Oasis of Pe ace UK, the British Friends of Neve Shalom-Wahat al-Salam, has announced the appointment of Rob Rinder MBE.

The charity supports Neve Shalom-Wahat al-Salam (NSWaS), a unique intentional community of Jewish and Palestinian-Arab citizens, located midway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Rob Rinder, a prominent advocate for peace and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians, has consistently leveraged his public platform to share messages of hope and unity.

“Oasis of Peace will always be sacred,” Rinder remarked. “Anyone who tells you that the idea of peace is impossible, especially now, cannot have possibly visited the village or seen the work that is achievable.”

Joining him as a patron is John Bowers KC, a dedicated member of the Oasis of Peace UK Lawyers’ Group. Known for his vigorous support of human rights, he currently serves as principal of Brasenose College, Oxford.

Bowers expressed his enthusiasm for the role, saying: “I am delighted to become a patron because I am committed to the work of this wonderful school for peace. Its message has never been needed more than it is now.”

Oasis of Peace UK, the British Friends of Neve Shalom-Wahat al-Salam, supports a unique community of Jewish and Palestinian-Arab citizens as well as several schools in Israel with Jewish and Palestinian-Arab pupils (Credit: Oasis of Peace UK)

Tal Arrowsmith, executive director of Oasis of Peace UK, emphasised the importance of the new patronage: “We are confident that with their support, we can continue to strengthen our work and make an even greater impact.

“It is now more important than ever to amplify Israeli civil society voices, especially those promoting a shared society between Jews and Arabs based on equality and mutual respect. John and Rob’s outstanding work and advocacy speak for themselves, and we look forward to collaborating with them both.”

The organisation aims to advance social equity and cohesion in both Israel and the United Kingdom through fundraising, awareness-raising events, and educational initiatives.

As a pioneering model for Jewish-Palestinian collaboration, NSWaS hosts six schools in Israel that embody its ethos of shared citizenship and education for peace.

The charity stood as a testament against extremism and as a symbol of equality, said its heads.