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The news of the ceasefire and hostage agreement offers relief and renewed hope for an end to the suffering of the past 15 months. The ongoing captivity of the hostages, the loss of lives and homes in Gaza, the destruction and loss of lives in Israel, and the widespread trauma highlight the urgent need for this agreement to hold. 

The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies believes the region need not remain trapped in perpetual conflict. The Institute remains deeply committed to environmental peacebuilding through our academic program, research, and environmental diplomacy efforts.

On campus, faculty are preparing for the start of the spring semester with Israeli, Palestinian, and other students. At the same time, the Institute is working with Palestinian and international partners to bring desperately needed environmental and humanitarian solutions to displaced Gazan civilians in refugee camps. As we look forward ahead to the implementation of the ceasefire and hostage agreement, the Institute’s work, grounded in environmental cooperation, continues. Please read on for some recent articles and updates on the Institute’s work. The Institute continues to foster understanding, cooperation, and a lasting peace in the region.

The Arava Institute works closely with the Bedouin in the Negev to introduce environmental solutions and training to unrecognized villages and residents. Read about the Institute’s leadership work in “Pioneering Bedouin School Models Sustainable, Solar-Powered Living” in the Times of Israel.

The Institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed recently wrote about the opportunity to use climate as a tool for diplomacy. Read “Peace Through Shared Challenges: Climate Change in the Middle East” published in Common Dreams.

The Arava Institute’s work with Palestinian civil society partners to bring solar-powered, off-grid shelters to refugees in Gaza is highlighted in Jewish Philanthropy.

The New York Times article, “Ancient Seeds Revive Biblical Trees,” highlights the Arava Institute’s success in germinating a 1,000-year-old seed found in the Judean Desert. The tree, named “Sheba,” provides a fascinating link to ancient healing practices and possible modern medicinal uses.