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- Written by Silvia G. Golan
Nine students from schools around Israel participated in the second Debate for Peace delegation to Oxford Global MUN. In addition to the conference, the delegates had numerous meetings and briefings in London, as well as celebrating Juma’a and Shabbat together.
The delegation began on November 14th with a visit to the Treasures collection of the British Library, where ancient religious texts, Shakespeare, and the Magna Carta are all on display. The students then went to Bentham House, where they had an engaging discussion on public international law, and the laws of war, with Professor Kimberley Trapp. The delegation then met with several Middle East experts at Chatham House for a discussion about peacebuilding, and the “Israel and Palestine: Beyond the Stalemate” project. Afterwards there was a two hour workshop at Europe House, which focused on Brexit. There the delegation also met with youth from different countries through the Asfar organization. Finally, the day concluded with a briefing at the Behavioral Insights Team, where the students learned about behavioral economics, and its impact on policy-making.
On Friday the delegation was photographed Fran Monks as part of the Hug Project. Then the delegation joined the Muslim Educational Center of Oxford for Juma’a prayers, where they heard the khutba from Dr Taj Hargey and had a lively discussion on contemporary Islam. That evening the delegation joined the Jewish community at the University of Oxford for shabbat dinner.
From Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon the students engaged in their respective committees, representing a range of countries such as Australia, China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. At the closing ceremony on Sunday Teba Massalha (UAE) received a Best Position Paper award in OPEC, while Eliran Ben Yair (China) received an Honorable Mention award in CSW.
Back in London the delegation met with peacebuilding experts at Conciliation Resources, and visited the Embassy of Ecuador, where they met Ambassador Jaime Marchan-Romero, and the Embassy of Kosovo, where they met Counselor Imer Berisha. They also visited one of the largest Hindu temples outside of India, and heard a piano concert by Rachel Starritt at the St. Martin in the Fields church. The delegation also received a private tour of the Institute of Ismaili Studies, including a visit to the Agha Khan Centre Gallery, featuring work by contemporary Egyptian artist Bahia Shehab. The delegation was lucky to be guided by curator Esen Kaya, and joined by academic and musician Dr. Vanessa Paloma. Kaya told Diplomacy that she was very interested in “hearing about the students debate programme and the passionate messages they had conveyed in Oxford. They all liked our building, the Islamic gardens and were amused with reading some Arabic text within specific art works and gardens around the building.” She added that it was interesting to see the responses of young leaders to topical contemporary culture as well as traditional religious texts.
The delegation also found time to visit the National Gallery, the Museum of Natural History, and the British Museum, featuring the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies and other treasures. They finished the delegation by meeting with Jaron Soh to learn about his efforts to help refugees and displaced persons support themselves using traditional handcrafts, contemporary technology, and global economics.
Lareen Habashi from Iksal High School told Diplomacy that this was “a special experience that I did not have before. We discussed different topics concerning the whole world, we met people from different ages, different positions and fields from several countries around the world.”
Shahaf Navon, from Ben Gurion Comprehensive school in Petah Tiqva, added that the delegation “helped us to personally evolve and not only to get to know the other side but to befriend them, (and the) meetings with different NGO was a wonderful experience.
Maya Qawasmi from Al Qassemi high school in Baqa added “we had an amazing week, visiting different places and meeting with people who gave us so much information about several subjects. We had a fun time in the museums, and finally three incredible days in Oxford conference.”
The upcoming Debate for Peace delegations will be to Yale MUN and Johns Hopkins MUN in the US.
Photo Credit: Fran Monks and Debate for Peace
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- Written by Steven Aiello
A Debate for Peace delegation participated in the Model UN of Malmo for the first time in November 2019. Six students, from four cities around Israel and representing three religions, traveled to Malmo for the MUN conference, interfaith and intercultural programming in Malmo, and a day of briefings and study sessions in Stockholm.
The students represented Pakistan and Sweden in a variety of committees, dealing with topics ranging from women’s empowerment to combating narcotics cultivation, to the conflict in the Kashmir region. They spent several days debating and negotiating with students from dozens of ethnic, religious and linguistic backgrounds at MUN of Malmo, hosted by the Malmö Borgarskola.
