Lloyd George 6
Jerusalem 9311006
Israel
- International/Cultural relations
- Media
- Research
Mission
Despite Israel’s attainment of military superiority over its enemies, the predominant sensibility among Israelis is one of vulnerability. This state of mind precludes for many of them the possibility of imagining a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Steered by its fears, Israel is unable to translate its military might into diplomatic achievements.
To allay the Israeli public’s anxieties, there is a need to present Arabs and Muslims from a different vantage point – one that is more professional and empathetic. Therefore, a group of Middle East scholars, journalists, and activists, set out to tell the story from a different perspective, one that presents the inhabitants of the Middle East as human beings operating in complex environments, and not merely as one-dimensional enemies.
This approach brings to the fore a “civil narrative” of the region. It speaks of women's struggles to attain civil and political rights; Arabs who lay down their lives to attain democracies; and Middle Eastern economic and cultural dynamics. Once the Arabs’ humanity is brought to the fore, it is possible to alleviate fears and identify diplomatic opportunities that can alter Israel's relations with its neighbors
FORTH works on two platforms: a website and a community outreach program. The Forum includes a singularly diversified group of writers: academics, social activists, Arab intellectuals, and retired IDF and security researchers. Out of this pool of writers, we send lecturers to speak in front of target audiences, including pre-military leadership academies
1. The Forum experts can lecture to groups and individuals
2. Participating in round-tables and sessions on the Middle East and Israelis-Palestinians relations
3. Participating in multi-national and multi-caltural sessions and conferences
4. Providing the Israeli audiences with in-depth knowledge on the Middle East
we believe participating with ALF activities can enrich our work. ALF is known by its ability to network people and organizations and we want to be part of it.