The village operates a program to provide humanitarian assistance - mainly, but not exclusively, medical relief - for Palestinian villagers affected by the ongoing conflict. The project is conducted by NSWAS residents on a voluntary basis and is supported by donations of money and materials from Israel and abroad.

Since the start of the second intifada in October 2000, many Palestinian villages and towns have faced a humanitarian crisis. Now, a few years later, the situation in many towns and villages remains desperate, due to high unemployment and poverty. The building of Israel’s "security barrier", the continued presence of multiple military road blocks that prevent freedom of movement to fields, jobs, schools and hospitals are factors in creating a very difficult situation, especially for the inhabitants of remote villages.

The residents of NSWAS have been organizing projects  [1] to help alleviate the suffering. We have raised money for the distribution of food and medicines and are conducting medical treatment days in towns and villages. These projects are based on voluntary work by physicians, medical personnel and others.

We wish to continue with similar treatment days in additional Palestinian towns and villages. A committee has been formed in the village to identify sources of need.

NSWAS is interested to receive monetary donations and donations in kind in order to further this work. All funds will be used to purchase essential items such as medicines and food. We will ensure that assistance is rendered to those who are in genuine need.

How to Give

Donations given to the Humanitarian Aid programme must always be specifically earmarked as such and may be made as follows:

In the USA (Tax-deductible donations)

• By donating online at:
  The American Friends of Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam
  or by check (see information on the same page)

In Germany

• Bank transfer to:
  Bruno-Hussar-Stiftung, Kt. 32012296,
  Kreissparkasse Köln, BLZ 37050299.
  IBAN: DE84 3705 0299 0032 0122 96
  SWIFT BIC: COKSDE33

In Switzerland

• Postcheckkonto: Schweizer FreundInnen von Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam : 87-99504-1

Elsewhere

• By cheque to:
  HAP Project
  c/o The Treasurer,
  Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam,
  99761 Doar Na Shimshon, Israel

• by bank transfer to:
  Neve Shalom Wahat al-Salam,
  Account No. 355000,
  Bank Hapoalim Jerusalem Main Branch No. 690
  16 King George St., Jerusalem Israel
  IBAN : IL23-0126-9000-0000-0355-000
  Swift code POALILITJLM

When sending a cheque, please send us instructions explicitly mentioning that the donation is intended for the Humanitarian Aid for Palestine Project. When arranging a bank transfer, please email us that the transfer has been made.

[1] Why does the village’s humanitarian aid programme support needy Palestinians, but not Jews who have suffered from terrorism, rocket attacks, etc?

The HAP programme is a voluntary initiative of individual members of the community, i.e. it is not a programme of the community’s Association of Educational Institutions, which is responsible for the major educational outreach of the community. Donations will not reach the programme unless specifically earmarked for it (see options above).

The programme was initiated and is carried out in order to respond to human needs that are not being handled by other agencies. While both Jews and Palestinians suffer from the ongoing conflict, the economic and humanitarian situation on the ground is not symmetrical and the infrastructure of aid-giving existing in the region is more organized on the Jewish Israeli side. For instance, a donor living abroad who wishes to give to a Jewish victim of terrorism can find at her disposal a number of well-maintained charities for that purpose. Our experience is that the same infrastructure does not sufficiently exist towards the Palestinian side, such as for Palestinian villages not far from Wahat al-Salam / Neve Shalom. Aid given to such villages demonstrates good will from the Israeli side of the fence, helps to preserve good relations in times when they are sorely tried, and encourages forces of moderation and reconciliation. Experience from other conflicts around the world has shown that the preservation of good relations at the grassroots level between people on the opposing sides contributes towards an eventual settlement.

Naturally residents of Wahat al-Salam / Neve Shalom individually give also towards Jewish charities - we simply do not help to organize donations publicly or from our web-site.