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Turning Hope into Action: Conversations with an Israeli and a Palestinian
March 16, 2026 | 7PM PT | Vancouver*
Join us on March 16, 2026 in Vancouver for ‘Turning Hope into Action: Conversations with an Israeli and a Palestinian’, an evening of powerful conversation and courageous leadership at a time when voices for dignity, democracy, and mutual recognition are urgently needed. This special event will bring together a Palestinian and an Israeli who are working — each in their own way — to advance nonviolence, protect civil rights, and build a shared future rooted in justice and equality.
Through personal stories and practical insight, our speakers will explore what it means to transform hope into meaningful action on the ground, and how communities here and abroad can play a constructive role in supporting peace and democratic resilience.
The event is co-presented with JSpaceCanada and Huia, and organized in collaboration with Temple Sholom. JSpaceCanada Executive Director Maytal Kowalski and NIFC Executive Director Ben Murane will moderate the discussions.
Speakers:
Ali Abu Awwad
Ali Abu Awwad is a prominent Palestinian activist for peace and for the mutual recognition of Palestinian and Israeli identities and belonging to the land. The 2023 winner of the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize and Luxembourg Peace Prize, Ali is a former prisoner of Israel who now works for nonviolence as the only path forward to freedom for both Palestinians and Israelis. He believes that identity is at the core of this conflict and central to its solution. His initiative, Huia, advances a new framework of nonviolent ideology and mutual recognition to empower grassroots Palestinian leaders and transform Palestinian, Israeli, and global engagement to be pro-solution.
Hovav Yannai
Hovav Yannai is the director of NIF’s Safeguarding Civil Rights and Democracy program. He previously served as a policy consultant at Shatil and later as director of Shatil’s Center for Policy Change. Earlier in his career, Hovav worked at the Social Guard nonprofit organization, coordinating its Knesset-related activities. He brings deep, hands-on familiarity with government and local-authority decision-making, informed by his service as a member of the Hefer Valley Regional Council. Hovav holds an MA in Interdisciplinary Democracy Studies from the Open University of Israel and a BA in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
*Attendees will be notified of the event location upon registration.