Agents of Peace: Ground-Level Insights from Israeli and Palestinian Peacemakers
Roundtable discussion with Israeli and Palestinian Peacemakers, in collaboration with the Peaceworks Foundation as a part of "Peace Works on Campus" Initiative
Speaker
Nidal Foqaha, Tehila WengerDate & time
Location
The event is open to Ford School/UM students, staff, and faculty.
Office Hours:
To meet with the speakers one-on-one, please email Nayab Ali at [email protected].
About the Event:
This roundtable discussion provides a unique opportunity for students to engage directly with two peacebuilders who work actively to bridge divides in one of the world’s most complex regions. The discussion will focus on both the practical challenges and the opportunities of working toward peace within a polarized landscape, as well as the skills and mindsets necessary for peacebuilding and diplomacy.
From the Speaker's Bio:
Nidal Foqaha:
Director General, Palestinian Peace Coalition
Nidal Foqaha leads a nonprofit Palestinian organization that works to promote a peaceful settlement for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state solution as envisioned in the Geneva Initiative. Foqaha has contributed to several political dialogues, including on security, borders, Jerusalem, water, and refugees, as well as reconciliation-related issues. Previously, Foqaha served as an adviser to the Palestine Liberation Organization secretary general (2003–2008) and a team member of the Palestinian-Israeli Joint Economic Committee (1999–2001), a committee in charge of dealing with economic issues as part of the economic agreements between the two sides. Foqaha co-chairs the Two-State Solution Coalition, a coalition of Palestinian and Israeli civil society organizations that promotes the two-state solution as an endgame settlement for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Tehila Wenger:
Deputy Director, The Geneva Initiative
The Geneva Initiative is a nongovernmental organization that promotes peace between Israelis and Palestinians through diplomatic, educational, and public tools. Tehila Wenger’s work at the Geneva Initiative includes organizing and facilitating joint dialogue forums for key stakeholders, managing advocacy and outreach with Israeli decision-makers and international stakeholders, and coordinating research projects on the topics of reconciliation, Jerusalem, and the two-state solution. Previously, she participated in the Dorot Fellowship in Israel (2015–16) and coordinated Jewish-Muslim dialogue initiatives as part of the Yakar Tel Aviv cultural center.
This roundtable is tailored to inspire and equip future policymakers with real-world insights into peacebuilding, resilience, and the practicalities of diplomatic work amidst conflict.
