The Eliav-Sartawi Awards for Middle Eastern Journalism

About the Awards

Search for Common Ground has held the Eliav-Sartawi Awards for Middle Eastern Journalism since 2003. The Awards recognize and encourage journalism that contributes to better understanding between people and maintaining political dialogue in the Middle East.

They were originally conceived by Mr. Zel Lurie, a veteran American journalist who first began reporting on the Middle East during the British Mandate in Palestine. By creating the Awards, Mr. Lurie sought to give recognition to journalists whose work promotes greater understanding between Arabs and Israelis.

The Awards were later renamed after two courageous pioneers of Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, Dr Issam Sartawi, 1936-1983 (Bio) and Arie (Lova) Eliav, 1921-2010 (Bio). The former was recognized internationally for his efforts and was awarded the Kreisky Prize in 1979. Dr. Sartawi was assassinated in April 1983 in a hotel lobby in Lisbon, Portugal while participating in the building of the peace process. The Centre for the Advancement of Peace and Democracy at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem is named after him. Lova Eliav was active in Israeli politics and diplomacy since the founding of the state. A member of the Knesset from 1965 - 1979 and again from 1988 - 1992, he served as Secretary-General of the Labor Party in the early 1970s, a position he lost after calling for negotiations with the Palestinians. In 1988, he was awarded the Israel Prize for special contributions to society and the State of Israel.

The main objective of the awards is to celebrate journalism that contributes to better understanding between people in the Middle East. We honor articles that try to open windows of understanding on the people in the region, and the issues that divide them, provide insight into regional issues and debates, contribute to political dialogue, expose readers to new perspectives and help to lay the groundwork for peaceful solutions.