News & Updates

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  June 22, 2026

  Dr. Yuval Dvir: Head of Younited School

  When he got a call in 2016 from Givat Haviva’s former executive director, asking him to build what would become the Younited international high school, Yuval Dvir didn’t hesitate. “I understood that there is something about Givat Haviva that can allow this meeting space to be different from what I saw before, and that I could generate something which allows for true, authentic, intercultural discourse and connection,” says Dvir, an educator and musician. “I moved my family next to campus, changed my entire life, and immersed myself.” For the past seven years, he has been working to strike a balance by preparing students for academic success while cultivating a deeper commitment to the world and communities around them. Despite launching the school on the eve of Covid and then leading it through years marked by war, he remains confident. “This work echoes my internal beliefs,” Dvir says. “Israeli society is split between tribes. People don’t listen to one another or understand one another because we weren’t brought up together,” he says. Younited’s aim is to create something more sustainable for both its students and Israeli society. This shared education is rare in Israel. “It’s intercultural understanding, and it’s the best thing we can do as educators in Israel today,” says Dvir.

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  June 8, 2026

  Among Partners: Givat Haviva at University of Haifa Shared Society Conference

  Givat Haviva took part in the Shared Society Conference organized by the University of Haifa Frieze Center. The June 3 event brought together representatives from academia, civil society, government, and philanthropy to discuss the challenges of building trust and social cohesion in Israeli society. One session featured Givat Haviva Director of Strategy Mohammad Darawshe in conversation with Haredi Rabbi Yosef Kaminer. The discussion focused on cooperation between academia and civil society organizations and their shared responsibility in advancing a more inclusive future. Darawshe spoke about rising social tensions in the country, observing that “Israeli society is fighting with itself.” He stressed the importance of ensuring full social and political equality for Israel’s Arab citizens “We have a big problem when even representatives of the political center exclude citizens with a certain identity—namely Arab identity—from the political process,” he said. Reflecting on Givat Haviva’s mission, Darawshe emphasized the importance of practical solutions alongside public dialogue. “Our task is not just to identify problems, but to solve them, even in the face of resistance,” he said. As an example, he highlighted Givat Haviva’s initiative to place Jewish teachers in Arab schools and Arab teachers in Jewish schools. Darawshe also pointed to common challenges faced by Arab and Haredi communities in Israel, particularly regarding social and economic inequality, and highlighted the potential for cooperation between these groups in advancing a more inclusive society.

Recent Events

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  Jun

  18

  Givat Haviva June Briefing

  A webinar briefing from the Givat Haviva campus featured Mohammad Darawshe, Director of strategy; Barak Ruben, the new Director of the Shared Art Center; Ola Najami Yousef, Director of the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace; and Yuval Dvir, Head of the Younited international high school. Each presented important updates on recent activities in their areas and plans for expansion of programs. Listen to the briefing.
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  Jan

  19

  Special Briefing: Survey of Israeli Jews, Arabs

  On Monday, January 19th, 12 pm (ET) Friends of Givat Haviva held a special briefing on the new Givat Haviva survey of Israeli Jewish and Arab citizens. The annual Givat Haviva Partnership Index provides vital insights into public opinion on critical issues affecting Jewish-Arab relations in Israel and the work of Givat Haviva. Givat Haviva CEO Michal Sella, Director of Strategy Mohammad Darawshe, and Adi Sidi, presented the survey results and discussed their implications for advancing Jewish-Arab relations in Israel. This special briefing was the first time the Givat Haviva 2026 Partnership Index was presented in English, and follows the Givat Haviva Conference for a Shared Society that took place on January 6.