Peace Initiatives
In an effort to build bridges of peace in the Middle East, Galilee International Management Institute has, since its inception, cooperated with Palestinian organisations and conducted numerous management and training programmes for Palestinian officials and institutes. Close to 1,200 participants from more than 90 Palestinian governmental and non-governmental offices have participated in the programmes at the institute.
February 2015
Dr. Joseph Shevel participated in the Senate Meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI), Slovenia.
Dr. Joseph Shevel and Admiral (Ret.) Shabtai Levy participated in a meeting in Ramallah, Palestine with senior Palestinian officials, planning the next steps for civilian action towards peace.
September 2014
Mrs. Shoshi Norman presented an art exhibition of two artists, aiming to promote understanding between Israelis and Palestinians. The presentation took place in the Museums for Peace at the No Gun Ri Peace Memorial Park in South Korea.
May 2014
Galilee Institute, Near East Foundation USAID launched a project that, in a duration of 3 years, aims to give to a group of 120 young participants: 60 from the Palestinian Authority and 60 from Israel, the possibility to start and develop small businesses. The project will also foster cooperation and dialogue between the participants.
October 2013
Dr. Yaroup Ajlouni, President and Mr. Mohannad Haddadeen, Logistic and Procurement Manager from the Jordan Health Aid Society (JHAS) visited Galilee Institute to discuss GIMI-JHAS cooperation to aid Syrian refugees.
Iran representative was Khatami's advisor Mr. Hadi Azimi , who expressed his dislike for the former President Ahmdinigad and his reference to Israel and the Holocaust. Attorney Azimi had a conversation with Dr. Joseph Shevel on alternatives to relations between Iran and Israel in the short and long term. According to his words, there is a significant change in Iran since the entry of the new president and Israel have to take advantage from it to make connections (indirect for now). Also present in the meeting the representative of Egypt, Dr. Aly El Samman, who was previously President Sadat's advisor and a strong supporter of peace with Israel. The representative of Iraq, Prof. Ali Allawi (who’s currently serves as a Visiting professor at Singapore University) looking for ways to develop connections with Israel. Conversations revolved mainly around the Kurdish area region in the North Country that is not participating in the violent rivalry in Baghdad and in the south. He said Israel can help the Kurdish regional with agricultural issues. Representative of Jordan, Dr. Nabil, a strong supporter of peace with Israel.
July 2011
Bridge-Building in Jordan
Pictured below: Dr. Shevel, GIMI Academic Director, Dr. Joseph Zelnick, GIMI graduate Advocate Shawkat Obeidat with Prof. Anton Mangstl, Vice President of JUST – Jordanian University of Science and Technology. They held fruitful discussions regarding cooperation in the field of environmental management.
Palestinian Cooperation with Galilee Institute
A delegation from Galilee Institute visited Hebron - in the West Bank and met with the Mayor in order to evaluate possibilities for assisting the municipality in training and educating their senior officials. The Mayor and his colleagues expressed their thanks for this initiative and welcomed our proposed cooperation. GIMI are in the process of preparing a preliminary programme and hopefully will conduct the programme during the first half of 2011.
Joint Galilee Institute's Course bringing Israeli and Palestinian Students together in Naples
Summer courses in Arts and Theatre are currently being held in Napoli, as part of the annual festival. Some of the courses are joint programmes with the Israeli Galilee International Management Institute, the Palestinian A-Najah University located in the West Bank (Nablus) and with two Italian Universities in Naples. The idea of the joint courses came up at another course with the Mediterranean University of EMUNI.
Dr. Shevel, represented the Galilee Institute, lectured on Israeli culture and folk dances. In the afternoon, he demonstrated the different dancing styles, including the famous Palestinian Debka - The meaning of "dabkeh" in Arabic is "stomping of the feet.", and is a traditional line dance, performed at weddings and other joyous occasions.
Dr. Shevel, President of Galilee Institute teaching Palestinians and Israelis traditional folk dancing.
USAID WESTBANK GAZA Visit to Galilee Institute
From Left to Right: Mr. Giora Ratz Agr., Assistant Academic Director of the Agricultural Centre, Galilee Institute, Mr. Scott Kleinberg and Representative from the Private Enterprise Office at USAID/West Bank Gaza with Dr. Nathan Tirosh, Dean and Mrs. Ruth Fishman, Academic Director of the Agricultural Centre, Galilee Institute.
