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 Jerusalem, 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 Dinur

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 is a retired United States Army Colonel and former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell (2002–2005). Over his military career, he served in various command and staff positions, including in Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and taught at the US Naval War College and the USMC War College. He has also taught national security and international relations at George Washington University and the College of William & Mary.

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.

Ibrahim Alnajjar

Ibrahim Alnajjar is from Gaza and is currently living in a tent in the Mawasi area of southern Gaza. He studied Business Administration but has worked in various fields. Despite the ongoing war, he believes that coexistence between Muslims and Jews is not only possible but inevitable.

Maoz Inon

Maoz Inon, Co-founder of “Interact – Peace By 2030”,  is an Israeli social entrepreneur and peace activist. He co-founded the Fauzi Azar Inn in Nazareth, the Jesus Trail, and the Abraham Hostels network—projects designed to foster dialogue, equality, and shared tourism between communities. After losing both parents in the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, Inon turned his grief into a call for reconciliation, becoming a leading voice for peace and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. He has since spoken worldwide, including at TED, and was awarded the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights in 2024.Contact details and more info:
https://www.iinteract.org/
Social Media – https://linktr.ee/maozinon

Raed Al-Haddar

Raed Hadar, born in 1972 in the West Bank, is a Palestinian professor, social worker, and cofounder of Combatants for Peace. As a teenager during the First Intifada, he witnessed the death of a close friend and later spent three years in prison for his involvement in armed struggle. His experiences led him to reexamine the path of conflict. During the Second Intifada, he joined a gathering of Palestinians and Israelis opposed to the occupation, where he built a transformative connection with a former Israeli soldier. This encounter inspired him to help create Combatants for Peace, a joint movement of former fighters from both sides who renounced violence to work for reconciliation. Today, Raed continues to promote dialogue, nonviolence, and shared humanity as a foundation for a just peace.

Ronit Chitayat Kashi

Ronit Chitayat Kashi is an anti-Zionist thinker and activist with dual Israeli-American citizenship and Iraqi heritage. She is known for her work in social impact and her advocacy for freedom, justice, and equality for all people from the river to the sea.

Ronit is deeply involved in political and social activism aimed at challenging and dismantling Zionism, which she views as a political and military settler-colonial project. In her analysis, Zionism has shaped a racist Jewish regime through demographic engineering to create a “Jewish” settler-supremacist nation, while simultaneously oppressing and erasing the indigenous Palestinian population. Her critique also extends to what she describes as the “Zionization” of Jews and Judaism, and the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians through displacement, apartheid, and genocide.

Yigal Bin-Nun

Yigal Bin-Nun is an Israeli historian known for his bold critiques of Jewish and biblical historiography. He holds two PhDs—one from Paris VIII University on Morocco–Israel relations and another from the École Pratique des Hautes Études on biblical historiography.
A Research Associate at Tel Aviv University’s Cohn Institute, he has also taught at Paris VIII.

His works, including A Brief History of Yahweh and When We Became Jews, challenge conventional narratives about Judaism, the Bible, and rabbinic figures, often arguing that key traditions are later literary constructs. Bin-Nun’s scholarship spans North African Jewish history, Israeli society, and the evolution of monotheism, making him a provocative and influential voice in contemporary historiography.

Rafi Gassel

Rafi Gassel is a biotechnology professional living in Jerusalem, specializing in genetic sequencing. Originally from the United States, he is married with three children. Alongside his scientific work, Raffi is a peace activist advocating for federalist and confederation models between Israelis and Palestinians. He is active in the Eretz-Ard movement and frequently writes for The Times of Israel on reconciliation, indigenous rights, and coexistence.

Khaled Abu Awad

Khaled Abu Awad is a Palestinian peacebuilder and co-director of Roots/Shorashim–Judur, a grassroots initiative fostering dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis in the West Bank. Despite losing close family members to the conflict and spending time in prison himself, he has devoted his life to nonviolence and reconciliation. He was awarded the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence in 2011 and was named among the 500 Most Influential Muslims in 2010. Khaled’s work is guided by his belief that “one side cannot eradicate the other” and that only mutual recognition can lead to peace.

