Learning from others in conflict - CAIN

of contexts in which ‘peace’ efforts can take place. There was the Oslo Agreementand the years of progress at governmental level. The people on the ground alsowanted to reach out and do things together, and we felt that in doing so we wereimplementing the will of the government, acting as grassroots agents for thoseworking at a higher level. There was a sense of co-operation. However, whenconfidence collapsed in 2000 all political links broke down and as a consequencethe work of NGOs was also affected. Those who wanted to get together andcreate a new way forward were no longer working in partnership with thepolitical leaders. Indeed, Israeli society at the moment does not believe much inthe process of peace. Many Israelis are convinced that there will always bePalestinians – suicide bombers and others – who will oppose any chance forpeace. No matter how much we give they will always demand more. So, it is adifficult situation to work in, because we do not know what is possible. Israelisociety has a deep concern about security, and this underpins many of thepolicies currently being implemented in the West Bank and Gaza.What our organisation, the YIFC, is trying to do, in the absence of a politicalprocess, is to reach out to different groups within our society to try and bringthem into the process. The belief is that if more and more people engage in suchwork, even when there has been a breakdown in the political process, there willbe a solid-enough basis not to let the situation deteriorate as much as before.We are working quite a lot at a young leadership level, with young professionalswho are involved in journalism, politics and numerous NGOs, anywhere theymight have influence. We try to encourage contacts with Europe, and we try toengage in international activities. We also try to expose young Israelis to youngPalestinians. We try to vision what that future might be like after any politicalagreement is signed, and create a joint post-conflict agenda, because the essentialsof a future settlement are already known:a two-state solution, agreement overJerusalem, a solution to the settlements.We need to encourage the acceptance of anew reality, where each society goesthrough a process of finding its own identityand defining its needs, and then beginsworking out a joint vision for the future.There is one major difficulty. Israelis andPalestinians live very close to each othergeographically, but we are far apartmentally. And also physically it is very hard for us to meet, both because ofsevere restrictions on movement, and the fear of going to each other’s places.[UDA] I thought both presentations were excellent and inspiring, but what wasamazing was that you all sat at the same table to make those presentations. Wein Northern Ireland are far behind in that. In the future, I don’t know when, wewill ultimately have to face our opponents politically, face-to-face.20We need to encourage theacceptance of a new reality,where each society goes througha process of finding its ownidentity and defining its needs,and then begins working out ajoint vision for the future.