Musalaha — May 2023 Update

Musalaha is a faith-based organization that teaches, trains and facilitates reconciliation, mainly between Israelis and Palestinians from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, but also international groups, based on biblical principles of peace, tolerance, and love. We recently received news about Musalaha from Executive Director Daniel Munayer:

Equipped with courage and strong faith in our reconciliation mission, the entire team has prospered in transforming 343 Israelis and Palestinians across the Land in 2022. Musalaha bridges antagonism through faith and by finding each other in joint, meaningful encounters.

As 2022 marked my first year as Executive Director of Musalaha, I am grateful for impactful advocacy opportunities that allowed me to unpack Musalaha’s approach to reconciliation at the United Nations Security Council and by the U.S. Secretary of State. I was beyond honored to be the first Palestinian preacher at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Growth and innovation cannot prosper without self-reflection. Therefore, Musalaha remodeled its organizational and strategic core. Our advocacy strategies are moving towards challenging the status quo and systematic injustices by mobilizing action. In 2022, Musalaha created civil society leader groups for outreach purposes and guided young adults and women in Bethlehem and Zebabdeh toward leadership and change. In total, Musalaha facilitated two Desert Encounters, 30 Reconciliation Workshops, 12 Outreaches, and two young adult trips to Belgium and Denmark.

Moreover, in 2022 Musalaha inaugurated its new reconciliation center in Bethlehem. Henceforth, our new space has been bursting with life, love, and knowledge as several Christian and Muslim Palestinian youth, women, and civil society leaders frequently encounter one another.

In order to reconcile individuals and communities toward peace and justice, Musalaha continues to engage in restoring relationships, addressing narratives, and challenging identities. In April 2023, a group of brave Israeli and Palestinian women embarked on an intense and, at times, confrontational journey toward reconciliation and peacebuilding. The Desert Encounter forged intimate connections and companionship through faith-based conversations and curriculum workshops.

Our reconciliation methodology continues to appeal to international audiences and has been a driving factor behind a new strategic partnership. Musalaha’s curriculum is celebrated widely for its academic and pragmatic excellence. The entire curriculum will be digitalized into an online learning platform this coming year.

Carrying on our mission toward reconciliation begins at home. We have expanded our team with international interns from Norway, China, the U.S., Denmark, and Canada. We also added two new members to our team.

Wasim Nasser earned his degrees in Psychology, International Studies, and Peace and Conflict Management from Haifa University. He is a well-rounded professional with an extensive background in the public and private sectors, which helps him flourish as he works with Musalaha. Wasim is Musalaha’s Programs Director and is heading the civil society leaders project by Salim’s side.

Maaike Machiels complemented her master’s in law with Conflict Resolution and International Relations studies in Tel Aviv. Living in Jerusalem since 2020, she completed her internship at Musalaha before assuming the position of Organizational Developer and Project Manager at the Musalaha Academy. Wearing two hats, she contributes to fundraising and digitalizing Musalaha’s curriculum.

We pray that all those collaborating with Musalaha find their rootedness, purpose, and sense of belonging in our work. May their journey with Musalaha continue to fulfill reconciliation and justice in the Land, and for all its people.

We thank God for Salim Munayer’s constant spiritual investment and wisdom as he assists us in our discernment for future direction.

Please join us in praying for Israeli and Palestinian participants living under increasingly oppressive authorities. May they find empathy and compassion for one another and may God guide them to Musalaha.