Michael Bloom

Michael Bloom is an Israeli advocate for peace and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians. He has been actively involved with the Israeli Palestinian Confederation, supporting its vision of creating a joint federal government where both peoples share equal representation and governance. Bloom’s work emphasizes dialogue, democratic participation, and practical solutions to the long-standing conflict. He is committed to fostering mutual respect and building frameworks that can secure peace, justice, and coexistence for future generations.

Khaled Al-Naji

Khaled Al-Naji is a Palestinian media and art producer known for his creative work highlighting Palestinian culture, identity, and social issues. Through film, television, and artistic productions, he has contributed to projects that amplify Palestinian voices and bring forward narratives of resilience and coexistence. His work bridges media and art, blending storytelling with visual expression to engage both local and international audiences.

 Zohar Ianovici

Zohar Ianovici is a development economist with the World Bank Group, specializing in social protection and labor market policies. He co-founded the TLV Doughnut Coalition in Tel Aviv and helped launch the Israel Doughnut Economics Community, promoting sustainable economic models that balance social well-being with environmental limits.

Richard Moskowitz

Dr. Richard Moskowitz, MD, is a retired American physician and author with over five decades of experience in family medicine and classical homeopathy. Born in 1938, he graduated from Harvard and NYU School of Medicine and has written extensively on holistic healthcare, natural childbirth, and medical philosophy. While not publicly active on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, his focus on human rights and ethical considerations reflects his broader commitment to justice. He resides in the Boston area.

David Beito

Professor David T. Beito is an American historian and professor emeritus at the University of Alabama. His scholarship covers civil liberties, African American history, taxation, and the history of voluntary associations. In addition to his work on U.S. history, Beito has written on international affairs, including a 2023 Foreign Affairs article proposing a Swiss-style canton system as a framework for resolving the Israel–Palestine conflict. His research highlights how historical models of self-governance and autonomy can inform contemporary challenges.

Elik Elhanan

Elik Elhanan is an Israeli peace activist and co-founder of Combatants for Peace, a grassroots organization of former Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters who renounced violence to work together for peace through nonviolent means. His sister, Smadar, was killed in a suicide bombing in Jerusalem in 1997, a tragedy that inspired him to dedicate his life to dialogue and nonviolence. Elhanan serves on the board of American Friends of Children for Peace and has been active in educational programs that bring Israelis and Palestinians together to share their stories, challenge prejudice, and build mutual understanding. He continues to advocate for a future rooted in empathy, partnership, and coexistence.

Jeff Warner

Jeff Warner was a geologist in the 20^th century.  At the turn of the 21^st century, he retired and became a peace activist focusing on bringing peace and prosperity to all the people living between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. 

Warner was a field-laboratory geologist for 40 years.  First as an academic, researching mountain building in New England.  Then for 14 years as a planetary geologist at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston Texas where he worked in two areas.  First in the Lunar Receiving Laboratory (LRL) as a member of Lunar Sample Preliminary Examination Team, developing computer data systems, and as Associate Curator of Moon Rocks.  Later, and in parallel, he researched lunar samples, terrestrial impact craters, and ancient earth rocks to decipher the origin and development of the Moon and earth, and served as Chief of Geochemistry.  Finally, Warner spent 18 years as a research geologist for Chevron Oil Field Research managing the electron microscope laboratory, conducting studies on a range of topics centered on oil recovery, and managed several million-dollar projects.  He published hundreds of papers, book chapters, short papers, government and company reports, and the State of Maine Geologic Map.  He was awarded the Presidential Management Improvement Award (1973), the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (1976), and other honors. 

Since retirement, Warner has been a peace activist.  He served as Action Coordinator for LA Jews for Peace and worked with local and national Jewish and Palestinian American groups as well as Israeli groups fighting for peace in Israel-Palestine.  He participated in three peace missions to the West Bank and one to Gaza.  He published 30 articles on Israel-Palestine, the fall of South Africa apartheid, and U.S. Foreign Policy in Mondoweiss.com, Palestine-Israel Journal, CityWatchLA.com, Tikkun, People’s World, CounterCurrents.org, and Markaz Review.  He now publishes his own SubStack titled, “Driven by Human Richts.”

Ziva Inbar

Ziva Inbar teaches mathematics at two colleges in Tel Aviv.
She has participated in IPC simulations and presentations, translated articles and documents related to its goals, and actively supports its mission.

