Mohammad Darawshe: Building Peace as a Palestinian in Israel

Welcome to If You Were In Charge, a leadership podcast about people, power and possibilities with renowned global peace strategist Sanam Naraghi Anderlini. In each episode, we invite global thought leaders to share the radical solutions they would implement if given unlimited political and financial power. In this seventh episode, Sanam speaks with Mohammad Darawshe a leading political analyst and expert on Jewish-Arab relations inside Israel. After the conversation Sanam is joined as usual by her daughter Soleh to reflect on the conversation. Mohammad Darawshe explains the complex realities of Arab and Jewish coexistence in Israel, focusing on the challenges faced by Palestinian citizens and the pivotal role of education in shaping a shared future. The conversation examines the structural barriers within Israel’s segregated educational system, the hurdles to higher education for Palestinians, and innovative programs aimed at fostering integrated learning environments. Mohammad Darawshe sheds light on the strain recent conflicts have placed on intercommunal relationships, highlighting the systemic discrimination endured by Palestinian citizens. He advocates for empowering these communities and fostering collaboration between Jewish and Palestinian citizens to create a more equitable society. Sanam and Mohammad also explore the political and humanitarian dimensions of Palestinian support, the chilling effect of surveillance and intimidation on Arab citizens, and the need for a national dialogue and how to bring about a resolution to the Arab Israeli conflict. TIME CODE 00:00 The Reality of Coexistence in Israel 03:01 Understanding the Role of Education in Peacebuilding 05:55 The Challenges of Segregated Education 08:50 Barriers to Higher Education for Palestinian Citizens 12:09 Creating Mixed Educational Environments 15:00 Success Stories in Education and Integration 17:49 The Impact of Recent Conflicts on Relations 21:07 Navigating Discrimination and Identity 23:55 The Political Landscape and Future Aspirations 30:06 Political and Humanitarian Support for Palestinians 33:28 The Impact of Surveillance and Intimidation 35:42 Sweet and Sour Relationships: Palestinians in Israel 38:32 Envisioning a National Dialogue for Peace 42:48 Education as a Path to Change 44:46 Hope Amidst Adversity 47:11 Reflections on Discrimination and Identity 51:01 The Complexity of Palestinian Struggles 54:25 The Role of Surveillance in Daily Life CREDITS Mohammad Darawashe is a Shalom Hartman Institute faculty member and Director of Planning, Equality and Shared Society at Givat Haviva Educational Center. https://www.usfogh.org/ Enjoyed this episode? Follow If You Were In Charge wherever you listen and leave a rating to help more people find the show. Get in touch and stay connected: Email ICAN: [email protected] Sign up to the ICAN newsletter: https://icanpeacework.org/2025/03/sign-up-to-icans-newsletter/ More from us: adapodcasts.com If You Were In Charge is brought to you by ICAN, the International Civil Society Action Network. An ADA Production. And ICAN International Civil Society Action Network You can find out more information or how to get in touch following the link to our homepage -  https://shows.acast.com/if-you-were-in-charge Original Music, Little Monster Media  Executive Producer: Pearse Lynch This is an ADA Productions Keywords: Israel, Palestine, coexistence, education, peacebuilding, discrimination, identity, integration, conflict, community, Palestinian support, Israeli politics, surveillance, education, peace dialogue, discrimination, identity, humanitarian aid, hope, community engagement Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices