Embracing equality, diversity and common values
by Mehereta Baruch
I believe that the cornerstone of any liberal society is the principle of equality among all human beings. This belief is not abstract for me: it emerges from my personal biography – as a woman, a Jew, a Black person and an immigrant. Each of…
Turning pain into power
by Lili Ben Ami
In October 2019, my little sister, Michal Sela, was murdered in her home by her husband. Stabbed to death in her pyjamas, next to her baby’s crib. Michal was just 32 years-old. A bright, vibrant social worker. A free spirit. The first to take you up…
LGBTQ+ youth are at the heart of democratic renewal in Israel
by Yoni Avitan
I often say that the story of IGY is the story of believing that change can – and must – begin from the margins.
When Israel Gay Youth (IGY) was founded more than 20 years ago, it wasn’t designed as an institution or a service provider. It was born as a…
Don’t give up hope!
by Ori Kol
Last October, Eran Nissan and his wife, Shir, were in the supermarket when they heard gunfire. Eran, who leads Mehazkim, called the police and stepped outside. In a nearby shop, he saw a young girl lying on the floor with a gunshot wound. He quickly realised this wasn’t…
Water diplomacy in action
by Gidon Bromberg
In a region shaped by conflict and division, EcoPeace Middle East offers a compelling alternative: cooperation through environmental diplomacy. For over three decades, this Israeli-Palestinian-Jordanian organisation has been championing one of the region’s most vital and politically charged issues – water.
Founded in 1994, EcoPeace stands as…
“We share the land – can we share the future?”
by Samer Sinijlawi
With Saudi Arabia fast becoming the gravitational centre of Middle Eastern diplomacy, resolving the Palestinian question has never been more urgent. This is no longer just a moral imperative. It is a strategic necessity for Israel. Peace with the Palestinians unlocks a new regional reality: one where…
Building a democratic and inclusive Israel
by Uriel Simonsohn
This past year has tested the social fabric of Israeli society in ways we have not seen in a generation. Amid conflict and deepening divisions, it has become painfully clear that if we are to build a more equal, cohesive, and democratic Israel, we must…
Taking up arms for Israeli democracy
by Liat Weiss Shahaf
In a time of profound uncertainty, Brothers and Sisters in Arms has emerged as one of the most visible and determined forces working to protect Israel's democratic foundations. Born following the government’s proposed judicial overhaul in early 2023, which would have endangered judicial independence…
Collaboration can build a stronger, healthier tomorrow
by Mohammad Darawshe
The tragic war in Gaza is the longest and most brutal war we’ve ever known, and has shattered everything we’ve worked so hard to build – mutual responsibility, compassion, trust, and a shared society between Arabs and Jews in Israel.
But the war isn't…
Building the infrastructure of peace
by Meredith Rothbart
Peace between Israelis and Palestinians seems more elusive than ever. Yet rather than simply giving up, we need to ask: has a holistic, coordinated effort to build a sustainable and more peaceful reality ever truly been attempted?
At Amal-Tikva, we believe it hasn't. For decades, efforts…
