Jasmine aims to represent and promote businesswomen from all ethnic communities in Israel in the national and international business arenas. Since its establishment in 2006, Jasmine has been assisting women who own registered businesses in Israel, from all communities and all parts of the country, through organizing and running courses, events, forums, conferences and conducting advocacy and publicity in order to address these needs and improve the status of women from all communities in Israel. Ofra Strauss, Director of the Strauss Group is the President of Jasmine.

Why is there a need for a National Businesswomen's Network?

Despite the different environments in which Jewish and Arab women live, they face similar difficulties when initiating and running a business. If women are to succeed in business they need to unite in overcoming many of these obstacles through a representative body that will advocate and promote their interests at the national level. There are currently over 30 women's networks throughout Israel, however each of them operate in isolation. Providing these varied groups with umbrella support and national representation will create a significant body which will contribute to strengthen women's voices in Israel's mainstream economy. Such a national network will also answer the need to equally represent Jewish and Arab businesswomen in Israel - both as a means of supporting the consolidation and expansion of women-owned businesses, and as a means of promoting equality, dialogue and peace.