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Tomer Avital (2008 - 2009)

Israel

Tomer Avital

Since he completed his army service as a medic commander, Tomer has participated in several programs that try to build relations and bridge the gap between Palestinians and Israelis, especially through One Voice, the NGO dedicated to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Over the course of the four years before he became a Sauvé Scholar, he worked in the Israeli media, including as a journalist with two Israeli newspapers and with the national television news program “Mabat”.  In 2007, Tomer received his degree in political science and literature from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  While studying, he held several positions at Bet Hillel, a student organization that seeks to engage students in community life.

Writing in the National Post, March 5, 2009, Tomer described his Sauvé Scholar project:

“I have formulated an initiative ‘Networking the Gap’, to reshape the perception of those who still flatten their neighbors as enemies.‘Networking the gap’ is a series of workshops for journalists from conflict areas who cover non-war topics such as culture and education. By bringing together journalists from regions embroiled in conflict, the workshops will help to humanize those on the other side. Reporters will establish contacts which they will then draw upon when writing human-interest articles, thereby transforming the foreigner into a more rounded character - a neighbor. The program stems from the idea that journalists on either side of any conflict have the power to communicate on a mass scale, and a dialogue between them would help enhance durable peace.”

Tomer’s peace project has been adopted by The Canadian International Institute of Applied Negotiation (CIIAN) which will serve as its institutional home.

Since late 2009, Tomer is the parliamentary (Knesset) reporter for Calcalist, leading Israeli daily financial newspaper and online media

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Country of origin

Israel

“Leaders must dream of changing the world.

They must have an inspired vision of the changes they want to make and be prepared to consecrate all
their energy to that purpose. A capacity to communicate their objectives is indispensable to sustain
the enthusiasm of their collaborators and their perseverance in action.”
— The Right Honourable Jeanne Sauvé, Opening Speech to the National Conference for Young Leaders, June 2-8, 1991