Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between Peoples
A Beit Sahour-based Palestinian nonprofit that promotes dialogue, grassroots cooperation, nonviolent action, human rights, and international understanding.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between Peoples (PCR) is a Palestinian nonprofit and non-religious civil-society organization based in Beit Sahour. Established in 1988, it works to create direct contact and practical cooperation between Palestinians and people from other nationalities. Its stated approach is centered on dialogue, grassroots engagement, information dissemination, human rights, and nonviolent responses to conflict. PCR emerged during the First Intifada, a period in which Palestinian community organizations played an important role in organizing local initiatives and articulating opposition to Israeli occupation. The organization is associated with nonviolent resistance and with efforts to challenge stereotypes and prejudice affecting Palestinians and international audiences. One of the actions linked to PCR was Beit Sahour's 1989 tax strike, organized under the slogan “No Taxation Without Representation.” The campaign opposed the payment of taxes to the Israeli authorities in the absence of Palestinian political representation and became an example of civil resistance during the uprising. The organization was formally registered under the auspices of the Mennonite Central Committee in Jerusalem in 1991 and was later officially registered with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior in 2004. This registration history reflects the transition from an initiative formed during a period of popular mobilization into a formally recognized Palestinian nongovernmental organization. PCR's work combines local community engagement with international outreach. It seeks to facilitate meetings and joint activities involving Palestinians, international visitors, solidarity groups, and civil-society actors. Through these activities, it presents Palestinian perspectives, supports people-to-people contact, and attempts to replace generalized assumptions with direct experience and discussion. Its information and human-rights work also contributes to public communication about conditions affecting Palestinians. The organization operates independently of religious institutions in its stated identity as a non-religious body. It has been associated with the International Solidarity Movement and has maintained a profile within international solidarity networks. Ghassan Andoni is identified as a co-founder, while George N. Rishmawi is identified as its director. PCR is not a commercial product company: its principal “offerings” are educational, advocacy, dialogue, accompaniment, and information activities rather than consumer goods or paid commercial services. Publicly available source material does not provide reliable information about its budget, staffing scale, revenue, or geographic operations beyond its Palestinian base and international connections.
History
The Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between Peoples was established in Beit Sahour in 1988, during the First Intifada. Its creation reflected the growth of Palestinian grassroots organizations that sought to organize local communities, oppose occupation, and communicate Palestinian political and social concerns to outside audiences. PCR adopted a non-religious identity and focused on rapprochement, meaning the creation of practical contact and mutual understanding among Palestinians and people from different nationalities. During the First Intifada, PCR became associated with nonviolent resistance. Its activities were connected to community-based forms of mobilization rather than armed action, and the organization promoted peaceful solutions alongside Palestinian national aspirations. The most prominent action linked to PCR in the available historical record is the 1989 Beit Sahour tax strike. Conducted under the slogan “No Taxation Without Representation,” the strike challenged the collection of taxes by Israeli authorities while Palestinians lacked representative political authority. It became a notable example of civil resistance in the occupied Palestinian territories. PCR was formally registered under the auspices of the Mennonite Central Committee in Jerusalem in 1991. This relationship helped provide an institutional framework for the organization after its emergence as a local initiative. In 2004, PCR was officially registered with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior, giving it formal recognition as a Palestinian nongovernmental organization. Public references identify Ghassan Andoni as a co-founder and George N. Rishmawi as the organization's director. Over time, PCR's work has included dialogue between Palestinians and international visitors, people-to-people exchange, human-rights activity, and information dissemination. The organization seeks to reduce stereotypes and prejudice by encouraging direct encounters and collaborative work. Its international-facing role has also placed it within networks of solidarity with Palestinians and within the broader field of civil-society advocacy concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The center is based in Beit Sahour and is associated in reference material with the International Solidarity Movement. Its work is best understood as nonprofit civic and advocacy activity rather than as a commercial brand. Available references do not establish a complete chronology of programs, a detailed current organizational structure, or financial information. The organization's continuing public identity is tied to nonviolent action, dialogue, international engagement, and the communication of Palestinian perspectives.
- 2004
Palestinian Ministry of Interior registration
[1]PCR was officially registered with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior.
- 1991
Formal registration under Mennonite Central Committee auspices
[1]The organization was formally registered under the auspices of the Mennonite Central Committee in Jerusalem.
- 1989
Beit Sahour tax strike
[1]PCR was associated with the nonviolent tax strike in Beit Sahour organized under the slogan “No Taxation Without Representation.”
- 1988
Organization established in Beit Sahour
[1]PCR was founded during the First Intifada as a non-religious Palestinian initiative focused on dialogue, grassroots cooperation, and peaceful resistance.
Products and positioning
A non-religious Palestinian civil-society organization positioned around grassroots dialogue, nonviolent resistance, human-rights communication, and cooperation between Palestinians and international participants.
Dialogue and educational programs
Grassroots dialogue and exchange
PCR facilitates contact between Palestinians and people from other nationalities through dialogue, visits, joint activities, and other forms of people-to-people engagement. The purpose is to build understanding through direct interaction and to challenge stereotypes and prejudice surrounding Palestinians and the conflict.
Civil-society and advocacy work · 1988
Nonviolent resistance advocacy
The center's historical identity includes support for grassroots nonviolent resistance. Its work during the First Intifada, including association with the Beit Sahour tax strike, represented a community-based approach to political protest and Palestinian national advocacy.
Human-rights communication
Human-rights and information dissemination
PCR works to communicate information about Palestinian issues and human-rights conditions. This activity supports its dialogue and solidarity mission by providing international audiences and civil-society participants with Palestinian perspectives and contextual information.
Marketing campaigns
- 1989Beit Sahour tax strike
Beit Sahour · Palestine
A nonviolent campaign associated with PCR opposed the payment of taxes to Israeli authorities under the slogan “No Taxation Without Representation.” It linked taxation to the question of Palestinian political representation during the First Intifada.
Outcome. The strike became a prominent example of Palestinian civil resistance, although the available reference does not provide a complete account of its operational or political outcome.
- International dialogue and solidarity activities
Palestine · International
PCR promotes grassroots dialogue and joint work between Palestinians and international participants, using people-to-people contact to address stereotypes and encourage peaceful understanding.
Recent events
- 2004
PCR registered with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior[1]
Regulation
PCR received official registration from the Palestinian Ministry of Interior.
- 1991
PCR formally registered under Mennonite Central Committee auspices[1]
Other
The organization was formally registered under the auspices of the Mennonite Central Committee in Jerusalem.
- 1989
Beit Sahour tax strike linked to PCR[1]
Other
PCR was associated with the Beit Sahour tax strike conducted under the slogan “No Taxation Without Representation,” a nonviolent protest against taxation without Palestinian political representation.
PCR associated with nonviolent resistance during the First Intifada[1]
Other
Reference material describes the organization as having helped spearhead nonviolent resistance in Palestine during the First Intifada.
Sources2 sources
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