Founders
Mr. Aiman Saif
A senior economist and the former Founding Director of the Authority for the Economic Development of the Arab Sector, established by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office in 2007. Mr. Saif served in the position of the Authority’s CEO between its founding and May 2018, and in this capacity advanced, monitored and oversaw the wide array of governmental development programs and policies in Arab society, in the scope of over USD 7 billion. He holds an MA in International Economic Development from Clarkson University and an MBA from Otto-Friedrich-Universitat in Bamberg. Aiman is a Senior Partner at the Portland Trust, a Board Member of Kupat Holim Klalit and lectures at Tel Aviv University. In August of 2020, Saif was nominated as the National Coordinator of the COVID crisis for Arab Community.
Dr. Nasreen Haddad-Haj Yahya
A researcher, lecturer, senior consultant and renowned expert on Arab society and majority-minority relations in Israel. Dr. Haddad-Haj Yahya has years of experience in contributing to, influencing and analyzing government development plans in the fields of labor market, formal and informal education and state-minority relations. Her PhD from Tel Aviv University focused on the phenomenon of “NEET” among the younger Arab generation – people Neither in Education, Employment or Training. Dr. Haddad-Haj Yahya is the author of numerous publications – articles, books and opinion columns – on topics related to socioeconomic development of Arab society, majority-minority relations and the promotion of a shared and equal society in Israel. In the past, she directed the Program on Arab Society in Israel at the Israel Democracy Institute and was a Partner in the Portland Trust’s Israel branch. Today, she is a Board Member at the New Israel Fund, in addition to lecturing and volunteering in a variety of social initiatives and platforms.
Mrs. Avivit Hai
An expert on Arab society and Jewish-Arab relations in Israel, and the former Israel Program Director for the Inter Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues. For the past decade Mrs. Hai covered a wide array of issues related to Arab citizens, Jewish-Arab relations and state-minority relations for a coalition of 100 Jewish-American organizations. Her expertise includes, among other things, relevant legislation, government economic development plans, integration of Arab society into the job market, access to higher education and civil society work on these issues. Avivit holds an Interdisciplinary MA from the Law and Society Program at Tel Aviv University.
Our Vision
NAS grew out of our deep and long-standing acquaintance with Arab society in Israel, with all its complexity, beauty and wants, as well as from our ongoing work within and with state bodies, civil society and philanthropy. We believe that there is a significant need to produce services, models and programs that are tailored to the needs and realities of Arab society and its subgroups, in order to realize its full potential and promote a prosperous and equal society in Israel. NAS’s expertise is in mapping realities in the field – including data, discourse, needs and potential partners, in building innovative and culturally-adapted models, and in creating an informed and fruitful partnership between state bodies, business entities, philanthropic actors and organizations from Arab society itself.