רשת הארגונים העוסקים בדו-קיום יהודי-ערבי בישראל

NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS FOR JEWISH-ARAB COEXISTENCE IN ISRAEL

A network of organizations dealing with Jewish-Arab coexistence in Israel, has been established by the Citizens Accord Forum and The Abraham Fund Initiatives. While a great deal of coexistence work is done at the local level throughout Israel, there has been little day-to-day, organized interaction between coexistence professionals and organizations. For this reason, in 2002 The Abraham Fund Initiatives together with the Forum, co-initiated and sponsored the Coexistence Organizations Network—a multi-year effort that unites and supports coexistence professionals and organizations across Israel.

MISSION

In recognizing the profound need to deepen and develop links between Arabs and Jews in Israel, as well as the immediate necessity to create an equal, pluralistic, just and fair society for all of the country’s citizens, both Jews and Arabs, the Network of Organizations for Jewish-Arab Coexistence in Israel was established.

The Network will function as a powerful cooperative body whose goal is to empower those organizations that are active in this field of activity, thereby contributing to their professional success. The Network will operate in such a manner so as to ensure that the organizations realize their goals, work in a professional manner, and increase public awareness of their activities in Israeli society.

The Network will function as a powerful lever through which the organizations will work together in order to advance their common goals on the macro level of Israeli society.

The Network will function to increase public awareness in both the Arab and Jewish communities in the fields of:

the civic, cultural, religious, and social needs of both populaces;
the common fate, “places” and life they share;
the potential and promise that is inherent in equal and shared life that benefits both populaces.

GOALS

The Network will work in cooperation and active partnership with the directors of its member organizations in order to further all of the Network’s activities, from planning stages through implementation and realization
he Network will work to further cooperation and mutual support between its member organizations and individuals
The Network will offer professional and social support to member organizations and individuals and assist them in being successful
The Network will share data and professional, organizational, and operational expertise with its members
The Network will offer professional assistance to the organizations in building a resources development network to support their activities.
The Network will further cooperation between the various co-existence organizations on the regional level, and will encourage regional projects
The Network will inform the general public, educational institutions, governmental agencies and Israeli society of the activities implemented by member organizations, and will increase public awareness of these ventures;
The Network will organize and further media, social, and cultural projects and ventures, in order to strengthen the bond between the co-existence organizations and government and media agencies, and to position the issues of co-existence and shared life in Israel at the focal point of public interest.

THE CITIZENS´ ACCORD FORUM

The Citizens’ Accord Forum was established with the view of building a relationship of accord and normalization amongst Jews and Arabs that live in Israel. Now more than ever, when the polarization between the citizens of Israel is increasing, this need has become an immediate necessity.

The Citizens’ Accord Forum is a unique and ground-breaking social grassroots organization as it provides the opportunity, encouragement, training and professional framework for large numbers of citizens to volunteer in different areas within the field of coexistence, and express their willingness to promote social change through integrated and concerted group action. The fact that Jewish and Arab volunteers from all walks of life are working together successfully to achieve set goals is of as much value as the achievement of those goals in itself.

The Forum was established in June 2000 by Knesset Member Rabbi Michael Melchior, Minister for Israeli Society and World Jewry in the Barak Cabinet, and Deputy Foreign Minister in the recent National Unity Government. He is Chief Rabbi of Norway, Member of Knesset (in opposition) within the Labor/Meimad Party and chairman of a key committee in the Knesset addressing rights of the child. Today Rabbi Melchior is the Honorary Chairman of the Forum.

THE ABRAHAM FUND INITIATIVES

THE ABRAHAM FUND INITIATIVES is a New York and Jerusalem-based non-governmental organization working to advance coexistence, equality and cooperation among Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens. The Abraham Fund Initiatives provides leadership, training and research to the coexistence field, creates and operates large-scale coexistence ventures and partnerships, conducts public education and advocacy, and funds strategic grassroots projects to promote its vision of shared citizenship and opportunity for all of Israel’s citizens.