Date: September 8, 2022

Facilitators: Rachel Hagigi and Ibrahim Agbaria

In attendance: Ronny Kauffman, Safa Younes, Nahid Sakis, Varda Maroz, Dov Caller, Adam Uri, Shlomit Zonenshein, Ahmad Balkha, Anat Levi, Yoram Gordon-Bar, Sunny Gordon-Bar, Hilit Hermon, Yael Federman.

The atmosphere was festive, and permeated with positivity and excitement, with participants eager to discuss the issues and take action.

First, Safa introduced our location, and we then took turns introducing ourselves. Then, we presented the three main goals of the Ufuq-Yaffa group, and invited participants to share their expectations.

Our goals:

1. To create a platform for local activism grounded in ideals of respectful discourse, equality, and justice.
2. To encourage initiatives that promote an egalitarian, just, and accessible society.
3. To develop collaborations between local activistic organizations dedicated to making Jaffa more egalitarian.

The following are the main aims, areas of concern, and questions voiced by members:

• Housing: advocating for public housing and its proliferation, fighting against the evacuation of protected tenants, and negotiating agreements.
• We must educate ourselves with the different levels of influence at work in Jaffa, including the different organizations and resident alliances. We aim to get in touch with local professionals, and integrate them into the program. Also, we wish to study and analyze both local and global examples of similar efforts.
• We must also examine and analyze the specific needs of different communities in Jaffa.
• Education: promoting the values of equality, justice, and cooperation, with an emphasis on the juvenile population.
• The foundation of a joint Jewish-Palestinian political social movement that will run for city council in collaboration with the “Hand in Hand” association and other relevant organizations.
• Engaging in discourse as a political and historical act.
• Acting to commemorate the memory of the historic Manshiya neighborhood that is currently being erased by the renovation of the Dolphinarium complex and HaKovshim (conquerors’) garden. In particular, we wish to change the latter’s name.
• Recruitment of additional Jaffa activists that are not SFP graduates.
• Prioritizing activistic struggles.
• Conceptualizing our vision for a shared life in Jaffa.
• Garnering a safe environment, with an emphasis on electronic vehicles.
• Caring for the interests of retirees in Jaffa.
• Do we address one issue at a time, or several?
• Exploring the possibility of using resources allocated to mixed cities in our work.

In summary:

The meeting was held in good spirits, and all attending showed a strong desire to participate in group activities.

During the session, it became clear that in order to act effectively, we need to collect more information. So, we decided that the group will act not only as a task force, but also as a think tank and research group.

We will formulate a template for an action plan that we can then fill with relevant content. The content will be determined in a concentrated discussion weekend with the members the of the group that will take place sometime between November and December 2022.

The group is open to new members, and we would be happy to see more activists join us. All are welcome to the next meeting, that will take place in Jaffa on 25.10.22.

The meeting summary was sent to all participants.