About Us

Abdel Fattah Al Zaben
As a Palestinian refugee who spent my early years in a refugee camp in the West Bank, I feel that a common government could make a difference for both societies. We are destined to live in Palestine together whether we like it or not, might as well make the best of it. Israelis cannot live by the sword forever, and the Palestinians will not continue to be helpless forever. The sooner we come to terms with these facts and work towards peaceful coexistence the better.

Elizabeth (Libby) Traubman
Libby received her BA from Mary Baldwin College and an MSW from UNC, Chapel Hill. She worked as a Social Worker for several years and became involved with global peace issues of Nuclear and conventional Wars.
In 1991 Libby and her husband Len co-founded the Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue of San Mateo California which helps bring “enemies” together in successful, public peace processes. This she continues to do now after the passing of her husband. In recognition for her work to advance peace she was inducted into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame. Libby believes in the mission of the IPC as a fair solution to both sides.

Fred Foldvary
Fred Foldvary is retired emeritus from San Jose State University, Department of Economics. His personal interests focus on public finance, real estate, and social ethics. His books include the Soul of Liberty, Public Goods and Private Communities, Dictionary of Free-Market Economics, and The Depression of 2008. He published several articles expressing his vision for peace in the Middle East. He believes that Israelis and Palestinians must live together and in peace in a democratic equal and open society with mutual respect, freedom of expression and religion.

Giacomo Valentini
An Italian national, Giacomo Valentini has lived and worked in Italy, Belgium and the United States. After graduating in Political Science in 1985, he won a masters in European administration at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. He has twenty-plus years’ experience working at European Research Associates, a Brussels-based think tank on EU policies, and is fascinated by the question, what can the EU model teach others when it comes to promoting international cooperation, combating nationalism and bringing down barriers between people. He currently directs the consultancy International Policy Monitors, which focuses on global issues such as climate change and the evolution of international relations. 

Nimat Shama

Based in the West Bank, Nima is an active member of “Democracy and Federalism Hub”, an organization dedicated to conflict transformation. Through this role, she engages in initiatives that foster dialogue, empathy, and practical strategies for peacebuilding in divided communities. Passionate about bridging divides and creating spaces for mutual understanding, she combines her analytical mindset with a strong ethical foundation to contribute to a more just and peaceful world.

Saeed Aziz

A Palestinian American who served time in Israeli prison for opposing the occupation in the West Bank

Hanan Shlezinger

Hanan Schlesinger is an Orthodox rabbi and teacher who has been profoundly transformed by his encounters with Palestinians and the Palestinian People beginning in late 2013

Roni Keidar

Roni Keidar is a British-born Israeli peace activist, author, and longtime resident of Moshav Netiv HaAsara, an agricultural village located just a few hundred meters from the Gaza border.

Ziad Abdul Mahmoud Sabati

Born in the village of Husan near Bethlehem, Ziad Sabatin’s journey began in hardship—arrested at age 15 and imprisoned for five years by Israeli forces. Despite enduring severe mistreatment, he emerged with a powerful commitment to peace and justice. Today, Ziad leads reconciliation efforts through the Tahadi (Challenge) Organization, working with Israelis and Palestinians to foster dialogue and understanding. Inspired by the teachings of Rabbi Menachem Froman, he advocates for dignity, coexistence, and a future free from the cycles of violence that shaped his youth.

Phil Saunders

Phil Saunders is a British Jew who moved to Israel in 2005.  He is Chairman of Challenge, co-founder of the Federal Forum and the Abrahamic Movement, and Israeli Chairman of Path of Hope and Peace.  In 2021 he and his Palestinian partner Ziad Sabateen were jointly awarded the IIE Victor Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East

Emanuel Shahaf

Emanuel served in the Prime Minister’s Office as a member of the intelligence community, is Vice Chairman of the Israel-Indonesia Chamber of Commerce, Vice-Chairman of the Israeli-German Society (IDG), Chair of the Federation Movement (www.federation.org.il), member of the board at israelimovement.co.il and author of “Identity: The Quest for Israel’s Future”.

Rami Elhanan

Rami Elhanan is a 7th generation Jerusalemite on his mother’s side. His father was an Auschwitz survivor. He is retired IDF soldier of 3 wars. He identifies himself as a Jew, an Israeli, and before everything else a human being. On the first day of the school year in 1997, Rami’s 14 years daughter, Smadar, was killed by Palestinian suicide bombers in the center of Jerusalem. A year later, Rami joined the Parents Circle, and speaks before Israeli, Palestinian and International audiences.

