About the Fellowship

Fellows learn about the American Jewish community and gain skills for sharing their stories and experiences. Educational programs with IATF Speaker Fellows are designed to foster honest exchange, mutual learning, and meaningful engagement. Upon completion, Fellows become part of an IATF Speakers Bureau.

The IATF Speaker Fellowship is generously supported by the One8 Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, and Edmond de Rothschild Foundation (IL).

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Speakers Bureau

In Your Community

Are you looking to bring the perspectives of next-generation Arab/Palestinian leadership to your conference, event, or training? Work with IATF to develop an in-person program.

Virtual Programs

Connect through Zoom. Virtual programs enable you to bring voices from Arab society in Israel into online courses and programs, and when flying in a speaker or travel to Israel isn’t possible.

Connect in Israel

Fellows can can meet groups in Israel for contextualized and in-person learning on the ground.

Meet the Fellows

The inaugural cohort of the IATF Speakers Fellowship includes seven Arab/Palestinian citizens of Israel with rich experiences in journalism, higher education, art and culture, civil society, economic development, and high-tech.

2023/24 Cohort
Basel Khalaila

Senior Editor and Writer for TV Journalism

Basel is a Senior Editor and Writer for TV journalism programs at the Public Broadcasting Corporation. His career includes a notable stint as Chief of Staff, Spokesperson, and Adviser to MK Dr. Yousef Jabareen in the Knesset from 2017-2021.

As an undergraduate student at Haifa University, Basel was elected Chairman of a student movement. In this role, he led several campaigns advocating for the rights of Arab students. Among his significant contributions was his leadership during the “Coalition of Direct Employment” campaign, which successfully transitioned the university’s janitorial staff to direct employment in May 2018. Basel holds a BA in Political Science & Sociology from Haifa University and an MA in Public Policy from Tel Aviv University. Basel lives in Majd Al-Kurum village, an Arab Village in the Galilee.

Camellia Darawsha

Diversity Officer, Tel Aviv University

Camellia is the Diversity Officer at the Equity, Diversity and Community Commission, Office of the Vice President, Tel Aviv University. In this capacity, she works on designing and implementing policies to promote equity, diversity and partnership in the academic institution. In addition to directing the “Faculty Diversity Forum” and accompanying academic units, she is responsible for the “Shared Space” Project on campus, aiming to increase a sense of belonging among diverse groups.

She has years of experience promoting diversity and multiculturalism within Israeli society, as well as extensive academic knowledge in this field with an emphasis on ethnic groups. Camellia worked for three years as Prof. Amal Jamal’s research assistant in the Faculty of Social Sciences, the School of Political Science, government and International Affairs, focusing on culture and minority groups. She was the administrative director of the Walter Lebach Institute for the Study
of Arab-Jewish Relations at Tel Aviv University. She previously worked as a career coordinator for the Palestinian Arab students at the Career Development Center, Dean of Students Office. Camellia has a master’s degree in literature and American studies from Tel Aviv University. She lives in Jaffa, Israel, with her husband and she is a devoted stray-cats feeder.

Fadi Far

Consultant, Tel Aviv Museum of Art

Fadi contributes to the cultural enrichment of Arab society as a strategy consultant at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. In this role, he leads efforts to make the museum more accessible and relevant to the Arab community. Fadi’s passion for art and its social impact has driven him to pursue studies in art curation at the Shenkar College of Arts, Engineering, and Design. Previously, Fadi was a Strategy Consultant at TASC Consulting and Capital, where he played a pivotal role in the implementation and oversight of Government Resolution 550 (GR-550), the Ministry for Social Equality’s 30 billion NIS Plan for Socioeconomic Development in Arab Society in Israel (“Takadum”). He collaborated with ministries and local authorities to address barriers faced by Arabs in Israel. Fadi is also a certified writer for Wikipedia, teaches communications skills, and previously volunteered with the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers community. Fadi holds a B.Sc. degree in Linguistics and Biology (Neuroscience Focus) from Tel Aviv University.

