Editing Arab–Israeli peace projects (section)

== Localized co-existence efforts ==

Specific efforts and specific projects, localized and otherwise, aimed at promoting co-existence and dialogue between the two sides.

=== Olives of Peace ===
[[Olives of Peace]] is a joint Israeli-Palestinian business venture to sell olive oil. Through this project, Israelis and Palestinians have carried out joint training sessions and planning. It has also led to Palestinian oil production being enriched by Israeli components.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120905104259/http://www.kas.de/proj/home/pub/24/2/dokument_id-14899/index.html "Israel-Palestinian cooperation a decision that makes sense from the economic point of view"], Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) a political foundations in Germany for Mideast dialogue and cooperation, Oct. 26, 2008.</ref> It has produced olive oil which has been sold under the brand name "Olives of Peace."<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3378893,00.html New joint Israeli-Palestinian olive oil brand launched]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193409/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0%2C7340%2CL-3378893%2C00.html |date=March 3, 2016 }}, Ynet news, Published:  03.20.07.</ref> This is related to [[Peace Oil (UK)]] and [[Peace Oil (USA)]].

=== Neve Shalom-Wahat Al-Salam (Oasis of Peace) ===
The Israeli Jewish-Israeli Muslim Village of [[Neve Shalom – Wāħat as-Salām]] (NSWAS) means "Oasis of Peace" in Hebrew and Arabic. NSWAS provides a remarkable model of longterm coexistence. Formed in 1970 on land donated by the Roman Catholic Church, NSWAS sits between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. They organize humanitarian projects, including providing medical assistance for Palestinians.

They also run several schools, two for village and other area children, and they have a training facility called the [[School for Peace]]. The children's classes run from pre-school through Middle School and are all taught by both Muslims & Jews in their native languages. The School for Peace however is designed for adult Arabs and Jews from all over the area to learn about each other in controlled seminars run by trained Peace Facilitators.

NSWAS has had many notable visitors over the years. [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Hillary Clinton]], and many others including [[Roger Waters]] (aka [[Pink Floyd]]) who has performed several benefit concerts in the small village urging Israel to "Tear Down the WALL!"

An American branch recently incorporated under the name "American Friends of Neve Shalom" they are a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that raises funds in the US for NSWAS programs (similar support groups also exist in the EU, and elsewhere).

=== ''Hamidrasha'' Jewish-Arab Beit Midrash ===
''Hamidrasha'', a center for study and fellowship, works to address alienation, estrangement, and mutual ignorance between [[Jew]]s and [[Arab]]s. Hamidrasha is establishing an inter-cultural ''Beit Midrash'' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], "House of study"), which will serve as a basis for mutual personal and communal encounters, and for the study of cultural narratives and modern texts of both peoples. Jewish, Muslim and Christian men and women will engage in a true inter-cultural learning experience, with the goal of making a significant contribution to the ongoing dialogue between Jews and Arabs, and strengthening their reciprocal ties.

=== Green Action ===
Green Action is an Israeli non-governmental organization which advocates for environmental activism and social change,<ref>[http://www.greenprophet.com/2008/07/01/710/green-action-is-about-environmental-and-social-change Green Action is About Environmental ''and'' Social Change] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817081603/http://www.greenprophet.com/2008/07/01/710/green-action-is-about-environmental-and-social-change |date=August 17, 2009 }}, By KAREN CHERNICK, Greenprophet.com, 7/1/2008</ref> and has brought [[fair trade]] and organic Palestinian olive oil to the Israeli market.<ref>[http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/06/in_israel_a_lit_1.php Fair Trade In Israel] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505055501/http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/06/in_israel_a_lit_1.php |date=May 5, 2011 }}, By KARIN KLOOSTERMAN, Treehugger.com, 6/7/06.</ref> Avi Levi, the director, travels frequently to the West Bank to work with Palestinian farmers, helping them set up and maintain cooperatives<ref>[http://www.greenprophet.com/2008/12/10/4863/green-action-saha Green Action Events: The SAHA Project Takes Off] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722040226/http://www.greenprophet.com/2008/12/10/4863/green-action-saha |date=July 22, 2010 }}, Greenprophet.com, 12/10/2008</ref> and obtain organic and [[fair trade certification]]. The products are packaged under the SAHA label. SAHA is an acronym for Sachar Hogen, fair trade in Hebrew, and is also the Arabic word, Saha, meaning well-being or good health.<ref>[http://www.fairtrade.org.il/content/about-saha The Official Website of Green Action – SAHA Fair Trade]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Fairtrade.org.il</ref>

In addition to olive oil, the main agricultural product of Palestinians in the West Bank, Green Action also sells za'atar, dibbes, organic fruit jam, herbal infusion and pressed olives.<ref>[http://www.fairtrade.org.il/gaproduct/list The Official Website of Green Action – SAHA Fair Trade] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110922035513/http://www.fairtrade.org.il/gaproduct/list |date=September 22, 2011 }} Fairtrade.org.il</ref> The olive oil is also sold in bulk worldwide including to Australia and the US. In the US, Olive Branch Enterprises of Seattle, Washington buys Green Action in bulk and bottles it under the [[Peace Oil (United States)|Peace Oil]] label.<ref>[http://cpnn-world.org/cgi-bin/read/articlepage.cgi?ViewArticle=391 Peace Oil Lubricates Cooperation Between Israelis and Palestinians] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417012306/http://cpnn-world.org/cgi-bin/read/articlepage.cgi?ViewArticle=391 |date=April 17, 2016 }} By DAVID SOKAL, Culture of Peace News Network</ref>

[https://web.archive.org/web/20110817115807/http://www.fairtrade.org.il/ The Green Action – SAHA Fair Trade Website]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20100126142517/http://www.peaceoil.net/ Peace Oil]

=== Oseh Shalom – Sanea al-Salam Palestinian-Jewish Family Peacemakers Camp ===
From 2003 to 2007, the [[Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue Group]] partnered with [[Camp Tawonga]] over five-years to bring hundreds of adults and youth from 50 different towns in [[Palestine]] and Israel to successfully live and communicate together at the Palestinian-Jewish Family Peacemakers Camp—Oseh Shalom – Sanea al-Salam.<ref>Peacemaker Camp 2007, [http://traubman.igc.org/camp2007.htm website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422014131/http://traubman.igc.org/camp2007.htm |date=April 22, 2016 }}</ref>