Avner Dinor

Avner Dinur is a secular theologian and lecturer in Jewish thought and philosophy at Sapir College, Bar-Ilan University, and several pre-military academies. A member of the urban kibbutz in Sderot, he co-directs the Matanel Bar-Ilan Forum for French Jewish Thought and chairs the platform committee of All Its Citizens. Dinur also leads the cross-cultural initiative FAB – Friendship Across Borders – with partners in Germany and Palestine. His recent book, Something to Believe In: Secular Theology, was published by Idra.

Naseer Aboushi

Naseer Abboushi is a Palestinian American businessman, educator, and peace advocate. Born into a Jerusalem-based family, he holds a degree in International Policy Studies with a focus on economics and trade. He has worked across the U.S. and the UAE, and is committed to intercultural dialogue, speaking several languages.

Avishai Boaz Chelouche

Avishai Boaz Chelouche was born in Tel Aviv in 1965. His family’s roots in Jaffa and Tel Aviv go back nearly 200 years. A graduate of the University of California, San Diego, he has led a dynamic life across continents—as a telecommunications entrepreneur in Amsterdam and an educator in Shanghai, China. He is the father of three young women and is married to Tamar. Now living in Tel Aviv, he teaches middle school and continues his lifelong mission: to bring freedom, justice, and peace to all who live between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

Dr. Warda Sada

Dr. Warda Sada is an Israeli Palestinian educator and peace advocate dedicated to building bridges between communities. She holds a doctorate in education and has focused her career on promoting coexistence, dialogue, and equal opportunities for women and youth. Dr. Sada is known for her work in both Arab and Jewish communities, advocating for inclusive policies and grassroots initiatives that empower civil society and foster mutual understanding across divides.

Rami Aman

Rami Aman is a Palestinian peace activist from Gaza and founder of the Gaza Youth Committee. He is known for organizing online dialogues between Palestinians and Israelis, including the “Skype With Your Enemy” initiative. In 2020, Hamas arrested and detained him for engaging in such dialogue, accusing him of “normalization.” After international pressure, he was released later that year. Now living in Cairo, Aman continues to advocate for nonviolence, freedom of expression, and peaceful coexistence. Rami is now living in Cairo and working with Humanite Peace Collective as Gaza program director.

Nahad Sakis

Nahad Sakis is a Palestinian-Israeli peace activist living in Yaffo. He works to promote dialogue, equality, and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians through grassroots initiatives and public engagement.

Jeffrey Goldstein

Jeffrey Goldstein is a peace activist rooted in Jerusalem, devoted to building bridges between Israelis and Palestinians. Guided by a deep faith in spiritual peace, human dignity, and meaningful dialogue, he has spent years fostering understanding across divides. Through grassroots work, interfaith outreach, and community education, Jeffrey inspires cooperation and compassion—planting seeds for a just, shared future. His work embodies empathy, nonviolence, and the quiet power of citizen-to-citizen connection

Rachel Elior

Rachel Elior (Hebrew: רחל אליאור) is an Israeli scholar and professor emerita of Jewish philosophy and mysticism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Her research focuses on early Jewish mysticism, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Hasidism, Sabbatianism, and the role of women in Jewish culture. She has published extensively, with over a dozen books and more than 100 scholarly articles. Elior has taught at leading universities worldwide. She has received numerous academic awards, including the Gershom Scholem Prize.

Bassam Aramin

Bassam Aramin is a Palestinian peace activist who once fought against Israel as a teenage member of Fatah and spent seven years in prison. While incarcerated, he began to question violence and later dedicated his life to nonviolent resistance. In 2005, he co-founded Combatants for Peace, a joint Israeli-Palestinian movement of former fighters. After his 10-year-old daughter Abir was killed by Israeli forces in 2007, Bassam deepened his commitment to peace and co-directs the Parents Circle–Families Forum, uniting bereaved families from both sides in a shared pursuit of reconciliation.

Nizar Farsakh

Nizar Farsakh is a Palestinian-American political analyst with extensive experience in the Israel-Palestine conflict and US policy. He advised the last two Palestinian ambassadors to Washington, DC (2011-2017), as well as the Palestinian President, Prime Minister, and several ministries. Nizar is currently Lecturer of International Affairs at George Washington University and is frequently invited by think tanks and the media to comment on Middle East affairs.