During the conference, the delegation joined several local interfaith initiatives as well, including a discussion on Promoting pluralism and tolerance in a democracy, with speakers from the Buddhist, Christian, Druze, Jewish, and Muslim communities, hosted by the Mahmood Ahmadiyya mosque in Malmo; a text-based discussion about “The Chosen People” through the Jewish-Muslim Amanah project, and an interfaith shabbat dinner with Christian, Druze, Jewish, and Muslim participants. The delegation also participated in an interreligious dialogue workshop run by the religious social-democrats in Skane-Blekinge.
Following the conference, the delegation traveled to Stockholm. There they met with John Robbins at the US Embassy in Stockholm; Ambassador Sotos A. Liassides at the Embassy of Cyprus; Anna Henderson Young at the Foreign Ministry of Sweden; Otto Widmark at the Olof Palme International Center for a discussion on international aid and development, and Dr. Mark Klamberg, professor of international law at Stockholm University, to learn about international humanitarian, human rights, and criminal law.
Yuval Cohen participated in the delegation from Kadima High School, and he told Diplomacy that this was “A great experience that I will never forget”, which “exposed me to different cultures and people all around the globe...an experience that every teen should experience!” Yara Katish, from Maghar High School,called the delegation a “once in a lifetime opportunity with unforgettable memories”, adding that the most interesting part of the trip for her was meeting different people in different positions in the political and educational fields, and “hearing advice and important things that will help us in our near/far future.”
Debate for Peace Director Steven Aiello expressed special gratitude to the Embassy of Sweden in Tel Aviv to the MUNOM organizers and hosts, to Imam Riwan Ahmad Afzal, and to Adrian Kaba and Peter Vig from the Interreligious Dialogue workshop, for their assistance in the delegation.
Photo Credit :MUNOM and Debate for Peace
Steven Aiello
Founder--DebateforPeace
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- Written by David Goland & George Prajza
An unforgettable concert was held at Enav Cultural Center in Tel Aviv in honour of the Bulgarian Day of the National Leaders.
The event, a Bulgarian holiday usually celebrated on 1st of November, took place in Israel, on Tuesday, 5 November 2019 , under the auspices of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria to the State of Israel, and the Bulgarian Cultural Center in Israel.
This special day in Bulgaria honours the work of Bulgarian leaders who have enlightened and revolutionized Bulgaria's national spirit, her values, and the pursuit of education and literature. These leaders have created and preserved the spiritual values of the nation.
The event also paid tribute to the brave actions of gentile Bulgarian Righteous Among the Nations who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. An extensive list of clergy and lay Bulgarian citizens was presented, describing their life-saving actions.
The entertainment consisted of a wonderful, mesmerizing concert by The Wladigeroff Trio. All three are members of the Wladigeroff family: Ekaterina on the piano, Alexander on the clarinet and piano, and Konstantin on the trumpet, flugelhorn and hand-percussion, and they all sing as well. They were born in Sofia to the family of the eminent choir-master and composer Alexander P. Wladigeroff.
The three have graduated from the National Academy of Music “Pancho Wledigeroff” in Sofia, as well as from the University of Music and Stage Art in Vienna. For over ten years now they have lived and worked in Vienna. Their projects showcase the tradition of music in the Wladigeroff ffamily and its development over three generations. In addition to the classic works written by their genius grandfather, professor Pancho Wladigeroff (1899-1978), their repertoire included works from his Berlin's period, which are considered as some of the first Jazz works in Bulgarian music.
Among the musical pieces that the trio performed were a brilliant foxtrot jazz piece from Berlin, a variations on a Jewish musical theme, a three-movements ("watercolours") work that ended with a melancholy movement and then a contrasting feisty dance. The trio performed also a rare arrangement for the familiar Hora Staccato and then a masterpiece of a medley that included tunes from Beethoven's Ode to Joy from the ninth symphony, and Ravel's Bolero.
The audience went crazy with enthusiastic applause that left no choice for the Trio, but to come back with an encore. They came back on stage with a Klezmer style piece playing intricate variations, with various muffled trumpet sounds, and Konstantin playing both, the trumpet and the flugelhorn simultaneously (!), as Alexander was strumming the piano strings with his fingers.
The audience was swept along with the trio, singing and clapping in a true celebration.
