Federalism, Faith, and the Israel-Palestine Conflict

The stagnation of the Peace Process in Israel-Palestine and the evolution of a very problematic “One-state” reality on the ground are making the search for a new alternative the most interesting development of the last decade in civil society and academic circles.

In 2020, Challenge launched a new program named the “Federal Forum,” in which it has gathered together Israeli and Palestinian activists, scholars, professionals, and practitioners who have been independently developing their own federal ideas and models.

Federal models offer new possibilities for addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Regional solutions. By exploring governance structures that balance national self-determination with shared governance, such as confederations or other forms of structured partnership, can we promote security, autonomy, and cooperation between communities and lay the groundwork for sustainable peace?

This event will consider ideas in the recent Federal Forum report, “A New Federal Paradigm for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,” along with shared principles in international law and faith-based traditions that support such an approach.

Speakers

• Phil Saunders is a London-born Jew currently living in Tzur Hadassah. He serves as Chairman of Challenge, Israeli Chairman of Path of Hope and Peace, Co-founder of the Abrahamic Movement, and Co-founder of the Federal Forum.
• Naomi Tsur is a leading Israeli environmental entrepreneur who served as Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem (2008–2013). She currently heads the Israel Urban Forum and is the Founder and Chair of the Jerusalem Green Fund. She is also leading efforts to establish a consolidated Federal Lobby, laying the groundwork for a broader Federal Movement in the region.
• Rabbi Yoel Oz is the Co-founder of the Abrahamic Movement and author of “Abrahamic Federation: A Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.” He previously served as an Orthodox rabbi and educator in the Washington, DC area, and now lives with his wife and daughter in a suburb of Tel Aviv.
• Professor Elias Nasri Baboun is a Palestinian Catholic Christian political activist from Bethlehem and founder of the federal/confederal “Unity of Believers” Initiative.

Moderators: Rebecca Shoot, Executive Director, CGS, and Alyn Ware, Program Director, WFM-IGP

Co-organizers: Challenge Federal Forum Project, Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS), and World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy (WFM-IGP) Transnational Working Group on Values, Faith-Based Perspectives, and Global Governance.