Dr. Yeela Livnat Raanan

Dr. Yeela Livnat Raanan is an Israeli anthropologist, professor at Sapir College, and activist for justice and equality. She has worked for over two decades with Bedouin communities in the Negev, advocating for recognition and infrastructure in unrecognized villages. As a leader in regional civic organizations, she promotes coexistence, women’s leadership, and shared society. A resident of Kibbutz Kissufim, she continues to champion dignity and peace for all communities in Israel.

Omar Shaban

Omar Shaban is a Palestinian analyst of political economy and the founder and director of PalThink for Strategic Studies, an independent think tank based in Gaza. He ran as an independent candidate in the 1996 Palestinian parliamentary elections and remains unaffiliated with any political party. Omar writes regularly for international media and participates in conferences on Gaza reconstruction, Palestinian reconciliation, and regional cooperation. He holds degrees in Economics (Egypt), Entrepreneurial Studies (Stirling University, Scotland), and Development Studies (Geneva Graduate Institute).Born in Gaza in 1962 to a refugee family, Omar now lives in Cairo. Through PalThink, he supports dialogue, reform in public services, and the empowerment of youth and women in Palestine.

Hisham Shkokani

Hisham Shkokani is a Palestinian civic activist based in Ramallah. He studied political science at Birzeit University and has worked with local NGOs on youth engagement, cultural preservation, and community development. Committed to peaceful coexistence, Hisham promotes dialogue and grassroots initiatives that build bridges between communities. In his free time, he enjoys Palestinian poetry, local heritage projects, and walking through Ramallah’s historic neighborhoods.

Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, and political activist. Born in 1928, he revolutionized the field of linguistics with his theory of generative grammar. Chomsky is also known for his outspoken critique of U.S. foreign policy, media, and capitalism, making him a prominent voice in both academic and political spheres. He is Institute Professor Emeritus at MIT and Laureate Professor at the University of Arizona.

Lawrence Wilkerson

Lawrence Wilkerson, Colonel, US Army (Ret) was special assistant to General Colin Powell when the General was Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and Powell’s chief of staff when he was US Secretary of State.  Additionally, Wilkerson was Distinguished Visiting Professor of Government at the College of William Mary for 16 years and taught in the Honors Program at George Washington University for six years. He is, inter alia, a co-founder of the All-Volunteer Force Forum as well as an advisor to the Eisenhower Media Network and an advisory board member of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.  

Amir Hetsroni

Amir Hetsroni is an Israeli professor, media scholar, author, and performer with a unique voice in both academia and the arts. Born in Tel Aviv in 1968, he earned his PhD in Communication from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His academic work has focused on the influence of media content, particularly television—on public perception, and he has published numerous articles in respected international journals. In addition to his scholarly work, Hetsroni is a creative writer and performer. His semi-autobiographical novel Pitzuchim received praise for its vivid storytelling, and he has participated in various media projects as a writer and host. Known for blending intellect with humor, he brings a distinct perspective to discussions on culture and society.

Dr. Asher Albo

Dr. Asher Albo is an Israeli scholar of Jewish thought and Hasidism. He teaches at Tel Aviv University and heads its Ofakim Teacher Education Program. His research focuses on religious metaphors and Hasidic spirituality, with a notable book on The Despair of Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav. He has received fellowships from the Schocken Institute and Yad Hanadiv Foundation.

Uri Dromi

Uri Dromi is an Israeli journalist, former Air Force colonel, and former government spokesperson for Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres. He is the founder of the Jerusalem Press Club and a longtime advocate for free speech, democratic values, and balanced media coverage of Israel.

Yael Gidanian

Yael Gidanian is a board member of the Israeli–Palestinian Confederation. She studied Islam and Middle Eastern Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where she also worked. Yael is active in several peace organizations and advocates for mutual understanding, justice, and nonviolent dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.

Ray Hanania

Ray Hanania is a Palestinian-American journalist, columnist, author, and media consultant. He is known for his sharp political commentary and efforts to promote moderation, dialogue, and understanding between Arabs and Jews. He writes for outlets including Arab News, The Arab Daily News, and regional Chicago publications. He co-founded the Israeli–Palestinian Comedy Tour, using humor to bridge divides, and has received multiple journalism awards including the Peter Lisagor and Sigma Delta Chi Awards. Hanania also works in media strategy and public affairs, bringing decades of experience in both journalism and civic advocacy.

