Arab community raises record funds for Israeli charity

An Arab community near Netanya has said it has helped create “unprecedented cross-cultural dialogue” after raising a huge amount of money for an Israeli medical charity working with people with disabilities.

The fundraising event, in Qalansuwa, was held last week and is believed to have been the biggest of its kind to-date, with 700 people raising a record-breaking 300,000 NIS for the charity Beit Issie Shapiro.

Organiser Nawaf Zmiro said: “We felt that, in addition to raising funds, we were creating an unprecedented cross-cultural dialogue between Jews and Arabs and between people with disabilities and without.”

He added: “We all have a common goal and want our children to be healthy and happy through a language understood by all, with Jews and Arabs united under the common banner of giving.”