Rand Engel

Rand Engel is a humanitarian and peace activist with experience in post-conflict development, human rights, and community research. He directed the Kosovo-based NGO Balkan Sunflowers (1999–2015) and has written for outlets including The Boston Globe, The Baltimore Sun, and The New York Times. Twenty-two politically themed articles are found at https://medium.com/@randengel

Cipra Nemeth

Cipra Nemeth is a dedicated advocate for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. She believes that dialogue, empathy, and practical cooperation are essential to achieving a just and lasting resolution. With close friendships in both the West Bank and Gaza, she sees the current situation as morally untenable and unsustainable. She maintains that there is no military solution—only honest dialogue, mutual respect, and accountability can pave the way to lasting peace.

Steven Hutchinson

Professor Steven Hutchinson received his doctorate in Comparative Literature from the University of Chicago and teaches at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He has dedicated much of his career to studying the complex intersections of cultures, religions, and identities in the early modern Mediterranean world. His research explores themes such as slavery, captivity, conversion, mutual understanding, and conflict across boundaries—subjects that resonate deeply with contemporary struggles, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

As author of Frontier Narratives: Liminal Lives in the Early Modern Mediterranean (Manchester University Press, 2020), Hutchinson examines human encounters across frontiers of religion and culture, shedding light on how narratives of coexistence and conflict from the past can inform present-day challenges. His work highlights the historical entanglements of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and the dynamics of domination, resistance, and reconciliation that shaped their interactions.

Drawing on this deep historical and literary knowledge, Professor Hutchinson brings unique insights into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His research into the ethics of human relations, systems of value, and practices of cultural negotiation provides a framework for thinking about shared histories, contested identities, and possibilities for mutual recognition in one of the world’s most enduring conflicts.

He has lectured internationally, including in the Middle East, and his scholarship continues to engage questions of alterity, identity, and coexistence that are central to fostering dialogue and envisioning peace in Israel-Palestine.

Tony Oliver

Tony Oliver is an advocate for peace and reconciliation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He supports initiatives that encourage dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians, with a focus on creating frameworks that move beyond division toward shared solutions. Tony is a proponent of the importance of grassroots engagement, human rights, and inclusive political approaches as essential foundations for a sustainable and just peace.

Through his support of peace-oriented projects and involvement in public discussions, he contributes to building awareness of the conflict’s complexities and the urgent need for creative, cooperative alternatives. His position reflects a conviction that peace in Israel-Palestine is not only possible but vital for regional stability and development,  and to underpin overall global harmony.

Felipe Ribeiro

Felipe “Operário” Ribeiro is a paralegal policymaker Ambassador of Peace (Amb.P.), mental health psyche-social support (MHPSS) first aid paramedic Chaplain (Ch.), Peace Church Deacon (Dcn.) Justice of Peace (J.P.) Reverend (Rev.) minister clerk, Royal Academic (R.A.) of open source arts and sciences, natural and cultural heritage safeguard Ranger (Rg.), secular interfaith cultural diplomacy solidarity developer, and contemporary opera multimedia artist who has collaborated with, and was awarded by, many of the most respected international institutions and networks, such as United Nations (UN) high commissariats, in projects that saved countless lives. 
https://operarioribeiro.gitbook.io

Sue Grifin

I am a dedicated advocate for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. I have long supported initiatives that encourage dialogue, cooperation, and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians, believing that sustainable peace can only emerge through mutual respect and shared solutions.

I have engaged with civic groups, interfaith organizations, and community dialogues to highlight the human dimension of the conflict and the urgent need for creative approaches to coexistence. My work reflects a deep commitment to building bridges, promoting justice, and fostering hope for future generations in the region.

As the child of Holocaust survivors, I was taught by my mother to always fight for the underdog. I participated in the 10,000 Kite Project, a cooperative effort in which Israelis and Palestinians built and flew kites on both sides of the separation wall as a symbol of solidarity and friendship. I am also a supporter of Oasis of Peace, a joint Israeli-Palestinian school and community in Israel that teaches children the values of peace and reconciliation. Many of its graduates go on to pursue careers in peacemaking, carrying forward the vision of coexistence.

