham Initiatives' study of the government's implementation of its policy commitments to Arab communities. You can read a summary of the findings here.
Strengthening Civil Society in Ramla
Co-Executive Director Shahira Shalaby opened the first training session for local organizational and grassroots leaders in Ramla. Shahira's presentation focused on strategy for community work in mixed cities and formulating a shared vision for everyday life.
This is just part of the work our local coordinator, Kholod Alzinati, has done in developing civil and political partnerships in Ramla. The dynamic group was composed of local leaders full of motivation and clear potential. Our work in mixed cities and regions, which was essential in controlling tensions and preventing violence since October 7th, is moving beyond emergency coordination to build capacity for long term day-to-day needs in mixed cities and regions.
Countering Racism and Extremism in Schools
Our team recently attended a daylong roundtable discussion organized by the Ministry of Education, the National Institute for Research and Development in Education, and the Center for Educational Technology.
In front of an audience of policymakers, academics, and educators, we raised concerns of growing extremist attitudes and racism prevalent in high schools since October 7th.
Dr. Shany Payes, Director of Research & Evaluation, and Galia Bazak Hilger, Director of Education for Shared Society, discussed our most recent survey results showing alarming levels of hatred among Jewish and Arab youth; the challenges that principals and educators are facing; and the model we have developed and implemented in high schools since October 7th.
Narrowing Gaps in Digital Access
Yaacob Ibrahim, our co-Director of Public Affairs, sits on the Forum to Promote Internet and Digitization in Arab Society. This month, Yaacob addressed the Forum and discussed gaps in access to technology, including in schools and the workplace.
While certain socioeconomic gaps have recently seen improvement in Arab society—including the number of university students and level of women's employment—there are areas still desperately in need of address. Access to digital resources in Arabic is one of them. The government has committed to making sure content and forms on Ministry websites will be available in Arabic by the end of 2026, and we intend to monitor progress toward this goal.
Introducing Shahira Shalaby
Last week, The Abraham Initiatives hosted a webinar conversation between Shahira Shalaby, our new co-Executive Director, and board member Josh Arnow. You can access the recording below:
Webinar recording: Click here
Passcode: Abraham1!
We are excited about our upcoming programs and initiatives, including preparing for the next national election in Israel, and hope hold more of these conversations in the future!
HRF submits joint petition to the UN on behalf of Vladimir Kara-Murza
HRF submits joint petition to the United Nations on behalf of Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza
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NEW YORK (June 17, 2024) — On June 3, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted an individual complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) in the case of Russian opposition leader and pro-democracy advocate Vladimir Kara-Murza, along with the Centre de la Protection Internationale (CPI), Freedom House, Free Russia Foundation (FRF), Global Justice Advisors, McCain Institute, and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR).
The groups requested the UNWGAD declare Kara-Murza’s detention arbitrary under international law and urge Russia to immediately and unconditionally release him. This request follows another address to the US State Department, in which HRF and three other groups urged the agency to designate Kara-Murza, a lawful permanent resident of the US, as wrongfully detained and facilitate his release and safe return to America.
For the past 20 years, Kara-Murza has tirelessly promoted democracy and human rights in Russia. In 2015 and 2017, he survived two near-fatal poisonings, almost certainly perpetrated by the Russian regime. As a result, he developed a medical condition called polyneuropathy. He was arrested on April 11, 2022, while visiting Moscow. In April 2023, he was sentenced to 25 years for “public dissemination of knowingly false information about the Russian Armed Forces,” “carrying out the activities of an undesirable organization,” and “high treason.”
The charges stemmed from his public speeches criticizing the Kremlin’s human rights violations and war in Ukraine, his alleged collaboration with the US-based FRF — an “undesirable” organization according to the Russian regime — and his “cooperation with a NATO country.”
The groups state that Kara-Murza’s detention resulted from the exercise of fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression. The complaint also lists numerous violations of the right to a fair trial, such as restricted access to a lawyer, denial of family visits, denial of a public hearing before an independent and impartial court, and denial of necessary medical care, among others.
“Kara-Murza has been detained solely for exercising his fundamental human rights, including his right to freedom of expression and his vocal opposition to the Russian regime," HRF Chief Advocacy Officer Roberto González said. "The numerous violations of international law in the proceedings against him clearly demonstrate that his detention is an attempt to punish him for his relentless opposition to Vladimir Putin and his allies, aiming to silence one of the last remaining voices of dissent in Russia.”
