“More than ever before, the noble and imaginative efforts by Neve Shalom to bring together Israelis and Arabs in an atmosphere of cooperation and friendship deserve to be encouraged.”
—Eli Wiesel, Author and Nobel Laureate
We are the American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam (“Oasis of Peace” in Hebrew and Arabic), a nonprofit organization committed to supporting Israel’s only intentional Arab-Jewish village.
Join us in our work to promote multicultural equity and secure a genuine, durable peace in the Middle East through real-world, life-changing initiatives and programs.
“If you don’t have faith, you despair, and just curse the dark. That’s not me. I want to light a candle. I want to make a difference, to change public opinion, and to influence the reality we live in.”
— Suhad Hammond Dahleh
“Every day, the Village gives us proof that building knowledge and trust is essential if we really want to reach agreement at the end of the day. It gives us proof that peace is possible.
— Rawnak Natour
“My time in the Village taught me that my job is not to blame others for having terrible eyesight, but to try to understand that they see things differently. It unequivocally changed my life.”
— Michael Sfard
“We had in mind a small village composed of inhabitants from different communities in the country. Jews, Christians, and Muslims would live there in peace, each…finding in this diversity a source of personal enrichment.”
— Father Bruno Hussar
The Village
Since its founding by Father Bruno Hussar in 1970, Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam has grown from a collection of tents and caravans into a vibrant village of more than 70 families, half Jewish and half Palestinian, all with Israeli citizenship.
Residents are committed to collective goals of equality, democracy, and peace. Living side-by-side, Villagers govern together, attend school together, work together, and play together, daily finding connections across language, culture, religion, and politics.
Our Impact
American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam gives to a range of Village activities and programs. In 2022-23, we donated a total of $510,000.
$289,000
to the Primary School
$144,000
to the School for Peace
$40,000
to the Spiritual Center and the Oasis Art Gallery
$12,000
to the Humanitarian Aid Program
$25,000
to the Nadi Youth Club
Share in Our Work
The American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam supports the Village in many different ways, from fundraising to volunteering to spreading the word. Our efforts not only ensure that their community thrives for generations to come, but that it is held up as a model for all those who are seeking to build a more just, equitable, and peaceful world.