Several years ago, Israeli Druze social activist Lorena Khateeb visited Nazi concentration camps in Germany, the only Druze in a multicultural delegation of Palestinian Muslims, Jewish Americans, and Israelis.
This was the first time that Khateeb realized that throughout the world, there was a lack of knowledge regarding Israel, and decided that the impetus of her mission was to work towards normalizing ties between Israel and the Arab world.
Speaking at the Jerusalem Post Women Leaders Summit in March, Khateeb served as a symbol of hope for all Israeli minorities who work towards building a more prosperous and peaceful future in Israel and throughout the Middle East.
“I realized that as a minority Druze woman living in Israel – a complex reality – I was in a position of influence,” Khateeb said. “I decided there and then that I had to play my part.”
Khateeb said that she understood that by creating digital content in Arabic, she had found a voice to create real change. Challenging preconceived notions on college campuses about Israel, Khateeb began advocating for Israel and organizing awareness campaigns for students in the United States, Europe, and even in Gulf countries. She eventually began leading multicultural delegations, taking them both to Poland and countries under the Abraham Accords, bringing these two societies together.
Khateeb quickly learned that many liberties that she had taken for granted growing up in the only democratic country in the Middle East were unheard-of concepts for her Arabic contemporaries, who found themselves wanting to learn more about Israeli society.
Bridging divides, inspiring unity
Since then, Khateeb has taken her mission to the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry in the Public Diplomacy Division, spreading awareness of Israel’s rich multiculturalism, of which minority groups make up 25% of Israel’s population.Today, Khateeb serves as the project coordinator of Together Vouch for Each Other, which aims to bring both the Arab and Jewish sectors of Israel closer together.
She is also the co-founder of the Druze Youth Congress and the external content manager of the Police Spokesperson Unit.
Speaking somberly about her experiences in the aftermath of October 7, Khateeb shared how she has been working around the clock to meet with IDF soldiers on bases, share videos for the Arab world from the Western Negev kibbutzim that were brutally attacked on October 7, and even initiated the Arabic in the Living Room project, teaching displaced Israeli to speak Arabic.
Khateeb imparted a sense of compassion and empathy that gives hope for the future. “I know that healing is something that takes place naturally,” Khateeb said. “I am sure that Israeli society will recover, and we will come out of this stronger than ever, united and with even greater mutual respect. In the meantime, we will continue to cry out for the hostages until they are released home.”
She continued to affirm that she would use her platform to share the stories of the families that were murdered in the terrorist attacks. She added the importance of sharing the bravery of Israeli women from all ethnic backgrounds – women who are often the victims of terrorism and war.
For example, mothers are usually the ones to send their husbands and sons to fight on the frontlines, not knowing if they will return. Khateeb asserted that the resilience of women is the bedrock of Israeli society.
Concluding her speech to thunderous applause, Khateeb affirmed that, "Together, in full partnership with the entirety of Israel's society, in all its shades, Jewish, Arab, religious, secular, Muslims and Druze, we will restore Israeli society and build a better future for all of us.”