Angela Godfrey Goldstein

Angela Godfrey-Goldstein is a peace activist based in Israel. She is actively involved in advocacy for Palestinian rights, particularly in East Jerusalem and its periphery. Angela worked for nine years with The Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions (ICAHD) and now serves as Co-director of Jahalin Solidarity, focusing on displacement of the West Bank Bedouin community of Al Khan al Ahmar, and Palestinian East Jerusalemites in Silwan. Through her activism, writing, and public speaking, she promotes justice, non-violence and a shared future for Israelis and Palestinians.

Mark Juergensmeyer

Professor Mark Juergensmeyer is a distinguished scholar of global religion, politics, and conflict resolution. He is Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and founding director of the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies. Renowned for his work on religious violence and peacebuilding, Juergensmeyer is the author of several influential books, including Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence. His research has shaped international understanding of how religion intersects with political conflict, and he continues to be a leading voice in interfaith dialogue and efforts to promote global peace.

Richard Falk

Richard Falk is an American international law scholar and human rights advocate who served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 from 2008 to 2014. A professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University, Falk has written extensively on international relations, global justice, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Throughout his career, he has been a vocal critic of military interventions and a strong proponent of international law as a tool for peace and accountability.

Ihab Massalha

Aehab Masaslha is a Palestinian citizen of Israel and an attorney based in the city of Kefar Karaa. He is a dedicated community activist committed to combating criminal activity within both the Arab community and broader society. Specializing in civil rights, land issues, and minority protections, he focuses on the legal challenges faced by Arab citizens of Israel. Through his legal practice and civic engagement, he advocates for equality, justice, and peaceful coexistence between Jews and Arabs in Israel.

Rasheed Abdelaziz

Rasheed Abdelaziz is a Palestinian resident of Al-Mazra’a ash-Sharqiya near Ramallah in the West Bank. He is engaged in community development and advocates for peaceful solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Rasheed is known for his commitment to social justice and local empowerment.

Mati Shemoelof

Mati Shemoelof is a multi-lingual writer. His first publication in Germany was the bilingual poetry collection Baghdad | Haifa | Berlin (AphorismA Verlag, 2019), followed by Das kleine Boot in meiner Hand nenn ich Narbe: Gedichte (Parasitenpresse, 2023). In 2025, his novel Der Preis was published by PalmArtPress in Germany. In 2024, he received a scholarship from the German Literature Fund to write his first book in German, Jewish Sounds, German Words. The book will be published by Elif Verlag in autumn 2026. His site: https://mati-s.com/

Dodi Koren

Dodi Koren is an Israeli professional with a background in marketing, customer service, and public communication. With over four decades of experience in business and media, he has worked across Israel, the U.S., and Eastern Europe. A strong believer in coexistence, Koren supports initiatives that promote dialogue and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians. His career and values reflect a commitment to equality, mutual respect, and a peaceful future for all communities in the region.

Nurit Peled Elhanan

Nurit Peled-Elhanan is an Israeli academic and author, who resides in Jerusalem and is retired from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A professor of language education, she is known for her critical research on Israeli schoolbooks and their portrayal of Palestinians. An outspoken advocate for human rights and equality, she has been internationally recognized for her efforts to promote dialogue and justice between Israelis and Palestinians. She is the recipient of the Sakharov Prize for human rights and the freedom of thought, awarded by the European Parliament and one of the initiators of the Russell tribunal on Palestine.

Chen Yehezkely

Chen Yehezkely. Ph.D., was the disciple of Joseph Agassi, wrote “Closed Education in the Open Society: Kibbutz Education as a Case Study”, married to Sivan Yehezkely, Father to Maor and Sitar, lives in his native kibbutz, Rosh Hanikra, advocates civic nationalism.

John B. Quigley

John Quigley is a leading legal scholar on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, known for his extensive work on Palestinian statehood, refugee rights, and international law. He has authored key books including The Case for Palestine and The Statehood of Palestine, and has advised UN bodies and human rights organizations. Through legal scholarship and advocacy, he has advanced the view that justice and resolution must be grounded in international law.

Shlomo Orr

Dr. Shlomo Orr is an Israeli-American expert in hydrology and civil engineering with a focus on water resources, a key issue in the Israeli-Palestinian region. With academic and research roles at institutions like the Technion, University of Hawaii, University of Arizona, and Pacific Northwest National Lab, he has developed models for groundwater contamination and risk assessment. As CEO of MRDS, Inc., he developed and promoted smart water management solutions that support regional cooperation and sustainability.

