Jews and Arabs Together for Nature
The Israel Nature and Heritage Foundation assists the Israel Nature and Parks Authority in its work among all groups in the varied spectrum of Israel’s population, including Arabs, Druze, Christians and Bedouin. Instilling love and respect for the treasures nature, landscape and heritage is of prime importance. These issues are above dispute and form the foundation for understanding, tolerance and coexistence.
As in every country, in Israel people impact their environment and are impacted by it. When their actions are friendly toward the environment and considerate of its nature and heritage treasures, people enjoy the many benefits of the ecosystem. When their actions harm the environment or are not sustainable, the environment suffers and everyone pays a high price. Nature conservation is a subject that breaks down barriers and unites us all, without reference to our race, religion or gender.
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority’s coexistence program provides social and experiential encounters that connect Jews and Arabs in nature conservation work. The program makes it possible for children to get acquainted with their ecological environment from various perspectives and at the same time to enjoy activities that help them get to know one another. Together, Arab and Jewish students discover the treasures of nature and cooperate to lead to positive change in attitudes toward nature, making a powerful contribution to coexistence.
Goals of the program
- Creating involvement of Jews and Arabs in conservation of nature, the landscape and heritage in the immediate environment of both groups.
- Creating partnership based on getting to know plants, animals and the landscape, and encouraging participants to contribute for the benefit of nature.
- Fostering ties between Jews and Arabs and contributing to coexistence while strengthening positive behavior patterns in nature.
