As a grassroots peacebuilding organization operating in the West Bank / Judea & Samaria, Roots is committed to peace, positive change, and full recognition of the human rights of both Palestinians and Israelis. Roots endorses and embraces the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, drafted by representatives from all regions of the world and passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.

Roots endorses all of the articles of the 1948 Declaration with emphasis on the rights of everyone to:

  • Life, liberty, and security

  • Equal treatment under the law and due process

  • Protection from discrimination and from arbitrary arrest and detention

  • Freedom of movement, peaceful assembly, and association

  • Freedom of political expression

  • The right to nationality and the right to take part in the government of their country

  • The right to economic opportunity and a decent standard of living with dignity

With our stated values and goal of full human rights for both Palestinians and Israelis, our work lays the foundation for sustainable peace.  Roots fully recognizes that the status quo in the West Bank denies Palestinians many, if not most, of these fundamental human rights. We understand our work as addressing the roots of these inequalities, and our goal is to change the status quo for the better.


Roots has chosen a grass-roots role as our way to promote the trust-building which is essential for any future political peace process.  We recognize that some oppose grass-roots dialogue and contact between West Bank Palestinians and Israeli settlers. We believe Palestinians should have the sole right to decide who they speak to and engage with, just  the same as their Israeli counterparts. The work of Roots is a small but important step toward empowerment of all people of good will, whether Palestinian or Israeli.

It is our belief that the ultimate goal of reconciliation can be the greatest form of security for both Palestinians and Israelis. 

The unique status and symbolic resonance of the lands of Israel and Palestine in the consciousness of much of humanity means that Roots’ focus on reconciliation, human rights, and peace is shared widely by people of all nations.  It is hoped that our efforts will also help to illuminate similar struggles and common causes across the world.