Hasan Haj

Educator, Mazmichim and Beit HaGefen

Hasan is an educator at Matzmichim, the Israeli Violence Reduction Organization. In this role, he delivers courses for teachers and runs workshops to make the classroom a more comfortable place for everyone. Hasan also works as an educational program partner, guest speaker, and guide for Beit HaGefen, a Jewish-Arab multicultural center in Haifa. He guides and mentors teenagers, educators and visitors, including workshops on living together, art, and tours of Haifa. As a mental performance coach for athletes, he lectures at a certifying mental performance course for the Arabic society and train athletes on the mental aspects to improving performance. Hasan is also the host of The Youth Parliament, a TV show dedicated to exploring issues and topics relevant to Arab youth.

Previously Hasan worked as a financial data analyst at Thomson Reuters and has 12 years of experience in the financial world. Hasan graduated from Haifa University with a BA in psychology and statistics. He holds an MA in educational leadership from UCLAN University in Cyprus and an MA in Blockchain and Digital currencies from University of Nicosia. Hasan was born and raised in Nahef village in the northern Galilee and for the last 3 years he is married and living in Haifa.

Khitam Abu Bader

Program Development, Ma’oz South Initiative

Khitam is a member of the team establishing Ma’oz Darom South. She’s responsible for developing and implementing strategic initiatives aimed at fostering regional development in the Negev. Her role includes collaborating with local leaders, identifying key opportunities for growth, and driving projects that empower communities and promote sustainable development in the region.

She is the former Director of the Raidat Leadership Program for Women at Desert Stars, a nonprofit organization for Bedouin leadership. Over the last decade, Khitam has held various positions in the informal education field. Khitam’s work included promoting youth leadership in Negev Bedouin society; directing the Youth and Young Adult Department at the Rahat Community Center; and developing and running leadership and social action programs for youth in Rahat. She founded and directed the Arab sector activities of Krembo Wings, a youth movement for children and youth with and without disabilities.

Khitam holds a B.A. in Humanities and Social Sciences from Sapir Academic College and is a graduate of the Mandel Institute leadership program. She lives in the town of Lakiya in Southern Israel.

Saja Kabaha

Program Manager and Arab Tech Sector Lead, British Embassy Tel Aviv

Saja Kabaha is a program manager and Arab tech sector lead at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv. In her role, she focuses on fostering collaboration and promoting innovation, while amplifying the Arab tech sector’s influence on a global stage. Saja is passionate about championing diverse talent in the Israeli tech scene and is committed to creating opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Saja’s journey in the tech world began with her tenure at Intel. As Chief of Staff under the CEO of the Jerusalem campus, she spearheaded numerous campus-wide projects and managed diversity and inclusion efforts. Prior to this role, Saja managed Intel’s external and community outreach programs, where she supported the company’s CSR efforts and built strong connections with the community. Her contributions to Intel were recognized in 2021 when she was awarded the Global Diversity, Inclusion, and Impact Award, celebrating her impact on the company.

Beyond her professional achievements, Saja is deeply committed to economic prosperity and tech diversity through her volunteer roles. She has led initiatives for the World Economic Forum in Jerusalem, contributing to the city’s development and the tech ecosystem. Additionally, Saja is the founder and host of Seeratech, the first-of-its-kind Arab-speaking, women-led podcast tailored for Arabs interested in the hi-tech and innovation industry. Through Seeratech, she provides a platform for discussing important issues and sharing inspiring stories from the Arab tech community.

Saja earned her BA from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and lives in Barta’a, a small village in the Triangle area where she grew up. She is also a devoted cat person, sharing her home with her two beloved cats.

Nour Dassouky

Program Associate, Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues

Nour joined the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues as Program Associate in 2023. She comes from the social entrepreneurship eco-system where she founded and managed two education-related ventures, Al Hakavati and Baladi. Al Hakavati is a social venture focused on reviving Arab storytelling culture by empowering community members to tell their unique stories stemming from the Arab folklore and culture. Baladi is a social venture leveraging street stunts to
promote youth at risk. Born in Jaffa, Nour completed her education at the Academic College of Tel Aviv–Yaffo, and holds a B.A. in Government and Society and an M.A. Family Studies.

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