Kara-Murza is serving his sentence in a Siberian penal colony in Omsk. Under these severe conditions, his health has deteriorated significantly; he has lost more than 50 pounds (22 kilograms) and experiences numbness in his limbs. As Russian officials continue to deny Kara-Murza vital medical attention, experts fear he may not survive another year in these conditions.
Students Stage Peaceful Demonstration at Mass. State House
In March 2024, students at the Brookline, Massachusetts chapter of SND at Brookline High School staged a peaceful demonstration outside of the Massachusetts State House in Boston. They urged lawmakers to pass Resolve H. 738, a bill establishing a commission to study the existential threats that nuclear weapons and climate change pose to humanity. Read more about Students for Nuclear Disarmament here.
Patrick for Kansas Newsletter!
Patrick for Kansas
Welcome to my newsletter! I'll be using this space to bring you campaign news, upcoming events, and house renovation updates.
PATRICK SCHMIDT JUN 12
On May 24, I officially filed for candidate in Kansas-19 Senate District. I filed by petition with well over the 335 signature requirement! It was a proud day for me and my wife, Megan. The last 6 months have been an awesome journey and the next couple months leading up to the primary are going to be filled with hard work and exciting events. Thank you all for your support!
Our first piece of mail has officially gone out! We look forward to sending out more in the coming weeks, so be sure to look out for those.
This space will be used to bring you local news, campaign updates, and upcoming events to support us!
News
Following Governor Kelly’s veto of HB 2749 and the override votes, Kansas abortion providers challenge the abortion survey law. Forcing women to provide reasons and justification for getting an abortion is violating. Women should have freedom and access to their healthcare. The legislature needs young, progressive Democrats to help win this fight; I want to fight for and represent women’s issues and protect their access to healthcare.
Events
May 18: I got to spend some time with the Midwest Elks Lodge 1441 in Topeka a few weekends ago, supporting a scholarship fundraiser and eating some catfish! It was a beautiful day and a great event. Thanks to the Elks for having me and for raising money for such an important cause.
On Memorial day, I had the opportunity to join the ceremony at Mt. Hope Cemetery to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. As we commemorated another Memorial Day, we remembered all those who sacrificed their lives so that we may be free today.
This past weekend, I got to join the Lawrence Pride Parade! There was a great turnout and it was lots of fun. Thanks to everyone that showed up to celebrate the diversity & acceptance of those in our community!
Houses Renovation Updates
The tree in front of our house fell down and this weekend I planted a new one! Can’t wait to watch it grow over the next years in our new house.
Amir Grinstein: Israeli Palestinian conflict not either/or situation
From the Boston Herald:
Our world is plagued by conflicts, both domestically and globally, fueled by political, social, economical or religion tensions. One that has gotten significant attention is the Israeli Palestinian conflict, which seems to have reached a peak with the Israel-Hamas war and the protests on college campuses.
Although the Israeli Palestinian conflict is very complicated, in an era governed by social media and polarization, it is not surprising that it is often depicted in simplified terms, using unidimensional frameworks, and driving the public to adopt an “Either/Or” approach. You are either with the underdog or against it. The heroes in the story are either powerful or weak. You are either a pro-Palestinian (and anti-Israel) or you are pro-Israel (and anti-Palestinian).
This forced simplicity is detrimental as it is often motivated by ignorance, increases polarization, and is not helpful in finding a constructive path forward. Is there a better way to think about the Israeli Palestinian conflict that could lead to a deeper understanding of the complex reality and inspire more useful engagement with the issue? I came across an excellent book and mindset that opened my eyes to the value of embracing conflict and tensions, and the paradoxes that underlie them. “Both/And Thinking,” by Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis, discusses paradoxes – competing but interwoven views that are a source of sustained conflict.
These paradoxes surround us in our personal and professional lives. As paradoxes create discomfort, uncertainty, and stress, we often want to solve them as quickly as we can. The easiest way to solve a paradox is to adopt an Either/Or approach – choosing one clear path and to fully stand behind the decision to regain a sense of control and minimize cognitive dissonance. Although an Either/Or approach may lead to short-term relief, this approach narrows our options, limits opportunities, listening and learning, is less creative and collaborative, and is likely to have a negative long term effect. Alternatively, a Both/And approach requires us to grapple with the paradox and identify a less linear, not unidimensional, learning-based and more creative path forward.