In attendance were Ambassadors , representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as all the leaders of the Bulgarian Jews organizations in Israel.
Photos by David Goland and George Prajza
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- Written by Steven Aiello
Kufr Qassem Comprehensive School hosted the first ever Model UN conference in the city’s history on Thursday, November 7, with 150 students from schools all over Israel competing. The conference theme was “Society”, and committees dealt with the challenges of racism, violence against women, minority languages, and the unrecognized Bedouin villages.
The students arrived in the morning to a red carpet flanked with flags of UN member states, balloons, and of course, refreshments. It was a doubly festive day, as the school was marking Mawlid--the birthday of Muhammad, as well as the MUN. For many of the Jewish students this was their first visit to an Arab school, and thus an especially memorable learning experience. In fact, for most students this was their very first MUN.
Reaching resolutions in the different committees proved quite challenging, with intense debates, and some very close votes. But by the end of the day each committee had produced well thought out draft resolutions that they could then vote upon.
At the end of a long day of learning, the delegates filed into the sports hall for the closing ceremony. After some spontaneous dancing, the delegates were called to order. Mr. Abed Frij, Qassem MUN director, welcomed the students and guests, and thanked those who had helped to make the day such a success, and in particular, the students. Then Waseem, one of the Kufr Qassem students, gave an inspiring speech about youth leadership, expressing his own pride at what he had witnessed.
Finally, it was time for the awards. In the UNGA committee, Roy Amsalem and Jawan Shalata (received Outstanding Delegate awards, and Moshe Rothstein and Tamir Shnaer won Best Delegates. In the UN Women committee, it was Jana Sayed Ahmed and Eyal Bala who won Outstanding Delegate, while Niv Blitz and Deyar Abu Rahal were the Best Delegates. In UNESCO, which dealt with endangered languages, Hani Altoree and Teba Massalha were Outstanding Delegates, while Lishy Hason and Tamir Hurwitz were recognized as Best Delegates. Finally, in the advanced Knesset committee, Amit Ram and Eisa Hammodi were Outstanding delegates, while Eliran Ben Yair and Shahd Hammodi were the Best Delegates.
All in all it was a successful day of conflict resolution, problem-solving, and intercultural learning for everyone involved. Rachell Rothstein, from Modi’in, explained that “It was very interesting to discuss the issue of the unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Negev. It was also amazing to work with each other in the committee and better understand both sides of the issue and find a resolution which passed. Mr. Frij, the conference director, told Diplomacy “QassemMUN was the first big English event in Kfar Qassem. [An MUN conference like this] does not happen very often and we are proud that we managed to pull it off with the help of Steven. We look forward to always be a part of this wonderful team that works hard to bring people together Arabs and Jews. In addition, our students experienced what does it feel to attend a real conference with many Native speakers.”
The conference was part of the Debate for Peace activities.
The next MUN conference in Israel will be ATIDMUN on November 20-21.
See more, including the national MUN schedule, on DebateforPeace.org
Photos
DebateforPeace
Steven Aiello
Founder--DebateforPeace
- Details
- Written by Silvia Golan
The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation - the home of the Innovation Nation
“It takes more courage to make peace than to make war.” - Shimon Peres
Shimon Peres’ legacy was realising dreams. As you approach the entrance to the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, an enormous sign reminds you to “DREAM BIG.” It’s framed on one side by the sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea, and on the other, by a modernist angular building, commissioned by Shimon Peres and completed in 2009, that now houses the Israeli Innovation Center: four floors of Israeli innovation past, present and future.
Shimon Peres established the Peres Center for Peace in 1996 to bring people together - people of all ages, genders, cultural backgrounds, religions, and from all walks of life, from Israel and around the region - through mutual interests in innovation, medicine and healthcare, business and entrepreneurship, education, and more.
Since Peres’ death in 2016, the original Peres Peace House (designed by Massimiliano Fuksas and local architect Yoav Messer) has been transformed in line with his vision to exhibit the world’s first interactive innovation hub; the Israeli Innovation Center.
The Israeli Innovation Center, which opened to the public in February 2019, highlights the global human impact of Israel’s achievements - from Cherry Tomatoes and Drip Irrigation to Waze and Mobileye - and explores how to expand the “Start-up Nation” into the “Start-up Region”. It also continues to run its scalable and impactful programs designed to bridge the region’s communities.
