• Between the ages of 25-40

• Hold Israeli citizenship and currently live in Israel

• Hold a valid passport eligible for travel under the Visa Waiver Program, a U.S visa, or is eligible to apply for a U.S visa

• Works for social change in Israeli society. This can be through the civil sector, public sector, or social entrepreneurship

• Has high level proficiency in spoken English. You should be able to present and respond to questions in English for at least 15 minutes and participating in workshops in English.

• Understands the importance of meeting and talking with American Jewish communities and can navigate meeting with people with a variety of opinions and perspectives about the situation in Israel.

Who is the Task Force on Arab Citizens of Israel?  

The Task Force on Arab Citizens of Israel is a professional resource center that educates and raises awareness about Arab/Palestinian citizens of Israel in American Jewish communities. We take a nonpartisan and educational approach. With professional staff in Israel and the US, the Task Force promotes American Jewish discourse and engagement with Israel that is informed by realities affecting Arab/Palestinian citizens and Jewish-Arab relations in Israel. We also connect American Jewish leaders to civil society leaders and organizations in the field in Israel.  

What is the application process? 

1. Please submit this application form by Sunday, September 28.

2. Interview: Finalists will be invited for a 30-minute Zoom interview to take place in mid-October. You will be interviewed by a portion of the Fellowship Steering Committee, so anticipate that 4-5 people will be on the call.

3. Reference check: You will be asked to share a reference, who we may reach out to informally.

4. Selection: You will be informed if you are selected by early November and provided with additional information and a program participation agreement.

How many Fellows will be selected to participate?

For this cohort, we will have 9 Fellows. We also hope to offer this opportunity every two years.

Does this program have a political agenda? Is this an advocacy program?, Will you tell us what to say? 

The Task Force on Arab Citizens of Israel is an educational organization. We support full civil equality for Arab citizens as an integral part of Israeli democracy. Our activities support American Jewish organizations in learning about and making Arab/Palestinian citizens’ concerns part of their partnerships, investments, work, and discourse about Israel. We are committed to an educational and non-advocative approach that invites learning about different ideas, experiences, and perspectives. As Speaker Fellows, we will not tell you what to say, but we will help you figure out how to effectively share your message and ideas with American Jewish audiences so that you are most likely to be heard.  

We acknowledge that, especially during wartime, we are working in politically sensitive environments.  The Task Force prioritizes Fellows' well-being as they stretch outside their comfort zones. We will support every Fellow in finding the balance that works for them. We will not shy away from difficult topics, but will talk about them honestly and work to build trust among our cohort.

How is the program responding to the war and current political crisis? 

We are fully aware of the sensitivity, complexity, and challenge of telling your stories and speaking with groups of unfamiliar people during war time. We designed the program to create space for you to reflect on your experiences as a group and to share them. Fellows will have the ability to talk about their experiences as Arab/Palestinian citizens during the war and how it continues to impact them, their families, and communities. Part of the training will specifically focus on integrating these experiences into your personal story and building skills for communicating them effectively with diverse American Jewish audiences. We are also being extra mindful regarding social media and visibility in response to this time and we will do our best to make sure you are comfortable and included in decisions.

Will I be expected to say yes to every speaking opportunity once the professional development and travel portion of the Fellowship is complete? 

No. We understand that you will not be available each time there is an opportunity. In addition, if we invite you to a speaking engagement that would make you feel uncomfortable or that raises concerns then you can always say no. To ensure good faith on both sides and communication between Task Force programming staff and Fellowship alumni, we set an expectation that you will accept at least 60% of the time. 

How good does my English need to be? 

Fellows need to have very strong spoken English and comprehension, but do not need to be fluent. All of the training will be conducted mostly in English and all of the speaking engagements will be entirely in English. You should be able to participate in a full day of workshops in English, present for at least 15 minutes in English, and have a full conversation in English. It is perfectly okay if you need help translating specific words and phrases.  

Can I apply if I don’t have a passport? 

Unfortunately, given the backlog for passport applications and the timeline of this program, you must already have a passport to be eligible. Please be on the lookout for future opportunities. 

Israel is part of the Visa Waiver Program. Do I need anything beyond a passport?

Yes. You need travel authorization to enter the U.S. using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or a U.S. visa. The Task Force will support you in filling out the paperwork.

You will need to pay $21 to apply for ESTA or $185 to apply for a 10-year U.S. visa. You can review the difference between ESTA and a U.S. visa here.

If you are ineligible to receive ESTA or a U.S. visa for any reason, then you will be ineligible for the program. U.S. embassy in Israel’s guidance on who is ineligible to travel under the Visa Waiver Program here.

Please note that it is highly likely your social media accounts will be reviewed as part of your ESTA or U.S. visa application. Read more about how it affects ESTA here.

Can I apply if I will not be available for every date in the Fellowship curriculum?  

No. If you are selected to the Fellowship you will be expected to attend every part of the program. You have many months' notice for each date so you can plan accordingly.

Am I eligible for this program if I hold Israeli residency (ex. Jerusalemite) but am not a citizen? What if I live in the West Bank or Gaza? 

Unfortunately, not at this time. For our pilot launch of this program we are focusing exclusively on Arab citizens of Israel. However, there may be opportunities in the future. We encourage you to look through Alliance for Middle East Peace network to learn about leadership programs specifically focused on Jerusalem or cross-border work.