Adam Keller

Adam Keller is an Israeli peace activist, writer, and longtime spokesperson for Gush Shalom, the Israeli Peace Bloc. A founding member of Yesh Gvul, he has been jailed multiple times for refusing military service in the occupied territories and for acts of civil disobedience, including anti-occupation graffiti on IDF vehicles. Keller is a frequent commentator on the Israeli Palestinian conflict. He is known for his principled stand against the occupation and his commitment to Israeli Palestinian coexistence.

Ofer Ashkenazi

Professor Ofer Ashkenazi is a historian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Director of the Richard Koebner-Minerva Center for German History. His research focuses on German-Jewish history, visual culture, and memory in the 20th century, with a special interest in photography and film during the Nazi era. He has authored several books, including Anti-Heimat Cinema and Weimar Film and Modern Jewish Identity, and co-edited volumes on German-Jewish space and memory. His recent work explores Jewish domestic photography in Nazi Germany and the use of digital tools in Holocaust studies. Ashkenazi has taught at leading universities worldwide and serves as co-editor of Historia, the journal of the Israeli Historical Society. He is currently on sabbatical.

Franke Wilmer

Franke Wilmer is professor emerita of political science at Montana State University, specializing in international relations, human rights, and conflict resolution. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland and is the author of The Social Construction of Man, the State and War and The Indigenous Voice in World Politics. Her research focuses on ethnic conflict, nationalism, and peace processes, with insights relevant to conflicts like the Israeli-Palestinian issue. She also served in the Montana House of Representatives, where she championed social justice and indigenous rights.

Noor Awad

Noor Awad is a Palestinian peace activist living in the West Bank promoting dialogue between Palestinians and Israeli settlers. Raised in Bethlehem, he experienced life under occupation and later embraced nonviolence as a path to change. He works to build trust and mutual understanding between both communities, believing that lasting peace must grow from the ground up.

Raz Chen-Morris

Raz Chen-Morris is a scholar of intellectual history and the history of science, serving as a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His research focuses on the scientific revolution of the 17th century, exploring how early modern thinkers reimagined the relationship between science, nature, and human perception. Through his work, he examines the interplay between science, art, and political thought in early modern Europe. Chen-Morris is known for his interdisciplinary approach, drawing on philosophy, literature, and visual culture to deepen understanding of scientific development. He resides in Jerusalem.

Menashe Raz

Menashe Raz is a veteran Israeli journalist known for his dedication to democracy, civil rights, and peace. He spent much of his career at Channel 1, Israel’s leading broadcaster, serving as a field reporter, anchor, editor, and host of thousands of live programs. Raz has long championed dialogue, free expression, and Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation, advocating for coexistence and a two-state solution grounded in mutual respect.

Walid Shomaly

Walid Shomaly is a Palestinian academic and public intellectual known for his scholarship on Middle Eastern politics and his advocacy for Palestinian rights. He is the founder and the director of the Palestinian Center for Research and Cultural Dialogue-PCRD in Bethlehem. With a background in political science and public policy, he has contributed extensively to discussions on Palestinian national identity, governance, and peace building. Shomaly has lectured at various universities and has been involved in regional forums promoting dialogue and coexistence based on equal rights. His work emphasizes the importance of inclusive political structures and the role of civic engagement in shaping a just and lasting peace in the region.

Aziz Abu Sarah

Aziz Abu Sarah is a Palestinian peacebuilder, social entrepreneur, and educator from Jerusalem dedicated to fostering understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. A former resident of East Jerusalem, he transformed personal loss into a lifelong commitment to reconciliation. He is the co-founder of MEJDI Tours and Interact International, and pioneered “dual narrative” tourism, where Israeli and Palestinian guides present multiple perspectives of the same sites. Abu Sarah has lectured internationally, advised policymakers, and written extensively on conflict resolution, intercultural dialogue, and grassroots peacebuilding. His innovative approach has earned global recognition, including being named a National Geographic Explorer and receiving multiple peace awards.

Professor Ichak Adizes

Professor Ichak Adizes is the developer of the Adizes Symbergetic methodology, a  type of organizational therapy applied to companies worldwide. Consulted to six prime ministers, and Fortune 100 companies. Authored 26 books translated to over 30 languages recipient of 21 Honorary doctorates. Founder of the Adizes Institute that applying his methodologies empowers companies to manage change without destructive conflict. Supports the confederation, however, as designed if it does not add programs and institutions that build mutual trust and respect the confederation will fall apart like Yugoslavia tragically fell apart.