The Israeli Palestinian conflict is full of paradoxes. Between the old and the new. Between the extreme and the moderate. Between security and autonomy. Between hope and reality. Between the short term and the long term. Between anger and empathy. What can we learn on the Israeli Palestinian conflict and how can we address some of these paradoxes if we adopt a Both/And thinking? Who are the indigenous people in the story?
The Either/Or approach of the conflict views the Palestinians as the indigenous people and the Jewish Zionists – the national movement of the Jewish people – as “settler colonialists.” The Both/And approach would review history and religion to reveal that they connect both Jews and the ancestors of the Palestinian people to the land of Israel/Palestine. Further, for many centuries, much before the establishment of Zionism in the late 19th century, Jews lived in the holy land, emptying the concept of “colonization.”
Still, after the 1967 war, Israel did occupy the West Bank (among other territories) where the majority of Palestinians live. This territory is still under dispute, and the very small group of Israelis that have decided to live there are often viewed as “settlers”; their strategy is often debated even within Israel. So, both the Jews and the Palestinians share “the old” and are here to share “the new”. Does the story depict white privileged vs. non-white under privileged?
The Either/Or approach of the conflict has borrowed the “white=privilege” framework from other social justice battles like that of the civil rights movement. It is first valuable to note that the “white=privilege” framework is simplistic and is not able to capture many instances (you can be white and poor or non-white and successful). The Both/And approach will reveal a more nuanced reality. First, most Israelis are not “white” and, in fact, many come from Arab countries.
Interestingly, during 1948, when Israel was established and the Palestinian refugee crisis began, roughly the same amount of Jewish refugees had to flee their homes in the Arab world – about 800,000 people. So, both the Jewish and Palestinian people’s history is associated with being refugees and neither is “white.” Who should we criticize?
The Either/Or approach of the conflict has led people to be either critical of, and put all blame on Israel or critical of, and put all blame on Hamas and the Palestinians. The Both/And approach suggests that most of the time, the reality is more multi-layered. Israel is rightly perceived as the stronger actor, with a successful economy and strong military. Viewing itself as part of the Western developed world by holding similar values, Israel is disproportionally singled out for some of its actions in the context of the conflict.
Although mistakes have been made, and some of Israel’s policies and actions can be criticized, there is no logical reason to de-legitimize the country. Further, on Oct. 7, the country faced a brutal attack by Hamas, catching it off guard militarily, socially, and politically. On the other side, the Palestinians, deserving a state to reflect their self-determination, have not established effective institutions and governance systems to be able to avoid the fate of “failed nation.”
At the same time, in the West Bank, the lives of Palestinians are far from being easy, also because of Israeli policies. Finally, the extreme, jihadist branch of the Palestinians – Hamas – has demonstrated hate, evil and corruption, and is as far as can be from the values liberals in the West hold dear. Their Oct. 7 attack and strategy of hiding within and under civilians have led to a huge tragedy for Gazans. Overall, a Both/And approach could lead one to be both pro-Israel (or at the minimum empathize with Israelis) and pro-Palestinian (or at the minimum empathize with Palestinians), and at the same time be anti-Hamas.
Moving away from an Either/Or approach and adopting a Both/And thinking will not solve the conflict. But it might allow for more people to become open to learn more and listen, accept that reality is often more complicated than portrayed in social media, and be engaged with others in a more useful way. It can also enable us to reframe some of the questions we ask around the conflict. Rather than “Who is the one to blame?” or “Who is the victim?” we can start asking questions such as “How can we combine tradition and modernity in the Middle East” or “How can we create realistic hope”?
This is an opportunity for learning, in the context of the current conflict, but more broadly, a Both/And thinking can serve us well as individuals, organizations and societies, helping us address the many conflicts and underlying paradoxes around us.
Human Rights Foundation
This week, our community of human rights defenders and democracy advocates reunited in Oslo, Norway, for the 16th annual Oslo Freedom Forum. Over three days, attendees heard talks from leading activists and industry leaders, explored interactive art and tech installations, and discussed the struggle for freedom through exciting panels and workshops.You can re-watch all theater talks at oslofreedomforum.com and on our YouTube page. Share these links with your family and friends so they can hear these incredible stories for themselves.
This year’s theme, Reclaim Democracy, emphasizes the pivotal role every individual — speaker and participant alike — plays within the global movement for liberal democracy and basic human rights. We encourage you to continue your involvement beyond the Oslo Freedom Forum, supporting activists and exchanging valuable tools, knowledge, and resources in the struggle for freedom.
