“Eyewitness Palestine is a transformational education program that inspires and trains participants to be accountable lifelong social justice advocates in the Palestine solidarity movement and within their own communities. ”
"Honestly," says 2014 delegate Anne Champion, "my Eyewitness Palestine delegation changed my perspective on everything." Hundreds of our delegates share similar stories of transformation and inspiration.
This is the essence of Eyewitness Palestine. Every delegation is a unique human journey. Each trip is an experiment in building transnational solidarity based on real human connections. Every experience is real, honest, heartfelt, and genuine. Since 2001, these have been the values that inform our work.
Join Eyewitness Palestine as we foster connections, build movements, and work for change. This is your journey for justice with Palestinians in Palestine.
What We Do
Eyewitness Palestine takes you on an immersive journey in Palestine so you can learn directly from Palestinian human rights defenders, community organizers, and citizens.
Every delegation is a unique and unforgettable experience. We custom-design each itinerary and constantly add new meetings and experiences but always featuring the voices of Palestinians committed to peace with justice.
You will return from your Eyewitness Palestine delegation educated, motivated, and inspired. If you are ready to jump into activism in your community, we’ll be there to help you.
Our signature Education and Advocacy Program is designed to provide skills and experiences you can leverage in your community. Since 2001, we've helped 1,300 delegates tell their story confidently and strategically!
Our Values
1.
We believe that every person deserves to live with dignity, freedom, and within an equitable society. Our delegates, and other members of Eyewitness Palestine's growing community, are extensions of this dream and vision.
2.
We believe social change happens from the ground up. Therefore, Eyewitness Palestine centers the narratives, histories, and lived experiences of Palestinians - both in Palestine and within the diaspora.
3.
We believe social change happens from within. Therefore, Eyewitness Palestine fosters shared power in decision making, and equally values the labor and gifts of each person in our community - staff, volunteers, delegates, donors, and partners.
4.
We believe that misconceptions prevalent in mainstream discourse can be effectively confronted through experience. Eyewitness Palestine delegates root their advocacy in the lived experience of Palestinians working for peace with justice.
5.
We believe in relationships and nurture our long-standing ties with communities of peace-builders, resisters to oppression, and committed activists.
6.
We believe in collective liberation. We build power at the intersections of resistance to oppression, racism and war in all its forms.
7.
We believe that self-care is essential to the Eyewitness Palestine community and to our collective liberation.
Our Journey For Justice
Eyewitness Palestine (formerly Interfaith Peace-Builders) began in 2001 as a project of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the oldest interfaith peace and justice organization in the United States. The Interfaith Peace-Builders program was created as a response to a call from Palestinian activists to begin consistently sending delegations to the region.
We became an independent not-for-profit organization in 2008. After more than 20 years and 70 delegations to Palestine/48, our work engages increasingly diverse communities in a dramatically evolving international movement. Delegates include movement activists and those brand new to the issue; pastors, imams, rabbis and other religious leaders; medical workers and artists; students and retirees; LGBTQ activists and church members.
We changed our name to Eyewitness Palestine in 2018 so that we could better serve the movement for Palestinian freedom. For the movement to grow, we must bring more people face-to-face with the realities Palestinians live with. We must build stronger connections between Palestinian activists and those of us here in North America.
We have partnered on groundbreaking delegations, including Indigenous and People of Color Delegations, African Heritage Delegations, Lawyers and Legal Scholars Delegations, Civil and Human Rights Delegations, innovative interfaith delegations, and more.
Eyewitness Palestine is not affiliated with any government, political party, or special interest group. We are funded primarily through individual donations, both large and small.
Our team
People are the heartbeat of our organization. We believe that every individual has the potential and ability to transform themselves, their community, and the world
Every person we work with - staff, board, volunteers, delegates, partners, and donors - has something to learn and something to teach. We invite you to join us!
Who we work with
With Eyewitness Palestine, the delegation itself is just the beginning of your journey.
We work with a variety of national, regional, and local organizations to who are ready to support your efforts educate your community, mobilize for justice, and help build the larger movement for Palestinian freedom.As an IFPB delegate, our networks are your networks!
We’re proud that many active members of social justice groups like the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, Jewish Voice for Peace, American Muslims for Palestine, the Movement for Black Lives, and the American Friends Service Committee, as well as many local churches, peace and justice groups, are Eyewitness Palestine delegates!
How We Are Funded
Eyewitness Palestine is a people-powered 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Since 2001, we have been supported by thousands of individual funders and foundations. Almost 2/3 of our support comes from individuals who donate at all levels - from $10 to $10,000. Our average annual contribution is $137.
Your donations subsidize about 25% of the costs for each delegate. We also provide partial scholarships to one-in-four Eyewitness Palestine delegates and grant an average of $18,000 in scholarships each year.
As a 501(c)3 charitable organization, contributions to Eyewitness Palestine are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
United States Federal Identification Number (EIN): 03-0598184
We hold the Silver Seal of Transparency from Guidestar:
We are ready to answer your questions! Ask us about Eyewitness Palestine, our values, or our funding.