Event description

The N7 Initiative convened the N7 Conference on Education & Coexistence from December 5-7, 2022, in Rabat, Morocco.

The N7 Initiative, a partnership between the Atlantic Council and the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation, seeks to broaden and deepen normalization between Israel and Arab and Muslim countries. The N7 Conference on Education & Coexistence, organized with the support of the Kingdom of Morocco, brought together a select group of government and nongovernmental subject-matter experts from Israel and Arab states to produce actionable recommendations that deliver tangible benefits to their respective peoples.

The conference included both public plenary sessions and private, off-the-record breakout sessions among participants. Plenary sessions are accessible to the public below.

Public agenda

Monday, December 5, 2022

7:30 – 8:30 p.m. WEST
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. ET

Opening plenary session

Welcome remarks

Oren Eisner, President, Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation

William Wechsler, Senior Director, N7 Initiative

Keynote speaker

H.E. Andre Azoulay, Counsellor to His Majesty the King of Morocco

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

9:15 – 10:15 a.m. WEST
3:15 – 4:15 a.m. ET

Plenary session: Education to advance normalization

H.E. Dr. Ali Rashed Al Nuaimi, Member; Chairman of the Defense Affairs, Interior, & Foreign Affairs Committee, UAE Federal National Council

Dr. Dalit Atrakchi, Senior Director of Department for External Relations, Ministry of Education of Israel

Dr. Karim El Aynaoui, Executive President, Policy Center for the New South

Nagda Mansour Adam Basheer, Activist, Darfur Civil Society Forum; Human Rights and Advocacy Network for Democracy

Dr. Gawdat Bahgat, Professor, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, National Defense University

Moderator: Dr. Susan Saxton, Founding President (Fmr.), American University of Bahrain

8:00 – 8:30 p.m. WEST
2:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET

Keynote speaker

H.E. Puneet Talwar, Ambassador of the United States to the Kingdom of Morocco

Introduction: Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro, Director, N7 Initiative

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. WEST
3:00 – 3:30 a.m. ET

Plenary session: Opportunities for regional cooperation: Views from Washington

The Honorable Congressman Bradley Schneider, Representative (D-IL); Co-Chairman, Abraham Accords Congressional Caucus, United States Congress

The Honorable Congressman Michael McCaul, Representative (R-TX); Ranking Member, House Foreign Relations Committee, United States Congress

Introduction: Ambassador Marcy Grossman, Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

12:00 – 12:30 p.m. WEST
6:00 – 6:30 a.m. ET

Plenary session: Facilitating regional coexistence & interfaith dialogue

H.E. Deborah E. Lipstadt, Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, United States Department of State

Moderator: James Prince, Conference Coordinator, N7 Initiative

2:00 – 2:45 p.m. WEST
8:00 – 8:45 a.m. ET

Plenary session: Promoting education & coexistence in the Negev Forum countries

Ambassador Alona Kamm-Fisher, Chief of Mission, Israel Liaison Office, Morocco

El Mehdi Boudra, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Altantic Council; President, Association Mimouna

H.E. Ahmed Obaid Almansoori, Founder, Crossroads of Civilization Museum

Moderator: Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro, Director, N7 Initiative

Publications

MENASource

Dec 15, 2022

Cultural exchange can foster a peaceful coexistence in the Middle East

By Nureldin Satti

Cultural exchange is based on the will of individuals, groups, and nations to reach out to each other and better learn, or re-learn, to live together.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Dec 2, 2022

Morocco is building bridges to connect its youth with its Moroccan Jewish cultural heritage. Here’s how.

By El Mehdi Boudra

Morocco’s continuation of decades-long efforts to safeguard the Moroccan Jewish heritage is integral to combating extremism and hatred and fostering interreligious dialogue.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Dec 3, 2022

How an organization is promoting non-violence, tolerance, and peace in school education across the Middle East

By Marcus Sheff

The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) brings a practical approach to the field of educational research and policymaking.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Nov 22, 2022

The Sudanese Bar Association drafted a transitional constitution. How can it be improved?

By Nasredeen Abdulbari and Mutasim Ali

The initiative demonstrates the importance of professional institutions and trade unions in bringing political organizations together and restoring the democratic transformation process. However, there are key issues that require further discussion and inclusion in the draft constitution.

Africa East Africa

Photos

The N7 Conference on Education and Coexistence took place in Rabat, Morocco.

H.E. Andre Azoulay, Counsellor to His Majesty the King of Morocco welcomes participants to Rabat during Opening Remarks.

Ambassador Alona Kamm-Fisher, Chief of Mission, Israel Liaison Office, Morocco, speaks on advancing education and coexistence programming in the Negev Forum.

U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Puneet Talwar is welcomed by William Wechsler, Senior Director of the N7 Initiative.

Left to right: Ambassador Alona Kamm-Fisher, Chief of Mission, Israel Liaison Office, Morocco; El Mehdi Boudra, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Altantic Council; President, Association Mimouna; H.E. Ahmed Obaid Almansoori, Founder, Crossroads of Civilization Museum; Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro, Director, N7 Initiative

Ambassador Marcy Grossman moderates a private breakout session. Also Pictured: Oren Eisner, President of the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation

Dr. Dalit Atrakchi, Senior Director of Department for External Relations in the Ministry of Education of Israel speaks on the impact education can bring to normalization efforts.

H.E. Dr. Ali Rashed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defense Affairs, Interior, & Foreign Affairs Committee in the UAE Federal National Council, speaks to N7 Conference participants.

The N7 Initiative, a partnership between the Atlantic Council and the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation, seeks to broaden and deepen normalization between Israel and Arab and Muslim countries. It works with governments to produce actionable recommendations to deliver tangible benefits to their people.

Learn more