Join the UK Task Force and Givat Haviva for an exciting lunchtime discussion on the challenges and opportunities for building a shared society in Israel today. 

We will hear from Mohammad Darawshe, co-Executive Director of Givat Haviva, and Itamar Shweika, Givat Haviva executive board member, to share their experiences of working to advance civic equality and build an inclusive Israeli society. 

Givat Haviva ‘Building a Shared Society, Community by Community’ is a non-profit organization founded in 1949 as the national education centre of the Kibbutz Federation in Israel. It is dedicated to promoting mutual responsibility, civic equality and cooperation between divided groups in Israel as the foundation for building a shared future and shared society – critical elements of a sustainable and thriving Israeli democracy. To this end, Givat Haviva serves as a catalyst in activating divided communities to work together towards achieving their common goals, while engaging in a process of interaction, support and empowerment. 

Mohammad Darawshe:
Mohammad Darawshe is Co-Executive Director of the Givat Haviva Institute. Prior to his current position, Mohammad served as the Co-Executive Director of the Abraham Fund, and has occupied several senior positions at other Israeli coexistence organisations. He has lectured before the European Parliament, the NATO Defense College, the World Economic Forum and the Jewish Funders Network. He is also a recipient of the Peace and Security Award of the World Association of NGOs.

Itamar Shwika: 
Itamar is Chief Executive Director of Havatzelet, a group founded in 1967 by HaKibbutz HaArtzi – HaShomer HaTzair, as a branch for activity, involvement and influence in Israeli society. Havatzelet's goals are to promote activities in the fields of culture, education, science, sport, support new artists, assist known artists in exhibitions and projects, provide scholarships to encourage creation and for higher education, all this and more with an emphasis on encouraging the younger population and advancing it in these fields.

Havatzelet group support in educational and cultural activities at Givat Haviva, in HaShomer HaTzair movement in Israel and abroad, at Moreshet (Mordechai Anielewicz Memorial) and at Yad Ya'ari (HaShomer HaTzair institute for research and documentation). Additionally, Havatzelet supports humanitarian activities at home and abroad, as well as a variety of cultural and spiritual activities in the various sectors of Israeli society. Havatzelet group of cultural and educational institutes challenges materialism and marks out an independent and value-based path.