May 2009
Dr. Joseph Shevel, President of Galilee Instiute, Israel with HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan at the UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in the Europe Region, They briefly discussed cooperation and joint programmes and hope to continue the discussions upon their return to the Middle East.
HRH Prince Hassan of Jordan and Dr. Shevel
December 2008
Dr. Mogli, Minister of Health of Palestine visited Galilee Institute and was present at the opening of the Institute international programmes on health management. He congratulated the participants and lectured about the health conditions in Palestine and also the peace process.
December 2008
Dr. Joseph Shevel met with the Honourable Abu Ala, the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr. Hasan Asfur, a senior Palestinian peace negotiator and MP Mr. Hamade, a member of the Palestinian Front, in order to discuss peace alternatives in South Italy. It was part of the new Mediterranean Peace Forum that was held in early December 2008 in Lecce, Italy.
With the Honourable Abu Ala
with Mr. Hasan Asfur
With MP Mr. Hamade
March 2008
Dr. Shevel was awarded a special medal for his peace-making efforts. He received this medal from the La Universidad Inca Garcilaso de la Vega in Peru, while on a visit of cooperation.
Dr. Luis Cervantes Liñana, Rector of the Universidad Inca Garcilazo de la Vega, in Peru, with Dr. Joseph Shevel, President of Galilee International Management Institute (formerly Galilee College)
November 2007
A group of prospective experts from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) attended a one-day-programme at Galilee Institute' Study Centre, on the subject of the Israeli – Palestinian peace process. This short programme was part of a comprehensive Capacity enhancement training on peace building held by JICA for prospective experts. The participants received a historical overview of the peace process by Mr. Yisrael Ne’eman, followed by an analysis of the current situation of the peace talks and future prospects, given by Mr. Moshe Elad. The last lecture of the day, by Dr. Shevel, presented the peace activities of Galilee Institute.
Prospective JICA experts with: Mr. Takeshi Naruse, JICA Resident Representative, Ms. Sachiko Ishikawa, Senior Advisor (seated) and Mr. Akihiro Iwasaki from JICA, Tel Aviv (standing, to the far right).
January 2007
Dr. Joseph Shevel met with the Archbishop of the Galilee of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church Abuna (Father) Elias Chacour, a noted author and peace activist keen to promote reconcilation. Dr. Shevel and Archbishop Chacour discussed their cooperation for the upcoming Galilee Institute' summer programme. Abuna Elias Chacour is the President and Founder of Mar Elias Educational Institute. Mar Elias College will be the Christian partner in the Galilee Institute' religious studies Summer programme entitled A Religious Mosaic in the Holy Land.
President Dr. Joseph Shevel and the Archbishop of the Galilee Abuna Elias Chacour
November 2006
Dr. Joseph Shevel President of Galilee International Management Institute (formerly Galilee College), participated in the International Conference on “Education for Peace and Democracy” IPCRI - the Israel/Palestine Centre for Research and Information. The Conference brought together peace and democracy educators, curricula writers, encounter facilitators, peace studies practitioners, conflict resolution practitioners, human rights educators, mediators, and activists from academia, research sector, governmental and community organisations and others from Israel, Palestine and beyond, with a special emphasis on other crisis regions. The conference was a tremendous opportunity for dialogue, debate and visioning with collaboration and cooperation between the body of theory and practice. The conference was a meeting ground for dialogue and mutual learning from the field of peace and democracy education from the viewpoint of academia and from the field of practioners. The conference raised critical issues and acquire new insights into the profound peace and democracy education developments in Israel, Palestine and around the world. Furthermore, the Conference provided an excellent opportunity to build connections across multi-disciplinary sectors.
October 2005
Dr. Nathan Tirosh, the College Acting Dean met in Barcelona with the management of ESADE, one of the leading Business Schools in West Europe (indeed, according to the Wall Street Journal ESADE was rated as the Best Business School in the World). The meeting included the President of ESADE, Prof. Losada, Prof. Simon Dolan, a worldwide expert on Human Resources and Ms. Tammy Whyman who is responsible for the development of the new ESADE - Galilee College programmes on senior management. The new programmes are planned for senior Palestinian mangers from private sector firms who will study during an intensive 4-week programme. The first two weeks will be held at Galilee College in Israel and the second two weeks in Barcelona at ESADE. The graduates of the programme will receive a Certificate of the two institutes.
