Neve Shalom Colony

Neve Shalom, also known as "Oasis of Peace," is a colony that was originally established as a joint Arab-Jewish village, with residents consisting of both Palestinians and Jews. It was founded in 1970 by Father Bruno Hussar and is located midway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, on land belonging to the depopulated village of Latrun in the Ramla District. The residents chose to establish a bi-national and bilingual community aimed at fostering dialogue and transforming the nature of Arab-Jewish relations. The colony’s institutions are financially supported by its residents and by fundraising efforts from supporters of the initiative within what is referred to as “Israel” (i.e., occupied Palestine) and abroad. The community follows a principle of equal representation between Arabs and Jews in its population. Residents work either within the village or in nearby towns. According to 2016 data, the population of Neve Shalom was 265 individuals, living as families or individuals in privately owned or rented homes managed by the village administration. Sources: Due to the scarcity of Arabic sources, Hebrew sources were used: the official Hebrew website of the settlement and the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics. Information about the village of Latrun was sourced from the "Palestine Remembered" website.