Ali Haider, Adv. co-executive director of Sikkuy

Ali Haider, Adv. has been the co-executive director of Sikkuy since 2004. He was previously the director of Sikkuy's Employment Equity and Fair Representation project. Ali holds L.L.B and L.L.M. degrees from Bar-Ilan University and was admitted to the Israeli Bar Association in 1997. He is widely recognized and extensively published as an expert in the field of affirmative action for the disadvantaged and minorities in Israel. Ali lives in the village of Ibellin in the western Galilee

Ron Gerlitz, co-executive director of Sikkuy

Ron Gerlitz joined Sikkuy as co-executive director in January 2009. He is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with a B.Sc. in mathematics and computer science and an MA in public policy, both magna cum laude.He began his professional career in hi-tech, working for six years, both in Israel and in Silicon Valley, California. In parallel Ron also devoted his energy to political activism, both in Israel and in the USA. Before joining Sikkuy, Ron was a project manager at the Israel Venture Network (IVN). He took part in developing strategies and implementing projects advancing local economic development in the periphery, both in the Jewish and Arab sectors. He lives in the town of Srigim in the Ela Valley near Beit Shemesh.

Thair Abu-Rass, Director, Employment Equity and Fair Representation Project

Thair Abu-Rass joined Sikkuy in March 2012. He has a B.A. in Political Science and Communications from the University of Haifa. Most recently he was the EU Resident Twinning Advisor's Assistant to the Israeli Equal Employment Opportunities Commission at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. From 2007-2010 he was the youth activities coordinator at Mossawa Center - The Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel.

Michal Belikoff, co-director, research

Kifah Daghash, director, Arab Leadership Development Group Project

Kifah Daghash has been the director of the Arab Leadership Development and Community Initiatives Project for Sikkuy since 2006. She studied Arabic language and literature and archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She has been a feminist and social activist since 1985 and is a graduate of the Environmental Fellows Program of the Heschel Center. Kifah was born in the village of Dir Hanna in the lower Galilee and lives in Haifa.

Chassia Chomsky-Porat, Coordinator, Sikkuy in Misgav civic action group

Chassia coordinates the group since 2004. As part of her activity she initiated and is the chairperson of the Galil Coalition, an umbrella organization of environmental and social organizations that propose an alternative, sustainable plan for the development of the Galilee, and has recently founded an NGO which aims to change Israeli discourse to a civic, social and feminist one.
Chassia is a trained facilitator in cross-cultural dialogue and conflict resolution and is currently studying for B.A. in Anthropology and sociology.
Chassia has four grown sons and lives with her spouse in Ya'ad in the Western Galilee.

Jennifer Cohen, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Equality Zones Project

Jennifer (Jenny) Cohen joined Sikkuy as Director of Evaluation and Monitoring on the Equality Zones Project in October 2011. A community organizer, Jenny has served at human rights nonprofits in Israel and the USA since 1992. Her particular interests include participatory action research as a tool for advancing public policy and her PhD dissertation research explores how successful community-based organizations affect social change. Jenny lives in Haifa with her partner and two children.

Salam Hamed, Co-Director Equality Zones Project

Salam Hamed, who joined Sikkuy in December 2011 as Co-Director of the Equality Zones Project, holds an engineering degree from the Technion and a law degree from the Kiryat Ono College. Salam worked for several years consulting and managing development projects for the Ministry of the Interior and served for seven years as Chairwoman of a Local Committee for Planning and Building in Northern Israel.

Alaa' Hamdan, Research Coordinator

Alaa' joined Sikkuy in June 2009 and currently works on the Equality Index of Jewish and Arab citizens in Israel. For years, Alaa' was engaged in social activities such as youth counsel, youth movements and several work positions such as Human Rights Education, applied social research and teaching assistantship at Haifa University.
He received his BA Degree in Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology from Haifa University and his MA degree in conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University in the USA through the Fulbright grant.
Alaa' lives in his hometown the city of Acre (Akka/Akko).

Batya Kallus, program evaluator

Batya Kallus consults to Sikkuy on program evaluation and resource development. She has more than more than twenty years of progressive responsibility in the field of philanthropic and non-profit management and resource development. She is also the director of the Forum to Address Food Insecurity and Poverty in Israel and consults to the Fohs Foundation. Formerly, she was employed as the director of grants for The Abraham Fund Initiatives. Kallus has a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts-Boston, in community planning, and a Master's in Human Service Management from the Heller School at Brandeis University. Batya lives in Jerusalem with her husband and son.

Nira Krasne, internet coordinator

Hagit Naali-Joseph, co-director, Jewish-Arab Mayor's Forum

Carl Perkal, director of Resource Development

Carl Perkal has been the director of resource development of Sikkuy since 2000. He is also a television and film producer. He has served as a consultant to many non-profit organizations in Israel for fundraising and media. Carl lives in Pardesia near Netanya.

Shirley Racah, Co-Director, Equality Policy Department

Shirley Racah joined Sikkuy in 2012. She has a B.A. in International Relations and General Studies and an M.A. in Public Policy, both from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Shirley coordinated the work of the Coalition for Responsible Planning and Headed MK Dov Khenin's staff. Shirley volunteers as co-chairwomen of Green Course. She lives in Tel-Aviv with her spouse.

Ronen Sebag, Co-Director Equality Zones Project

Ronen Sebag joined Sikkuy in December 2011 as Co-Director of the Equality Zones Project. Ronen holds first degrees in law and political science and a Master's degree in non-profit management. Ronen comes to Sikkuy with solid practical knowledge and experience of the private, public and third sectors and a proven commitment to public service and social change work. Ronen has served for several years in appointed and elected leadership positions on local municipal councils and in recent years has worked to promote public policy changes on behalf of small & medium business in Israel.

Amjad Shbita, co-director, Equality Policy Department

Amjad Shbita joined Sikkuy in May 2011 as co-director of the Equality Policy Department. He holds a BA in Communications and Management at the College of Management Academic Studies and currently pursuing an MA in political science at the Gilo Center for Citizenship, Democracy and Civic Education at the Hebrew University.
Amjad is a social and political activist and a former editorial board member of the Al-Itihad newspaper. He was the parliamentary assistant to Member of Knesset Dov Khenin for four years.

Rana Smair, Haifa Office administrator