The Federal Forum is a project of Challenge
Who We Are
We are activists, professionals & scholars, Israelis and Palestinians, committed to our peoples and to the search for a formula that will lead us all out of the conflict and the suffering and into a reality of mutual respect, fulfillment the basic needs and rights for all, and building a better future for the next generations
About the Project
The stagnation of the Peace Process, 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 we have gathered together Israeli and Palestinian activists, scholars, professionals and practitioners, who have been independently developing their own federal ideas and models. Some of them do so on a personal level while others have established their own organisations[1].
As of August 2022 the Federal Forum has gathered half a dozen unique models which are being discussed and developed jointly. We are also aware of a few other initiatives, and we are in the process of engaging with them in the hope they will join us in the near future. Despite some differences in our members’ approaches, the more we learn, analyse and deal with the substantive issues of the conflict, the more we realise the amazing potential a well-designed federal proposal will offer us all.
[1] Among them the: “Federation Movement”, “Abrahamic Movement”, “Federation of Israel-Palestine”, “Eretz-Ard”, “Youth Education Development Forum Association”, and others.
Vision
Mission
The Federal Forum will discuss, learn, develop, and promote constructive ideas to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within a new Federal Paradigm.
Federal Forum Guiding Principles:
- Federalism [1] is the optimal system of government for a just, sustainable, equitable and democratic resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- The whole land, between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean Sea, is inhabited by diverse cultural communities, including two main national groups, the Israeli Jewish and Palestinian Arab peoples.
- A federal solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict enables both of the national groups to enjoy self-determination, autonomy and cooperation, with the benefit of interdependent economies.
- Both nations hold a deep and unbreakable connection to the whole land. Both see it as their ancestral historical, cultural, religious, and national homeland.
- Both national groups should be able to implement their right of self-determination within one shared historical, religious, and cultural homeland.
- We understand that in reality both nations are increasingly interconnected and intertwined economically, in terms of infrastructure and ecosystems.
- Both nations include diverse ethnic, cultural and religious communities. In a federal framework these diverse communities throughout the land can enrich each other and can benefit from cooperation, while preserving their distinct identities.
- We are searching for a creative paradigm to design a win-win solution for the benefit of all that finds a balance between our needs for autonomy, cooperation, connection and shared responsibility for the land.
- Federalism will recognize and protect minority cultures, providing equal opportunities and security for all.
- In order to sustain the resulting Federal Framework, we seek to acknowledge both peoples’ struggles and build a shared future founded on trust, justice and reconciliation.
The goals of the Federal Forum are to:
- Provide collaborative support and generate collaborative synergy among all interested in this innovative path.
- Enhance public awareness of the possibility of a creative alternative to bring better results than the well-known current formulas, for the benefit of all.
- Promote practical steps to transform reality on the ground and improve the life of individuals and groups while waiting for a top-down systemic transformation.