The Peres Center is proud to partner with Israel’s leading organisations, and friends from across the globe. This unique network of partners and supporters include the Israeli Innovation Authority, the Israeli Ministry of Economy and Trade and several innovation partners: Adama – Crop protection and innovators in global food security; Orbotech – Innovators in electronics; Checkpoint – One of Israel’s innovators in cyber security since 1993; Intel – Computing; IAI -- Israel Aerospace Industries; and the Manufacturers Association of Israel.
One of the country's leading non-profit NGOs, the Center has hosted delegations of global leaders in politics and business to learn about Israeli breakthroughs, connected professionals to the local start-up ecosystem, and supported youths from all backgrounds to discover their inner techie, entrepreneur, and peacebuilder.
Visiting the Israeli Innovation Center
- The Hall of Inspiration: As you enter the lobby you are struck by the films showing on the screens that take up the entire right wall and continue onto the circular screens scattered on the ceiling. The films depict the global innovations developed in Israel: in agriculture, medicine and healthcare, aerospace and security, hi-tech, and information communication technology.
- Secrets of Innovation room: Have a chat with one of 18 life-sized innovator holograms from across the hi-tech, agriculture, cyber and medicine sectors. Speak to them in Hebrew, English, Arabic or Chinese to learn about their inspiration and the problem they were trying to solve. Behind each hologram screen you can find some of the personal artefacts and books that inspired our innovators, that they have donated to the exhibit.
- Shimon Peres’ Study: A replica of Shimon Peres’ study houses his desk, as well as artifacts including his Nobel Peace prize, his collection of his role model David Ben-Gurion dolls, and pictures of the highlights of his achievements.
- Innovation Nation Room - Find out how Israel became the Start-up Nation with an interactive timeline and a chance to see original examples of Israel's technological and medical achievements, including the first Israeli Airforce flag in space and the capsule endoscopy (a miniature camera in a pill that can be swallowed to see what’s happening inside the gastrointestinal tracts).
- The Capsule - An unrivalled VR experience, The Capsule, designed with input from Roey Tzanana and Yuval Noah Harari features technology provided by Inception, to enable users to play futuristic games in which they perform medical procedures, travel into space or design the city of the future.
- The Israeli Expo - DSV and Intuit are the hosts for this floor which was curated in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Trade and the Israeli Innovation Authority. The room is divided into four islands showcasing the 45 most exciting Israeli innovations today:
○ 1. ICT – Information, Communications and Technology
○ 2. Aerospace and Security
○ 3. Healthcare
○ 4. Agriculture and Energy
Above each Island is a loan from the Israel Antiquities Authority representing ancient innovation from days of old, bringing full circle the idea that this region has always been a basin of innovation.
Flagship programs the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation runs:
The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation is a leading non-profit and non-government organization focused on developing and implementing unique and cutting-edge programs that promote peace and build bridges. It serves hundreds of thousands of participants of all ages, religions, genders and cultural backgrounds. It runs special programs in Innovation, Sports, Cultivation of Leadership and Entrepreneurship, Medicine and Healthcare, Business and Environment. The programs are implemented with a network of local, regional, and international partners.
- Starting-Up Together - Launched in 2017, Starting-Up Together addresses challenges of inclusivity and opportunity by encouraging underrepresented communities in Israel to become involved in entrepreneurship, innovation, and the high-tech sector while promoting shared-living and creating a sense of community among its Israeli Arab and Jewish participants.
The participants, aged 25 and above, possess the motivation and vision to succeed in their field, but do not have access to the training or connections needed. Each program cycle includes 30-40 participants, half Israeli Arabs and half Israeli Jews, with an emphasis on women, minorities and underrepresented communities. This holistic pre-accelerator program grows entrepreneurs and opens the door for their participation in the Start-up Nation through workshops, boot camps, meetings with experts, mentoring, networking opportunities, and more. Alumni continue to receive support for 12 months following the end of the program. Starting Up Together is conducted through an important partnership with the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation.
