People and Organizations
Creating Paths to Peace
History of Groups
Working Towards Peace
•Movement for Peace and Security (1968-1973) Goal was to change public
opinion about the occupation.
•Peace Now (Shalom Achshav in Hebrew) (1978) born out of a letter signed by
348 Israeli Defense Forces reserve officers that questioned Israeli government’s
policy of expanding Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories and its
commitment to peace.
•Committee in Solidarity with Birzeit University: helped organize several
demonstrations in the Occupied Territories against Israeli closure of the
university in 1981 and 1982.
•1970: 58 High School Students write letter to Golda Meir questioning Israeli
government’s commitment to peace
•First Intifada (1987): Dai Lakibush and Twenty-First Year built working
relationships with Palestinian communities within Israel and the Occupied
Territories.
•1988: Rabbis for Human Rights founded
History of Groups
Working Towards Peace
•Women in Black and Women in Peace: Organize to protest the occupation of
Jerusalem and other cities.
•Alternative Information Center – developed in 1984 as a joint Palestinian-Israeli
organization that combines political activism and the spread of information, research
and political analysis on the conflict through various materials – one being their
magazine News from Within.
•B’Tselem – Founded in 1989 to monitor Israeli human rights abuses committed
while suppressing the Intifada.
•1998 Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD)
• Israeli Soldier Refusal Movement (Courage to Refuse) – refuse to serve and
commitment unethical acts in Occupied Territories – has grown to over 1,200
soldiers in the last few years.
•Bat Shalom – October 2002 – led creation of a new coalition under the banner “The
Evil Fence: Palestinian Ghetto and Israeli Disaster.”
Soccer for Peace
•Soccer for Peace (SFP) is a camp for Arab and Jewish children in Israel.
•Since 2005, Soccer for Peace has brought Arab and Jewish children together in
Israel through overnight soccer camps.
•Model offers children the rare opportunity to meet on a regular basis, on equal
footing, to find a common language through activities they all enjoy.
•Dialogue, social and educational activities challenge participants to learn about,
understand and respect the differences that exist among themselves.
•Hope is that by planting the seeds of respect, tolerance, and peace within children,
it will be nurtured throughout their lifetime.
•Camp is 5-day overnight camp for 10 and 11 year old kids – train together on
integrated soccer teams. In the fall, they join a league and play on the team. Each
summer the participant returns and participates in the after-school program.
•Can return to program until they are 17 years old.
•Activities include swimming, visiting a synagogue and mosque, visit to zoo, and
rafting.
•“I got to meet new friends that I normally would never have met.” “We really
learned a lot about how similar we are.”
Goals of the organization:
1. A U.S. foreign policy based on promoting peace,
democracy, human rights, and respect for
international law.
2. An end to Israeli occupation of the West Bank,
Gaza strip, and East Jerusalem
3. A resolution of the Palestinian refugee problem
consistent with international law and equity
4. An end to all violence against civilians
5. Peace among the peoples of the Middle East
This organization is a
diverse and democratic
community of activists
inspired by Jewish
tradition to work together
for peace, social justice,
and human rights. They
support the aspirations of
Israelis and Palestinians
for security and selfdetermination
We are among the many American Jews who say
to the U.S. and Israeli governments: “Not in our
names!”
“Racism and bigotry cannot be tolerated, whether in
the U.S. or abroad, whether against Arabs or Jews.”
Crossing Borders
Organization based at the
International People’s College in
Denmark, with branches in
Palestine, Israel, and Jordan
Main goal of organization is to
provide impartial dialogue space
and skills training for youth and
educators, with special focus on
the Middle East.
Create a bi-monthly Crossing
Borders magazine by and for
Arab and Israeli youth.
Seeds of Peace
•Founded in 1993
•Dedicated to empowering young
leaders from regions of conflict with
the leadership skills required to
advance reconciliation and
coexistence.
•Has focused on Israeli and Arab
teens but is expanding to include
young leaders from South Asia,
Cyprus, and the Balkans.
•Comprehensive Program allows
participants to develop empathy,
respect, and confidence as well as
leadership, communication and
negotiation skills – all critical
components that will facilitate peaceful
coexistence for the next generation.
•Since 1993, over 3,500 teens from 25
nations have graduated from Seeds of
Peace.