Prof. Losada, President of ESADE together with Acting Dean Dr. Tirosh.
September 2005
A delegation of senior officials from Galilee College visited Jordan and met with Jordanian officials in order to promote cooperation. The delegation included Dr. Joseph Shevel, President of the College, Ms. Noa Abramson, Director of the programmes, Ms. Sallee Eriera, Director of the Office of Alumni and Mr. Shlomi Avitan, Attorney General of the College.
The delegation met with the Director General of the Ministry of Energy, as energy is one of the most important subjects in which the two countries need to cooperate. The delegation also visited the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan. An agreement on joint research and training was achieved. Another meeting was held with the EU delegation in Amman who supports cooperation between Middle East countries and also with the management of an NGO in the health field.
One of the Galilee College graduates hosted the delegation for a special lunch with other friends of Galilee College in Amman.
In the picture, the delegation together with Jordanian graduates and friends in Amman.
February 2005
Galilee College held the first phase of the Health Management Course for Senior Palestinian Officials at the end of February. We were delighted by the presence of Senior Management of El Shifa Hospital, The Gaza Strip. Dr. Ibraheem Habash, the Director General attended the course and gave a moving speech at the Closing Ceremony. He and his team will return for the second phase of the programme in April, 2005. The programme was received very well by the group and they are looking forward to implementing what they have learned and also to returning in April.
January 2005
Galilee College held the closing ceremony for the first phase of 2 special Training programmes on “Health Management” and “Environmental Mangement” for Palestinian officials. These programmes have been generously sponsored by the ADA - Austrian Development Agency. More than 30 Palestinians from both the West Bank and The Gaza Strip attended the courses, staying at Kibbutz Mizra for a 2 week duration - they will attend the final phase in April.
From right to left: Mr. Bassam Eid, Director of the Palestinian Human Rights Group, Dr. Joseph Shevel, President of the Galilee College, Dr. Ofer Dressler, Director Environmental Mangement Program and Ms. Sallee Eriera, Director, Alumni Relations.
Attending the ceremony were several very good friends and supporters of Galilee College; Mr. Bassam Eid, Director of the Palestinian Human Rights Group, representatives from DAI, Palestine, Mr. Daniel Bar Eli, UNESCO and Dr. Zadok Alon, from the Bank of Israel - who was presented with a special award for his commitment and devotion to the cause of Peace, the state of Israel and Galilee College. Also present, we were delighted to see several Palestinian Alumni from previous courses, who made the journey to join us for the ceremony and a festive dinner held the night before.
October 2004
A delegation from the Palestinian Authority visited the unique Ecology Garden at the “Technion”- The High indtitute of Technology in Haifa. The visit was part of the 2-weeks “International Environment Training Programme” held by Galilee College in October 2004. The programme was sponsored by JICA, the Japanese Government aid agency supporting co-existence and bilateral activities between Palestinian and Israelis. The information was published in the Technion official Alumni Bulletin November 2004.
September 2004
Galilee College together with the Palestinian Al Quds University, have opened a new joint programme on the subject of Hospital Management. The programme has been designed for Palestinian hospital directors from Gaza and the West Bank. Twenty-Eight participants came from both the Government and private Palestinian hospitals. The programme started at Al Quds study centre in Jerusalem on Wednesday, September 8th. At the opening ceremony, which took place at the Notre Dam Hotel, Dr. Hulud Dajani, Vice President of Al Quds University and the Dean of the School of Public Health emphasised how important for the future of our region, is the cooperation with Galilee College.
Dr. Joseph Shevel, President of Galilee College, blessed the participants and their courage to join the programme during these turbulent days. Dr. Shevel focused on the importance of working and studying together as a crucial part of the peace process.Dr. Aloi, the Director of the Italian Cooperation Agency that funded the programme, also praised the cooperation and accentuated the worth that his government places on such joint programmes.
The second phase of the programme will be held at Galilee College in October and will focus on the future role of Palestinian hospitals in the general Palestinian health system.
In the picture, participants at the programme together with the management of Al Quds university, School of Public Health and Galilee College and Representatives of the Italian Government.