Nitzan Marinov

Nitzan Marinov has actively engaged in peacebuilding efforts through her participation in five Israeli Palestinian Confederation simulations. By taking part in these exercises, she has explored innovative frameworks for dialogue and governance that emphasize cooperation, equality, and shared responsibility between Israelis and Palestinians. Her repeated involvement reflects a deep commitment to understanding diverse perspectives and advancing peaceful, democratic solutions to one of the world’s most complex conflicts.

Chen Bram

Dr. Chen Bram is an anthropologist and educator. He is a Research Fellow at the Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Senior Lecturer at the Jerusalem Multidisciplinary College. His work explores ethnicity, collective identity, migration, and Jewish-Muslim relations.

Combining academic interests with practical applications, he has long worked as an engaged anthropologist, focusing on how anthropology can contribute to dialogue and understanding in diverse and divided societies. He conducted fieldwork in Israel, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and among Jewish and Muslim immigrants in NYC. His current research focuses on “mixed” Jewish–Arab cities in Israel.

Through research and teaching, Dr. Bram engages with questions central to Israeli- Palestinian relations, examining possibilities of reducing enmity and developing shared local identity as a basis for everyday cooperation and reconciliation. His work also explores examples of inter-group cultural intimacy between Jews and Muslims that may serve as models for future cooperation. Recently, he co-organized a conference and dialogue workshop with Israeli Jews, Palestinians, and Germans, in cooperation with the Institute of Jewish Studies and the University of Heidelberg.

By combining scholarship with education, he works to foster critical reflection and collaborative approaches that support a shared future between Israelis and Palestinians.

Jim Berger

Jim Berger is a committed advocate for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He has supported initiatives that bring together Israelis and Palestinians in dialogue, cooperation, and shared problem-solving, believing that mutual recognition and respect are essential foundations for peace. Through his engagement with civic groups, interfaith efforts, and community-based initiatives, Berger emphasizes the human dimension of the conflict and the possibility of building trust across divides. His work reflects a deep conviction that peace is not only possible but necessary for the security, dignity, and prosperity of all people in the region.

Martin MacKinnon

Martin MacKinnon is a dedicated advocate for peace and dialogue in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Based in Nova Scotia, Canada, Martin has engaged with international peace initiatives and community programs aimed at fostering understanding, cooperation, and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. He emphasizes the importance of inclusive dialogue, mutual respect, and shared solutions as the foundation for sustainable peace in the region. Through his work, Martin seeks to bridge divides and promote awareness of the human dimensions of the conflict, encouraging constructive engagement from communities across the globe.

Peter Nestler

Peter Nestler has been a thoughtful voice for justice, reconciliation, and nonviolence in the context of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Deeply committed to the values of human dignity and equality, he has engaged with initiatives that promote dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperative solutions between Israelis and Palestinians.

Nestler believes that sustainable peace must be built on empathy and respect for the legitimate rights and aspirations of both peoples. Through his involvement with peace-centered organizations and public advocacy, he has sought to amplify calls for coexistence and to encourage constructive engagement across divides.

Avigdor Finkelstein

By profession, I am a computer software programmer, designer, and problem solver. Since 2015, I- have been reflecting on possible solutions to the difficult situation between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. I believe that an agreement based on two states, built on trust and respect, can be achieved.

The events of October 7, 2023, and Israel’s reaction—which was driven more by rage than by strategy—have made this vision more challenging. Yet, I believe the idea of the Israeli Palestinian Confederation offers a path forward. It seeks to bypass the limitations of traditional diplomacy by bringing both peoples into direct negotiation.

I am deeply committed to advancing peace, dialogue, and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. Rooted in a belief in coexistence and mutual respect, I support initiatives that foster cooperation across political and cultural divides. Over the years, I have engaged in civic forums, educational programs, and community dialogue projects that emphasize empathy and shared responsibility as the foundation for sustainable peace. For me, the goal is clear: to help build trust, promote equality, and envision a future where both peoples can live in security and dignity.

Gottfried Hutter

Gottfried Hutter is a theologian, author, and peace advocate who has devoted much of his work to fostering reconciliation in conflict regions, particularly in the Middle East. Drawing on his background in Catholic theology, psychotherapy, and intercultural dialogue, he has worked to create frameworks that emphasize forgiveness, mutual recognition, and the transformative power of spiritual understanding.

