Temple Israel Center: Arab Citizens of Israel with Ghaida Ri...

Arab citizens make up nearly 21% of Israel’s diverse population. Diverse in its own right, the Arab population consists of Muslims, Christians, Druze and Circassians. What is it like to be an Arab citizen of Israel? How often do Jewish and Arab citizens interact? What issues are priorities for Arab communities and how do they affect Israeli society at large?

On February 6th, the Temple Israel Center heard a stimulating Shabbat Dinner discussion with Ghaida Rinawie-Zoabi, Director of Injaz Center for Professional Arab Local Governance, about Arab citizens and Jewish-Arab relations in Israel and the current issues that are priorities in Arab communities and society as a whole.

Speaker bio:

Coming from a rich background of work in conflict resolution, organization development and political community activism, with special attention to women’s rights, Ms. Ghaida Rinawie-Zoabi is the founding Executive Director of Injaz Center for Professional Arab Local Governance, a post she has held since 2008. Previously, she directed the Development Unit at the National Committee for Arab Local Councils, where she coordinated the composition, writing and advocacy of the Future Vision of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel, coordinating this work with UNDP/UNOPS. Ms. Rinawie-Zoabi co-directed the Peace Education Department of IPCRI (the Israeli/ Palestinian Center for Research and Information). She is currently a board member of Women against Violence and is a member of the International Women’s Commission for peace. In a special issue published by the economic magazine The Marker at the end of 2011, Ghaida Rinawie-Zoabi was chosen as one of 100 “most influential persons in Israel”, and was described as a “social innovator.”