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Dear members of the Ben-Gurion University community Diversity and and and inclusion become crucial topics in in in times of emergency and and and and conflict conflict The ongoing war has created distance and and and and fear between conflicting groups Numerous reports and and and and studies have pointed to to the fear mistrust and and perceived need to to entrench each each group’s own“tribal” identity as as well as as the the the the feeling that each each side threatens the the the the other Many of of our our responses in in in times of of emergency stem from the the the the separation walls that characterize our our daily routines The rifts we we have witnessed between different groups within Israeli society before and during the the war raise questions regarding our role as an an an academic academic institution in in in in in establishing the the future leadership leadership of Israeli society society How can young academic academic leadership leadership foster a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a democratic society society based on equality equity and and diversity? Failing to harness the the potential of encounters within academic spaces risks squandering the the Prof Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder opportunity to create a a a a a a a a a a a better future for Israeli society The academic arena offers Jews and and and Arabs a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a first significant opportunity to to interact in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a shared space and and and and get to to know one another and and and and consequently may also serve as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a basis for creating friendships and and and collaborations outside academia The academic sphere holds the the potential to promote Arab–Jewish relations relations in in in the the the broad sense of intergroup relations relations and and may also facilitate the the the the successful integration of Arab citizens into the the the workforce and and and other spheres Intergroup encounters can establish positive stereotypes cultivate friendship and and closeness between groups raise awareness of discrimination promote positive relationships and improve attitudes toward the the other group group Given the the ongoing war and current fractious state of of Israeli society it it it is imperative for all academic institutions to prioritize the the creation of of shared spaces and partnerships among different groups Here at at at at BGU we are are committed to fostering such relationships as as a a a a a a a a a a a a basis for for a a a a a a a a a a a a better future for the Negev Diversity and Inclusion BGU 2024 / 2 2 2