Hutter’s engagement with the Israeli–Palestinian conflict reflects his conviction that genuine peace requires both peoples to acknowledge one another’s historical traumas and aspirations. In his writings, including Honorable Peace: How Can Lasting Peace Be Secured between the Sunni and the Shi‘a, between the West and Islam?, he proposes approaches rooted in respect, empathy, and a shared future.

Through his scholarship and dialogue efforts, Gottfried Hutter continues to contribute to the vision of peace between Israelis and Palestinians, believing that sustainable coexistence is possible when both communities embrace reconciliation as a sacred and moral path forward.

Anna Factor

Anna Factor is a committed advocate for peace and reconciliation in Israel and Palestine. She participated in many IPC simulations and supports the IPC constitution.  She has been deeply engaged in dialogue for many years and went to Israel with Professor David Bohm and others in the late ‘80s to introduce dialogue to different groups.  She supports initiatives that bring together Israelis and Palestinians to explore pathways of cooperation, understanding and mutual respect. 

Helena Marie Dobay

Helena Marie Dobay is a dedicated advocate for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, with a focus on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. She supports initiatives that foster dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians, emphasizing solutions that uphold dignity and justice for both peoples.

Helena holds a master’s degree in French and a bachelor’s degree in French and International Studies. She is active in international affairs organizations, including the World Affairs Council.

Dianne Roe

Dianne Roe spent fourteen years in Hebron–Al Khalil with Christian Peacemaker Teams (1995–2009), where she bore witness to the deepening realities of the occupation. During this time, she saw the effects of land confiscation, home demolitions, and settler violence that followed the Oslo Accords, as well as the intensified brutality of the second intifada, marked by curfews, closures, home invasions, detentions, and ethnic cleansing.

Amid these challenges, Dianne drew inspiration from grassroots initiatives such as Ta’ayush, Breaking the Silence, ICAHD, and the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), which brought together Israelis, Palestinians, and internationals to model cooperation and hope. In 2002–2003, at the height of the second intifada, she painted a mural in Ibillin, reflecting both the pain of the conflict and the resilience of those pursuing another path.

Looking at the present, Dianne sees the devastation in Gaza and the continuing displacement in the West Bank as surpassing what she could have imagined twenty years ago. While she no longer believes a two-state solution is viable, she is grateful for the work of the Israeli Palestinian Confederation in exploring the possibilities of a shared future in one state. For her, the greatest obstacle remains the actions and inactions of her own country, the United States—a reality that she regards as both her deepest disappointment and her greatest shame.

Odile Hugonot Haber

Odile Hugonot Haber is an active member of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Middle East Committee, where she works to advance dialogue, justice, and reconciliation in the Israeli–Palestinian context. Through her engagement, she emphasizes the role of women’s voices in peacebuilding and the necessity of empathy, cooperation, and human rights as the foundation for a just resolution to the conflict. Odile’s commitment reflects her long-standing belief that grassroots activism and international solidarity are essential to ending cycles of violence and building a shared future for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Victor Silverman

Victor Silverman’s career spans history, film, and politics. Winner of many prestigious grants, awards, and fellowships, he is a scholar, director, producer, and writer. An Emmy-award winning filmmaker, he is also an internationally recognized expert in the history of US foreign relations and international institutions. Professor Silverman holds a PhD from UC Berkeley and is Emeritus Professor at Pomona College.  Most recently he was the García Robles/Fulbright Chair at ITAM in Mexico City.

Austin Ganny

Austin Ganny is an advocate for peace and mutual understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. He supports initiatives that encourage dialogue, cooperation, and creative solutions, believing that reconciliation in the region is essential not only for those who live there but also for global stability and peace.

Gerard De Zeeuw

Gerard de Zeeuw is an emeritus professor of the University of Amsterdam. He has specialised in academic research methodology in areas like systems thinking, decision theory and cybernetics that focus on human agency. His work emphasizes cooperation, conflict resolution, and the design of social systems that enable constructive human interaction. With a background in the social sciences, mathematics and statistics, he has long been engaged in exploring how complex problems can be addressed through collaborative structures and innovative governance.

As applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, de Zeeuw’s perspective highlights the importance of frameworks that allow two or more people or peoples to work together while maintaining their distinct identities. His approach emphasizes dialogue, mutual recognition, and participatory structures that can transform deep divisions into opportunities for cooperation.

