Multaqa-Mifgash

Arab-Jewish Cultural Community Center

NCF believes that meeting the people at the heart of the debate face-to-face is an invaluable experience towards changing the way people think and dispelling myths and prejudices. Thus, in 2006, we opened the Multaqa-Mifgash Centre for Arab-Jewish Understanding in Be’er-Sheva. ‘Multaqa’ and ‘Mifgash’ mean ‘meeting’ in Arabic and Hebrew respectively and is thus reflective of the Centre’s purpose of bringing communities together.  It serves as a neutral meeting space for joint Arab-Jewish cultural, educational and political activities that encourage interaction and dialogue among the Jewish and Arab communities in the Negev.  Through a variety of activities we provide opportunities for Jews and Arabs to come together in meaningful ways. The Centre is the first of its kind south of Tel-Aviv and today there are no more than three other places like it in Israel.

Multaqa-Mifgash Activities during 2017

14 February | Students meeting at BGU about Umm al-Hiran and the unrecognized villages with Raed and Maryam Abu Alqian, residents of the village.

22 March | The women’s body and the medical arena – a lecture by Dr. Adi Moreno for the International Women’s Day.

29 March | Land Day – Panel with Dr. Thabet Abu Rass and Att. Shahda Ibn Bari about the policy of lands and planning in the Arab communities.

19 April | Documentation of demonstrations and protest events workshop in cooperation with ACRI and Shatil.

26 April | Focus on Syria – Lecture by Elizabeth Tsurkov from The Forum for Regional Thinking.

3 May | Beershebian Workers’ Day – Screening of “Seamen’s Strike” and a talk with Assaf Bondy from “Koach La Ovdim”.

22 May | Freedom of protest and the right for demonstration workshop in cooperation with ACRI and HRDF.

8 June | NCF’s annual Arab-Jewish Ramadan Iftar (break fast) dinner.

19 June | Launching anthology about 50 years of occupation edited by Dr. Yishai Menuhin, and a panel with the writers. 

26 July | Barak Cohen, political activist leading the protest against bankers, talking about freedom of speech, protest against oppressors and joint struggles

14 August | Summer movies on the Multaqa-Mifgash roof: Junction 48

21 August | Summer movies on the Multaqa-Mifgash roof: Personal Affairs

28 August | Summer movies on the Multaqa-Mifgash roof: In Between

16 October | On fascism in Israel – lecture by  Dr. Ofer Kassif on the origins of fascism in 19th century Europe and how they relate to present day Israel

13 November | Israel arms industry – talk with “Hamushim” and attorney Itay Mack about the Israeli arms industry and its connection to violations of human rights around the world

20 November | 50 years to Che Guevara’s death – talk with Dr. Efraim Davidi about the man who has become symbol for revolution

4 December | The hearing impaired Bedouin community – lecture for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

11 December | Talking about nothing – meeting between groups and people in order to promote Arab-Jewish partnership

The Multaqa-Mifgash Activities in Previous Years: 

• Description of Multaqa-Mifgash activities during 2016
• Description of Multaqa-Mifgash activities during 2015
• Description of Multaqa-Mifgash activities during 2014
• Description of Multaqa-Mifgash activities during 2013
• Description of Multaqa-Mifgash activities during 2012
• Description of Multaqa-Mifgash activities during 2011
• Description of Multaqa-Mifgash activities during 2010
• Description of Multaqa-Mifgash activities during 2009