Overcoming the ‘learned helplessness’ of Israelis who want change

Ahead of their first visit to Australia, a Jewish and an Arab activist tell ITTAY FLESCHER how they jointly inject hope into Israeli society.  

Ahlam Kasim Ali grew up in Kfar Tur’an, an Arab village which she describes as one of the most “quiet and peaceful villages in Israel”.

But after the last municipal elections in 2018, there was increased fighting in her village and three men were killed. Ali, who had worked as a teacher, felt she had two choices: either to step aside and say, “I don’t care, I need to focus on my career” or to be part of the solution to stop the violence.

So, she became a peacebuilder. She is now co-CEO of the Ajyal movement, an Arab youth movement engaged in leadership training, educational aid and political campaigns.

She is also involved in Tzedek Centres, a peacebuilding organisation that does professional field work, community organising and activist training, combining the local and national levels. Their particular focus is on building shared Jewish-Arab power within Israel, strengthening citizens in the periphery, particularly in mixed cities.

She hopes that many alumni from the nine cities where there are Tzedek Centres across Israel who have completed their intensive leadership courses end up running as successful candidates in the 2023 municipal elections across Israel.

 “I feel the only way to make a difference is through movements like Ajyal and Tzedek centres that make a change through empowering leaders to take action.”

Ali and fellow activist Amit Ben Ami, Partnerships Director for Tzedek Centres, are visiting Australia this month with the New Israel Fund Australia, which has recently funded the Ramle Tzedek Centre, the first Tzedek Centre in a mixed Arab-Jewish area.