arabic Arab Community

Integrating Arab youth into Israeli society and the economy

Young men and women from the Arab community are a vital source of human capital with potential to substantially contribute to the Israeli economy and society. The Arab Community Programme at Yad Hanadiv aims to facilitate their integration through targeted initiatives for 13–23-year-olds – spanning from secondary school through entry into the workforce. It emphasizes identity development, employment skills and fostering a sense of belonging. Our activities encompass interventions, field building and policy promotion. To create systemic and sustainable change, our work is grounded in data and research, and carried out in collaboration with civil society organisations, local authorities, schools, informal education frameworks, parents, and the broader community.
15 Years of activity
650 Outstanding programme graduates
390 Gap Year programme graduates
500K+ Beneficiaries of employment placement support

Major Initiatives

05
Initiative

Arab Employment for High-Achieving Youth

From academic achievement to key roles in the knowledge economy

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Initiative

NEET Youth

Creating meaningful opportunities for employment integration for NEET Arab youth

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Initiative

Informal Education

Developing informal education to support integration of Arab youth into employment and Israeli society

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Initiative

Shared Spaces in Academia and Employment

From integration to inclusion

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Initiative

Evidence-Based Policy

Research to inform policy design and advance the integration of Arab youth

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Our Team

Dr Safa Aburabia

Programme Director, Arab Community

Safa Aburabia holds a PhD from Ben-Gurion University. She was a postdoctoral fellow in Anthropology at Harvard University from 2016 to 2018. Her primary areas of expertise are Anthropology and gender; feminist discourse in the Arab and Islamic world; and oral history, with a focus on Bedouin collective memory and documenting silenced voices. At the Mandel Centre for Leadership in the Negev, Safa developed and delivered leadership training, working with mayors and heads of local councils, and senior officials in the civil, public and business sectors, while also teaching part-time at Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University and Sapir College. She joined Yad Hanadiv in 2019.
Safa Aburabia holds a PhD from Ben-Gurion University. She was a postdoctoral fellow in Anthropology at Harvard University from 2016 to 2018. Her primary areas of expertise are Anthropology and gender; feminist discourse in the Arab and Islamic world; and oral history, with a focus on Bedouin collective memory and documenting silenced voices. At the Mandel Centre for Leadership in the Negev, Safa developed and delivered leadership training, working with mayors and heads of local councils, and senior officials in the civil, public and business sectors, while also teaching part-time at Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University and Sapir College. She joined Yad Hanadiv in 2019.

Athar Haskia

Senior Programme Officer, Arab Community

Athar is Senior Programme Officer in the Arab Community Programme. She has extensive experience in managing social programmes, developing policy and strategy, and working with local authorities and government ministries. Most recently, she managed the Operations and Maintenance, Safety Systems Division at Israel Railways, where she also established the organisation’s community relations department. Previously, she directed social programmes for children and at-risk youth, as well as employment rehabilitation programmes at the Municipality of Tira and Beit Cham Association. Athar is a graduate of the Mandel Programme for Leadership in Social Change. She holds a BA in Social Work, an MA in Non-Profit Management and Leadership from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and an MBA from Bar-Ilan University. She joined Yad Hanadiv in 2025.
Athar is Senior Programme Officer in the Arab Community Programme. She has extensive experience in managing social programmes, developing policy and strategy, and working with local authorities and government ministries. Most recently, she managed the Operations and Maintenance, Safety Systems Division at Israel Railways, where she also established the organisation’s community relations department. Previously, she directed social programmes for children and at-risk youth, as well as employment rehabilitation programmes at the Municipality of Tira and Beit Cham Association. Athar is a graduate of the Mandel Programme for Leadership in Social Change. She holds a BA in Social Work, an MA in Non-Profit Management and Leadership from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and an MBA from Bar-Ilan University. She joined Yad Hanadiv in 2025.

Naama Bloom Linzer

Arab Community Programme Coordinator

Naama is Programme Coordinator for Arab Community. Before joining Yad Hanadiv she worked in a variety of non-profits and social change organisations; among them Chotam, as head of Marketing and Knowledge Management, and later as Coordinator of Programmes in the Joint’s Masad Disabilities programme, which includes Masira – a programme for advancing individuals with disabilities in the Arab Community in Israel. More recently, Naama managed the Academic Preparatory programmes for the Azrieli College of Engineering in Jerusalem. The ‘mechina’ preparatory programmes give access to higher education to students and first generation students who would otherwise not be eligible for admission. Naama has a degree in Interior Design and is a graduate of a course in group facilitation. She joined Yad Hanadiv in 2022.
Naama is Programme Coordinator for Arab Community. Before joining Yad Hanadiv she worked in a variety of non-profits and social change organisations; among them Chotam, as head of Marketing and Knowledge Management, and later as Coordinator of Programmes in the Joint’s Masad Disabilities programme, which includes Masira – a programme for advancing individuals with disabilities in the Arab Community in Israel. More recently, Naama managed the Academic Preparatory programmes for the Azrieli College of Engineering in Jerusalem. The ‘mechina’ preparatory programmes give access to higher education to students and first generation students who would otherwise not be eligible for admission. Naama has a degree in Interior Design and is a graduate of a course in group facilitation. She joined Yad Hanadiv in 2022.

Yael Regev Balulu

Grant Ops Coordinator, Arab Community & Special Projects

Yael is responsible for administering and monitoring grants for the Arab Community programme and for Special Projects. She assists programme staff on workflow, due diligence and compliance. Yael holds a BA in Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology and a Teaching Certificate in Civics from The Hebrew University, and an MA in Government and Public Administration from Bar-Ilan University. She served in the IDF as a tour guide. Yael joined Yad Hanadiv in 2010.
Yael is responsible for administering and monitoring grants for the Arab Community programme and for Special Projects. She assists programme staff on workflow, due diligence and compliance. Yael holds a BA in Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology and a Teaching Certificate in Civics from The Hebrew University, and an MA in Government and Public Administration from Bar-Ilan University. She served in the IDF as a tour guide. Yael joined Yad Hanadiv in 2010.
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