Chama: A Muslim, Jewish, Moroccan Voice for Peace

Born into a Muslim-Jewish family in Morocco, Chama Metchaly has dedicated her career to creating safe spaces for dialogue and bridging the gaps between Muslim and Jewish narratives, as well as Eastern and Western values. Since the advent of the Abraham Accords, Mechtaly has advised numerous governmental and nongovernmental organizations on regional integration and Israeli-Arab relations. Based in New York and Dubai, her work has been featured in international media, including a feature documentary film by Asharq News. As a visual artist, she has exhibited her work in four continents, including twice at the Jerusalem Biennale. Mechtaly is currently a WIn fellow and an Executive Leadership Program participant at Atlantic Council as well as a convener at the Israel Policy Forum. In 2023, she was recognized in the Middle East Policy Council’s 40 under 40 list. She is the co-founder of the Emma Lazarus Institute for Liberty and Tolerance, where she bridges the gaps between the Democratic West and the Moderate East. She is a policy advisor, entrepreneur, activist, artist and speaker, known for her intersectional and interdisciplinary approach to peacebuilding, Jewish inclusion, and Arab-Israeli integration in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.