Through his academic work and public engagement, de Zeeuw has contributed to international conversations on how systems thinking and collaborative design can open new possibilities for peace, justice, and sustainable coexistence, for example in Israel-Palestine.

Sue Grifin

I am a dedicated advocate for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. I have long supported initiatives that encourage dialogue, cooperation, and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians, believing that sustainable peace can only emerge through mutual respect and shared solutions.

I have engaged with civic groups, interfaith organizations, and community dialogues to highlight the human dimension of the conflict and the urgent need for creative approaches to coexistence. My work reflects a deep commitment to building bridges, promoting justice, and fostering hope for future generations in the region.

As the child of Holocaust survivors, I was taught by my mother to always fight for the underdog. I participated in the 10,000 Kite Project, a cooperative effort in which Israelis and Palestinians built and flew kites on both sides of the separation wall as a symbol of solidarity and friendship. I am also a supporter of Oasis of Peace, a joint Israeli-Palestinian school and community in Israel that teaches children the values of peace and reconciliation. Many of its graduates go on to pursue careers in peacemaking, carrying forward the vision of coexistence.

Edwin Thomasson

Edwin Thomasson is a principled advocate for justice, peace, and transformative change in the Israeli-Palestinian context. With an activism rooted in a refusal to accept the status quo of occupation, dispossession, and mutual dehumanization, where communities lose sight of each other’s humanity through cycles of separation, misery, and misunderstanding. Peace is not merely a passive ideal, but a radical act of courage and empathy, one that calls for dismantling oppressive frameworks such as systems of inequality and barriers to understanding. This means building new models of coexistence grounded in dignity, equity, and mutual recognition, fostering inclusive dialogue and supporting collaborative initiatives that value every person’s voice. This is the single most important issue of our time.

Rob Cambell

I am dedicated to peace and justice in Israel and Palestine.  I do not come with lofty political or peace studies credentials, but I am filled with hope and a belief that the country can, and will, flourish in a unique way, celebrating the rich cultures of all its people.  I long for an Israel/Palestine where the words “other” and “them”, and defining “sides” is meaningless.

My hope is rooted in my faith in Christ and His Kingdom that transcends national and religious boundaries. Seeing that hope fulfilled in Israel/Palestine requires not just prayer, but also courage, practical action and creative solutions – moving beyond cycles of violence and polarisation toward a future built on a shared pride.

Since December 2024, I have attended many IPC simulations. These experiences have given me the chance to see how the IPC could play an important role in the practicalities of moving forward – one that is driven by the Palestinian and Israeli people themselves rather than an interfering and self-serving external party.  It will not be easy, and indeed over the past ten months I have witnessed participants raise valid and challenging questions about the practicality of certain aspects of the IPC model.  This in itself is positive and as the world landscape continues to evolves rapidly, I am confident that a future version of the IPC could provide a practical space for a groundswell of local leadership to develop.

The IPC simulations allow the participants to explore how such a democratic governing body might operate, focussing on the practicalities of re-construction alongside the current leadership structures.

Other mechanisms will also be necessary, not least of all a body/process along the lines of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), but they will complement each other in the task ahead. 

Gay Trachsel

Gay Trachsel is a passionate supporter of peace and human connection between Israelis and Palestinians. Believing that both peoples share a deep longing for safety, dignity, and belonging, Gay promotes dialogue, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving as essential tools for reconciliation. She supports efforts that seek to bridge divides and create frameworks for equality and coexistence. Guided by compassion and a commitment to justice, Gay envisions a future where Israelis and Palestinians can thrive together in mutual respect and shared purpose.

Dan Tennant-Ralphs

Spain-based Dan Tennant-Ralphs is a committed advocate for peace, justice, and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. Believing that dialogue and mutual recognition are essential to ending decades of division, Dan supports initiatives that bring people from both sides together to build trust and cooperation. He emphasises the importance of empathy, equality, and shared governance as the foundation for a sustainable peace. Guided by a vision of coexistence, Dan works to promote understanding and inspire a future in which Israelis and Palestinians can live together with dignity, freedom, and mutual respect. He is the curator of a popular list of narratives promoting harmony in the arts: https://letterboxd.com/danito1987/list/israel-palestine-salaam-shalom-peace.