Shatil: Joint Living (Jewish Arab) Programs
Shatil: Joint Living (Jewish Arab) Programs
Joint Living: Haifa Haifa as a Model City of Joint Living aims to frame a replicable model of a shared city in which both Jewish and Arab identities are acknowledged and respected. After a comprehensive mapping of relevant organizations, activists, and neighborhood committees that could significantly contribute to and benefit from the fostering of true joint living in Haifa, the project's Jewish-Arab Steering Committee divided into task groups which are researching specific obstacles impeding shared living in the city and framing agreed-upon solutions. The Steering Committee will than consolidate the solutions into a model, publish their findings, and advocate consequent policy recommendations vis-?-vis the Municipality and other public bodies. Joint Living: Carmiel/Misgav Toward a Joint Living in the Galilee Mapping Project assesses and evaluates organizations, programs and initiatives aiming to promote Jewish-Arab co-existence and shared living in the central Galilee. By producing an accessible database of existing activities and an assessment of their impact, this project will benefit activists, funders and government agencies seeking to advance relations between the two communities in the most effective manner. Joint Living: Mixed Cities Following five years of intensive work at the local level, empowering Arab residents of Jaffa, Lod, Ramle and Acco to participate in planning and building policies and programs which affect their lives, the project will shift its focus to the national level, to the highest echelons of legislative, executive and judicial power, with a view to addressing and seeking solutions to overall planning and building issues impacting Arab and Jew alike in Israels mixed cities. In order to maximize its presence and effectiveness at the national level, the project will seek partner organizations with legal and planning expertise respectively, and build a unified strategy and strategic plan to engage the government and planning authorities in more equitable allocation of resources and planning and building rights. At the same time, the project will continue to offer consulting and support at the local level ensuring the sustainability of the local civil society infrastructure it has created and strengthened. Joint Living: Acco In the wake of the violent riots in Acco during October 2008, SHATIL and NIF has initiated a dialogue with the Prime Ministers Office with a view to putting the urgent issues of mixed cities on the governments agenda as a national priority project. Meanwhile, in order to alleviate tensions and promote joint living in Acco, Shatil and organizations it has nurtured on the scene through its Mixed Cities project and in the region through Shatil BGalil, are engaging in a number of activities and programs which will continue through 2009. These include, for example, assistance to victims offered by Mubadra the Arab-Israeli Emergency Center and the Coalition of Acco residents (formed by the Mixed Cities former Acco Field Coordinator). Also underway is the planning of a public hearing, replicating Shatils successful post-Lebanon war model, and the formation of a leadership group of local influential community leaders Arab and Jewish who will participate in a series of Shatil Conflict Transformation and Management Center-led workshops helping the participants to identify potential field resources for mobilization toward joint living; prevent processes which can lead to conflict escalation; and facilitate networking and partnership opportunities towards the goal of joint living.