NIF Australia Podcast

What is the rationale behind each of the dominant solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, who supports and opposes each, and which is most popular today?  Writer, educator and journalist in Jerusalem, Ittay Flescher, explores alternatives for the State of Israel at one of the toughest moments in the country’s history. 

As the prospect of war on a third front between Israel and Hezbollah draws closer, NIF Australia executive director Michael Chaitow interviews veteran pollster and political analyst Dr. Dahlia Scheindlin about what this might mean for peace, security and the prospects of a hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. 

Recorded live in Sydney 2 April 2024 and moderated by Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio at Emanuel Synagogue.

Avi Dabush was in his home in Kibbutz Nirim on October 7th when Hamas terrorists attacked his home. Since then, he has continued his work, tirelessly fighting for peace, justice and equality for all in Israel-Palestine. An inspirational activist and leader, Avi is the Executive Director of Rabbis for Human Rights and has worked for a variety of civil society organisations, including NIF Israel’s action-arm, Shatil.

NIF is thrilled to host Avi, to help us make sense of the path forward, following on from the horrors of October 7th, and the subsequent violence in Gaza and the West Bank. Join us to learn from Avi, and help make sense of this moment, in order to understand how we can work towards a better future for Israelis and Palestinians.

Our conversation with peace activists Maoz Inon and Hamze Awawde as we continue to reel from the events of October 7 and the subsequent violence since. 

Maoz lost his parents in the horrific attacks of October 7 and has since become a leading voice for peace in international media. Hamze is a Palestinian peace activist and conflict resolution expert, committed to leading programs that bring Jewish Israelis and Palestinians together. 

In these times of crisis the commitment to peace, justice and equality is essential in fostering a better future for Israelis and Palestinians. We are so pleased to host Maoz and Hamze as leaders paving a path of justice and peace.

The event was hosted by journalist Dina Kraft.

Over the past few weeks, it has become clear that there is a need to address the rising tensions in Australian society. NIF is proud to bring you an important conversation that promises to provide a nuanced understanding of our current reality, and the need to strengthen social cohesion during these difficult times.

Join us for an engaging discussion with Josh Burns MP and Allegra Spender MP, hosted by Geraldine Doogue.

Both Josh and Allegra provide an important lens into the local context of the past couple months in the wake of Hamas’ horrific attack on Israel and the increased violence across the region since then.

Tune in to hear how we can best respond to rising antisemitism and islamophobia, how we can maintain respect and care for all citizens and how we navigate global challenges.

You may also watch the event on our Youtube page here. 

Our conversation with Dr Yeela Raanan of the Regional Council of Unrecognised Villages (RCUV).

Donate to and learn about RCUV's work, particularly at this crucial moment, here: https://www.nif.org.au/donate

Our conversation with Dr Yasmeen Abu-Fraiha for the Jewish International Film Festival 2023, recorded November 12 2023.

Yasmeen is a young doctor, specialising in internal medicine, who is currently acting as the Executive Director of Rodaina, an NGO she founded that aims to prevent genetic diseases in the Middle East, especially in the Bedouin community. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Project Wadi Attir, Yanabia, Tamar Center, and AJEEC-NISPED, all are social projects and NGOs aiming to improve Bedouin lives in Israel, as well as the board of NIF in Israel. 

She has won several awards, including the 2007 Ramon Award for quality, leadership, and excellence, as well as the 2015 Travel Grant Award for outstanding young investigators at the 38th European Cystic Fibrosis Society conference, and was also chosen to be part of Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list. Yasmeen holds a BSc in Medical Science and an MD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and currently pursuing an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School.

For more conversations with partners on the ground during this current crisis, visit our processing website: https://www.nif.org.au/processing_23

For many years, activists have joined together across sectors to fight for land and rights for those in the occupied Palestinian territories and within Israel. This work has been made all the more challenging today, by major increases in settler violence, enabled by Israel’s most right wing government in history that only this week, continued to expand its authority to advance its “unreasonable” agenda.

In the face of these very challenges, Israelis and Palestinians continue to come together to fight back with a message of hope and peace. In the past year, Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR), launched a project to use resources and plant trees to help communities rebuild and thrive.

The project has also extended to Bedouin communities in the Negev who are consistently prevented from accessing running water and electricity and denied building permits. Working with NIF grantee, the Regional Council of Unrecognised Villages (RCUV), the project is a true testament to fighting for values of justice, equality and peace.

NIF is excited to invite you to join our conversation at this urgent time for human rights in Israel and the occupied territories.

You can watch the event here on Youtube.

It is a dramatic time in Israel. With Netanyahu’s government determined to proceed with their legislation seeking to reform Israel’s democratic infrastructure, we have witnessed Israel’s largest protest movement ever. 

This broad protest movement turned into an inspiring non-violent uprising. Hundreds of thousands of citizens woke up, stood up and shouted – demanding freedom, equality and democracy – some for the first time in their lives. Many across the globe did the same. So what is next?

Join NIF’s international leadership for a briefing at this vital time.

After two Israelis were murdered in the occupied Palestinian territories on Sunday evening, Israeli settlers rampaged through the village of Huwara, killing one Palestinian resident and injuring 98 more.

This horrific night – which news organisations including the Times of Israel and Jerusalem Post have called a ‘pogrom’ – comes amid growing violence in the West Bank, with Israel’s far-right government and Jewish supremacist ministers, as well as settlers themselves, calling for an increased Jewish presence, actively encouraging and inciting violence and approving large swathes of illegal settlements.

Join us for a briefing from activists on the ground, Shira Livne from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), Avner Gvaryahu from Breaking the Silence and Issa Amro from Youth Against Settlements, Hebron.