Earlier this month, Israeli graduate students studying Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University gathered for an intimate and thought-provoking conversation with Tom Vizel, the Founder and Executive Director of WeAreMENA. The session was organized in collaboration with Abraham Tent, the U.S.-based Jewish organization dedicated to strengthening the civic dimension of the Abraham Accords. Abraham Tent was represented by its American CEO, Barak Sella, whose leadership has been central in promoting people-to-people engagement between the United States, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Although the students came from diverse academic fields—political science, anthropology, regional security, and modern Middle Eastern history—the room shared a common curiosity: how young people across the region can build a different future from the one they inherited. Tom’s talk, both analytical and personal, offered a refreshing alternative to traditional geopolitical discussions, inviting students into the human layer of regional transformation.
Rehumanization as the Starting Point
Tom began with a simple yet profound idea: before diplomacy, policy, or strategy, people must first learn to see each other again as human beings. This principle of rehumanization lies at the core of WeAreMENA’s work, and it immediately resonated with the Harvard audience.
Rather than blaming one side or another, Tom described the parallel narratives of dehumanization that run through the region—misconceptions, inherited fears, and the cultural distance that has grown between young Israelis and their peers across the Middle East and North Africa. Israelis, he noted, often learn very little about Arab societies, languages, or contemporary culture, while many young people in Arab countries know Israel primarily as a political symbol rather than a living society.
These patterns, Tom argued, are learned, not inevitable—and because they are learned, they can be unlearned. The students appreciated this framing, with several commenting afterward that it gave them language for something they had long felt but could not easily articulate.
Youth as Drivers of Change
From there, the discussion moved to the power of youth organizations across the Middle East and North Africa. Tom described a growing generation that is globally connected, well-educated, and determined to shape a regional identity that does not conflict with national identity, but strengthens it. This dual identity—proudly national and proudly Middle Eastern—is a foundational idea behind WeAreMENA’s mission.
The students at Harvard leaned forward as Tom described how young leaders from different cultures find common ground in shared challenges: education, employment, belonging, and the search for dignity. One student asked whether Israeli participants find it natural to see themselves as Middle Eastern. Another asked how organizations in North Africa navigate political sensitivities when engaging in regional partnerships.
These questions opened a deeper dialogue—one that reflected both academic rigor and genuine curiosity.
From Government Agreements to Human Relationships
Tom then spoke about the broader context of the Abraham Accords, emphasizing that while governments negotiate agreements, societies must build relationships. The United States, through organizations like Abraham Tent and the leadership of Barak Sella, has played an important role in sustaining these civic ties. But long-term success requires more than political milestones—it requires a new social infrastructure.
This is where WeAreMENA and Abraham Tent work hand-in-hand: creating immersive encounters, facilitating educational exchanges, and cultivating networks of young leaders who can carry the spirit of the Abraham Accords into their schools, communities, and institutions. These initiatives are not symbolic. They are lived experiences that challenge assumptions and forge trust.
For the Harvard students, this was eye-opening. Many noted that they had previously viewed diplomacy strictly through state-level frameworks. Hearing how civil-society actors, youth movements, and educational institutions shape the cultural climate of the region added a new dimension to their studies.
A Room Full of Questions
As the conversation unfolded, the Q&A became animated and multilayered. Students asked about the challenges of facilitating dialogue in polarized environments, about emotional moments during encounters, about the risks participants take, and about what success looks like ten years from now.
One question focused on whether young people in the region are ready for a shared “Middle Eastern identity.” Another asked how WeAreMENA handles disagreement when discussing painful histories. Tom responded with honesty, emphasizing that dialogue is not about immediate consensus but about learning to hold complexity without fear or dehumanization.
The students’ curiosity reflected both the intensity of the moment in the Middle East and their desire to understand the region beyond the headlines.
A Glimpse Into the Region’s Future
By the end of the session, it was clear that something meaningful had taken place. The conversation blurred the lines between academic inquiry and lived experience. Through Tom’s insights and the students’ thoughtful engagement, the session revealed a Middle East and North Africa that is wounded but also full of possibility—a region where youth leaders are already shaping the next chapter.
WeAreMENA, together with Abraham Tent under the leadership of Barak Sella, is helping build the human infrastructure needed to support long-term cooperation between societies. It is a slow, deliberate effort—but one grounded in the belief that change begins with people, not politics.
As the Harvard audience filed out of the room, many left with a deeper sense of responsibility—and perhaps even hope. The future of the Middle East and North Africa is still being written, and the students sensed that they, too, may play a role in shaping it.