Art & Culture

JAFFAMUN, the first Model UN conference in Jaffa, brought together students from over a dozen schools and cities in Israel to simulate three engaging committees: the Human Rights Council (Freedom of Speech vs Hate Speech in Social Media), ECOSOC (Promoting Equality for Marginalized Communities) and the US Senate (Addressing School Shootings). The conference, held on Monday March 28, was organized by Debate for Peace, and hosted at the Center of Scientology Israel, in the historic Alhambra Theatre building.

Throughout the day, delegates engaged in rigorous debates and negotiations. After several hours of frenetic diplomacy, each committee managed to pass a resolution for their respective topic:

• Human Rights Council (HRC): Called for establishing a global working group on social media safety, advocating for comprehensive frameworks to protect users' privacy, promoting digital literacy, and encouraging parental oversight.;

• ECOSOC: Called for the development of safety nets for vulnerable populations, the advancement of inclusive education, and the creation of National Equality Councils and Enforcement Organizations for Equality (EOEs) to combat discrimination.

• U.S. Senate: Proposed measures to enhance school safety, including updated protocols, adoption of Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) laws, expanded mental health services, pilot programs to limit weapon access, and modernized responses to active shooter incidents.

The conference concluded with a closing ceremony where several students were honored for their exceptional contributions within their respective committees:

• Human Rights Council: Maya Beres (India, Yachad High School), Alin Gavrizavee (Morocco, Atid Lod), Malak Abu Hjool (United Kingdom, Mar Elias School)

• ECOSOC: Yehonatan Navon (Sweden, Ironi Yud Dalet), Lamar Shker (Philippines, Mar Elias), Nada Namouz (China, Mar Elias)

• U.S. Senate: Vera Nosovitskaya (Corey Booker, Younited), Jordyn Cline (Chuck Schumer, Yachad High School), Yonatan Zelenko (Elizabeth Warren, Atid Raziel)

Ghasak, from Gernata High School, who played the role of a Senator in the Senate committee, shared her message with Diplomacy.co.il: “Peace cannot be kept by force , It can only be achieved by understanding.”

Another Senator, Vera, from the Younited School added that “JAFFAMUN was a unique experience. The Alhambra building architecture made it more unforgettable because of the unique design inside. It was the shortest MUN I have ever experienced, only 1 day, but it wasn’t tiring. This was one of my best MUN experiences!”

Debate for Peace extends its gratitude to Maya Ilany and Abigail Noa Buganim for their efforts in preparing the study guides for the conference. Special thanks are also due to the chairs and Secretariat team: Abigail Noa Buganim, Naomi Gildor, Shaked Shimony, Josh Kugelman, Carmel Hillmann, Yousef Abdlghny, Dafna Beres, Yael Yakobovich, and Gai Regev.

For more Model UN conferences in Israel, please see the schedule here.