The 2019-2020 MUN circuit opened in Israel with the PeaceMUN conference on Wednesday, September 25, 2019. Nearly 100 youth from Akko, Holon, Iksal, Lod, Mefalsim, Nahariya, Petah Tiqva, Shefaram, Sde Eliyahu, and other cities around the country met at the American Center Jerusalem for a full day of debating and negotiating around the theme of “Insurgencies.”

Two beginner groups discussed the conflicts in the Sinai between Islamists and the government of Egypt, and in the Philippines between communists and the government of the Philippines, while a third committee of advanced students addressed the Anglophile-Francophile conflict in the Cameroon. Students, most who were first time MUN participants, researched, planned strategies, and then engaged in an intensive day of problem-solving before voting on their resolutions.

At the end of the day all delegates received Certificates of Participation as well as feedback from their chairs. The awards were then presented in the awards ceremony. Dr. Yehuda Stolov from the Interfaith Encounter Association spoke to students about the opportunities for continuing interactions, and Felicity Aziz welcomed students to the American Center Jerusalem. 

In the UNGA committee, Maria Kaabiya, Nitzan Saban, and Samar Khateeb were chosen Outstanding Delegate, while Michal Ben Haim was the Best Delegate. In the HRC committee, Basma Assi, Ido Pogrund and Laila Amory received Outstanding Delegate, and Ido Vaktor was awarded Best Delegate. In the Security Council, Amit Ram and Hosni Grere were the Outstanding Delegates, and Eliran Ben Yair was chosen as Best Delegate.

Reema Shalabi, from Iksal, was participating in her first MUN. She told Diplomacy that as her first conference, “it was amazing...one of the best experiences in my life. I enjoyed every minute, and would like to do it again.” Eyal Amsalem, from Nahariya, was another first time delegate. Eyal added that while he had been shy initially, “after the first hour, I felt better and understood everyone there. At the end of the day, I was very happy that I came and knew that I was going to continue to attend more MUN conferences.”

The next MUN conference will be QassemMUN, on November 7th, 2019 at the Kfar Qassem Comprehensive School. For more information please see DebateforPeace.org