RefugePoint first quarter report 2024
Highlights from our 2024 First Quarter Report include:
In February, RefugePoint staff traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with staff from the National Security Council, the State Department, and the World Bank, among others, to discuss refugee self-reliance. Our aim is to help more refugees pursue livelihoods wherever they are and achieve economic and social inclusion.
RefugePoint helped 4,419 refugees access pathways to relocate to safety, including resettlement, family reunification, employment, sponsorship, and other pathways, from 100 locations in 26 countries worldwide.
RefugePoint staff interviewed this family in order to submit their case for resettlement at a refugee camp in Rwanda. Photo: Chris Jensen
Our staff conducted and reviewed child protection assessments for 432 refugee children.
98 clients reached a point of self-reliance and graduated from our Urban Refugee Protection Program in Nairobi, Kenya.
Our staff trained 138 individuals from UNHCR and partner organizations on topics ranging from child protection to resettlement and other pathways.
Helping refugees settle in the U.S., one family at a time, by Sasha Chanoff, WBUR (Cognoscenti)
Darren Kew named new Dean of the USD Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
Convisero mentor Darren Kew joins as the new Dean at the University of San Diego. Below is an except from their press release: https://www.sandiego.edu/news/detail.php?_focus=92248
The University of San Diego is pleased to announce the appointment of Darren Kew, Ph.D., as the new Dean of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, effective July 1, 2024.
Dr. Kew holds a Ph.D. from Tufts University and brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and international relations. He is a professor and former Chair of the Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance, and Executive Director of the Center for Peace, Democracy, and Development at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Additionally, Dr. Kew has advised democracy and peace initiatives to the United Nations, USAID, US State Department, and several NGOs, including the Carter Center and the Nobel Peace Prize-nominated Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria.
An author and researcher, Dr. Kew's work focuses on the relationship between conflict resolution methods and democratic development in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. His research interests encompass a wide range of topics including civil society, international security, culture, religion, and nation-building. He also recently spent several months doing comparative research in Northern Ireland on a Fulbright award at Queens University, Belfast.
The 2024 Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony
About the Ceremony
The Joint Memorial Day Ceremony, organized by Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle – Families Forum, is the largest Israeli-Palestinian jointly organized peace event in history. The Joint Memorial Ceremony provides a unique opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians to grieve together and stand strong in demanding an end to the occupation and ongoing violence. The ceremony occurs yearly on the eve of Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day). In Israeli mainstream culture, the ceremonies that are most often held to honor this day serve to reinforce cultural narratives of pain, victimhood, and hopelessness. The Joint Memorial transforms this narrative by bringing Palestinians to the Memorial alongside Israelis to mourn side by side and model another way forward.
It was an honor to be together online yesterday for the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Day Ceremony. We are grateful to the thousands who joined us from all over the world. There were over 200 satellite ceremonies in Israel and Palestine, approximately 175 in the US, and many more in South Africa, France, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Afghanistan, Spain, the UK, Australia, Japan, Ireland, Canada, and more.
As many of you know, despite our efforts to safeguard the event, the Combatants for Peace YouTube channel appears to have been hacked and we are investigating what happened. Despite this, Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle-Families Forum were able to broadcast via Facebook and regained access to YouTube.
AFCFP board president, Gili Getz, reflected on the ceremony: “Drowning in darkness and despair, we came together to mourn with the families of Israelis and Palestinians who lost members to violence. We gathered in Beit Jala because our Palestinian partners do not have permits to travel to Tel Aviv to be at the ceremony. It is clear that they are trying to keep us apart. Despite these obstacles, our faith is in each other, and our path is grounded in humanity. We all call this land home, and we believe supremacy, violence, fanaticism, occupation, and oppression are not the way. They will not keep anyone free or safe. The movement holds a sacred space for me. It gives me light, hope, and air. It is difficult for both societies to accept this path, but it’s a path that we believe in. We are a reference point to all who seek another way: the path of peace rather than separation and hate. We should all be able to thrive in this sacred land together. I’m filled with deep gratitude to all the hard work, care, and love so many Palestinians and Israelis put in to make this happen during these extremely challenging times. And to our supporters all over the world who watched the ceremony in solidarity at hundreds of events.”
Immediately following the Ceremony, AFCFP and American Friends of the Parents Circle - Families Forum hosted a powerful conversation with bereaved Palestinian, Musa Juma’a and bereaved Israeli, Maoz Inon. You can watch the recording here.