- CityZoom - Launched in 2018, CityZoom creates connections between innovators, local and multinational companies and city governments by implementing meet-ups between industry leaders, municipal stakeholders and academics; round table discussions and webinars with innovation experts, entrepreneurs, researchers and city leaders; and an International Smart City Conference. Partners include Tel Aviv University, Atidim, the Israeli Ministry of Economy, the Israeli Ministry of the Interior, and Digital Israel.
- Strengthening Private Sector and Business-to-Business Cooperation - Together with local, regional, and international stakeholders, the Peres Center identifies and targets challenges and opportunities in order to facilitate easier trade and economic growth through policy, structural research and practical action. Ongoing programs work to assess needs, build capacities, and link the Israeli and Palestinian economies, while fostering cross-border, people-to-people interaction.
- Startup-Link - Startup-Link aims to expand the Start-up Nation into the Start-up Region by the creation of a new Palestinian startup incubator-accelerator, which trains the next generation of Palestinian entrepreneurs. The project also brings together experienced
Israeli innovators and young Palestinian entrepreneurs to strengthen ties and mutual understanding and invigorate the Palestinian innovation ecosystem.
- SharakehTech – Partnership for New ICT Horizons - The potential of the Palestinian hi-tech sector is widely recognized but struggles to penetrate markets. Launched in 2018, this program exposes 40-60 Palestinian and Israeli professionals and ICT companies over 3 years to mutually beneficial business opportunities and capacity building through a multilayered process and match making opportunities.
In addition, 50-70 Palestinian students and recent graduates receive work experience and exposure to the ICT industry. This program connects the Israeli and Palestinian hi-tech sectors and promotes cooperation, thus strengthening innovation in the Palestinian private sector and forging unique cross-border business relationships.
- Sport in the Service of Peace – Twinned Peace Sports Schools - Launched in 2002, twinned groups of Jewish and Arab, Israeli and Palestinian girls and boys come together through sport, breaking down barriers and building lasting friendships. Over 20,000 participants from 60 communities have participated in the Peres Center's unique methodology that includes bi-weekly training and peace education sessions, joint soccer training, inter-language learning, and the annual "Mini Mondial" tournament. During the last activity year (2017-18), the project reached 500 participants from 20 communities. Member of 8 international networks; 19 delegations sent abroad; recipient of 8 awards including: Beyond Sport 2016 "Leadership in Sport Award"; Peace and Sport, Monaco 2011 "Best NGO"; the Wingate Award 2010 "Best NGO in the Field of Peace and Sport".
- YaLa Young Leaders – Launched in 2011, this program connects almost 1 million young people from around the MENA region through Facebook and virtual platforms. Over 1,500 participants from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Sudan, Algeria, and more have participated in in-depth virtual training programs. 4 regional face-to-face conferences and 5 on-line conferences have been held.
- Training Doctors - Launched in 2005, Training Doctors trains Palestinian physicians and medical personnel in Israeli hospitals for 2-5 years, creating a network of Israeli and Palestinian medical professionals. To date, over 260 Palestinian healthcare professionals have been trained, in turn treating over 1.5 million Israeli patients. Of program graduates, 90% continue to serve in the Palestinian public healthcare system, and 20 have gone on to become heads of hospitals or heads of departments. 40 are in training today.
- Saving Children - Launched in 2003, Saving Children has provided lifesaving treatment to Palestinian children in Israel when treatment is not available within the Palestinian healthcare system. Working with every major public and non-profit hospital in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, over 12,500 children have been treated. Following years of
successful best practices and by request, this program was expanded to include Syrian children when the geopolitical situation enabled us to do so.
Israel Innovation Center is the first and only visitor center of Israeli innovation in which you will be exposed to the unbelievable story of the state of Israel, the innovation nation, in a fascinating journey inspired by the vision of the late Shimon Peres.
-Tour of the Israel Innovation Center for NIS 30 until the end of August
- Planning a convention, event or gathering?
Contact Us: +972-3-5680636
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- Donate ;Be a part of our work! legacy of innovation, creativity, and the pursuit of peace.
Your support matters. Thank you!
*Please note - donations made through this page are tax deductible only in the USA but can be made from any country.
Site Web : https://www.peres-center.org/
- Facebook :The Peres Center for Peace & Innovation מרכז פרס לשלום ולחדשנות
Address: Kedem 132, Tel Aviv-Yafo
Phone: 03-568-0685
Photos Silvia G. Golan
