TalkMatters

09/09/2026

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 5767 Jewish New Year.
For those celebrating, enjoy family and friends.
Hoping for a much better world by next year!

However difficult, TalkMatters will continue to support the inspirational initiatives in Israel that bring Jewish and Arab people together through their interest in music, ecology, religion, hi-tech, sport, etc.

Come and see for yourself. Are you free 8-15 November? Oasis of Peace UK together with TalkMatters are going to Wahat al-Salam - Neve Shalom - the unique village in Israel where Jews and Arabs live in a shared equitable society. Meet the people, visit the educational institutions, travel to other cooperative initiatives in Israel. More details https://www.oasisofpeace.org.uk/Event/all-faiths-visit-to-the-village-2026

28/08/2026

This morning I had a zoom call with Bella Kovner, PhD., the Director of PeacePlayers Middle East (PPME). PPME are the only mixed Jewish Arab team in the Israeli league of basketball players.

I heard how hard life is at the moment. The pre-election atmosphere is having a huge impact on the way people think and behave. The trauma of October 7th makes encounters with the 'other' side far and few between meaning that it is difficult to recruit coaches and young people to join the team. Funding is being refused, violence and extreme ideology are rife.

Bella knows that it takes time to repair the damage and that changing the narrative from either pro-Palestinian or pro-Israeli will be slow. But she and the PeacePlayers believe that this is the right time to keep going, to demonstrate the friendships that have been built between between Jewish and Arab young people, to see people as people as not as the enemy.

As Nelson Mandela said 'Sport has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair'.

26/08/2026

Spirit of the Galilee works towards the advancement of pluralism, mutual understanding and cooperation between various denominations, religions and cultures of the region, Arabs and Jews alike.
They are invested in building a shared society here in the Galilee, as a model for the entire country, the region, and the world.

Below is a snippet from their latest newsletter, check out their full newsletter and more information by going to our Directory: https://lnkd.in/eZyXXgyp

"As the summer comes to an end, and a new academic year and Jewish New Year begin, we at Spirit of the Galilee are taking stock of what we accomplished this past year and what we have planned for the coming one.

This has been another difficult year. War, grief, fear, and violence have touched us all in the Galilee. And yet, month after month, our members gathered. We prayed together. We learned from one another. We celebrated one another’s holidays. We shared from the heart. We stood together to protest violence and marched together for peace.

Whatever we were doing, doing it together added an extra layer of meaning and purpose. And even though the tensions in Israeli Society are palpable, we are proud to say that the voice and values of SOG are getting louder. All of our programs have grown, with more and more people participating."

24/08/2026

Oasis of Peace UK represents the British Friends of Wahat al Salam~Neve Shalom - the unique community in Israel where Jewish and Arab citizens choose to live, learn and build a shared future together.

Please join Oasis of Peace UK for the 16th Annual Philip Rueff Lecture with Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

This year’s lecture, “One Land, Two States: Past, Present and Future?” will explore one of the defining questions of our time: does the Two-State Solution remain the best path towards a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians?

Drawing on decades of experience as the UK’s former Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary, Sir Malcolm Rifkind will share his perspectives on international diplomacy, leadership, and the future of the region.

Thursday 15 October 2026, 6:15pm
North-West London

Following the lecture, guests are warmly invited to a three-course dinner with w**e at a nearby restaurant. A wonderful opportunity to continue the conversation and meet fellow supporters.

Book your place via their website www.oasisofpeace.org

19/08/2026

MEET - Middle East Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow believes that young people have the power to shape a different future. Outstanding Israeli and Palestinian high school students who might otherwise never meet, work on a practical three-year program. With guidance from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s instructors and leading industry professionals, they gain skills in technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership. But more than that, the students have the opportunity to truly get to know one another, to work side by side, and to imagine what’s possible when barriers come down.

12/08/2026

Interfaith Encounter Association - building inter-communal bridges works to promote coexistence and sustainable peace using interactive interfaith dialogue as its vehicle.

The apolitical and all-inclusive approach of the organization and its activities enable the successful participation of a wide range of participants. IEA runs dozens of ongoing community groups of interfaith encounter – from the Upper Galilee to Eilat, including many groups that bring together on a regular basis Israeli Jews and Arabs.

Thus building a true grassroots movement which constitutes the human infrastructure for peace in the Holy Land.

They have just released their 2025 Annual Activity Report. To download it, go to their website.

For more information on the initiatives we support, head to our Directory at https://lnkd.in/duKA4gEs

09/08/2026

Last Sunday, we celebrated the graduation of MEET's Class of 2026, marking the end of three intensive weeks of learning, growth, and hands-on partnership, and the close of a three-year journey.

The room was full of families and friends of every student in the Class of 2026, and the atmosphere was electric. The excitement was at its peak, and our pride, and the families', soared alongside everything these students built and achieved.

There's nothing quite like standing in a room full of Palestinian and Israeli families together, celebrating their children's achievements side by side, and being reminded of what we all share: love for our children, support for them, and belief that they will grow up to succeed and build a better world.

As one of our graduating students said in their speech: "Today, if you walk into a room with the Class of 2026, you don't see Israeli tables and Palestinian tables. You just see our cohort."

This graduation also marks their official entry into the MEET alumni community, with all of its programs, and the professional and social network it has to offer.

Congratulations on everything ahead of you, and welcome to our alumni community! We're waiting eagerly to see all that you'll go on to do.

📸 Photo from the ceremony below.

06/08/2026

Help the New Israel Fund with your thoughts. I did it and it really does only take 3 minutes!

❓Could you spare three minutes for a survey?

The survey is anonymous and there are no right or wrong answers.

🔗 Take the survey (link in bio)

05/08/2026

Great highlights from PeacePlayers International about their tour to London and Belfast. Using the game of basketball to connect, train and inspire Palestinian and Israeli young people, operating under the core belief that children who play together can learn to live together.

29/07/2026

The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is a leading environmental studies and research institute in the Middle East. Located at Kibbutz Ketura in Southern Israel, the AIES houses accredited academic programs, research centers, and international cooperation initiatives focusing on a range of environmental concerns and challenges.

With a student body comprised of Jordanians, Palestinians, Israelis, and participants from around the world, the Arava Institute offers students an exceptional opportunity to learn from leading professionals while forming friendships and developing skills that enable them to lead the region and the world in solving today’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Friends of the Arava Institute Study Tour: Dual Narrative Tour.

Tour Dates: October 10-20, 2026
Optional Extension Tour (Morocco): October 20-24
Registration Deadline: August 3, 2026

At the Arava Institute, students and interns live and learn alongside peers from around the world while exploring environmental challenges and solutions in one of the most distinctive regions on Earth. Interns pursue independent projects under the mentorship of Institute researchers, while students engage in academic coursework and hands-on learning experiences.

Participants are guided by both an Israeli and a Palestinian guide, each sharing their own perspective, experiences, and connection to the places visited. Hearing these narratives side by side offers a unique opportunity to engage with the region's complexity in a thoughtful and personal way.

For many past participants, this experience has been one of the most memorable and impactful parts of the program, sparking meaningful conversations and deeper understanding long after the tour ends.

Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/g3S4xY-z

Friends of the Arava Institute, MEJDI Tours.