Learning from others in conflict - CAIN

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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.
[Pal] Can I say that the majority of Palestinians would not find it acceptable tosit near your enemy around the same table. But maybe the young generation,those who are working in NGOs, can do so. I believe that we have to talk withthe other side, because we need peace. But for the majority of the Palestinianpeople it is not acceptable, and I don’t dare to tell all my people back home thatI met here with Israeli people, otherwise theymight say I am a collaborator.[Council] What structure do your twoorganisations work under? Where do you meetone another?[Isr] We are two separate organisations. YIFC,among other things, organises a series ofconferences, together with Palestinian Visionand our European partners at dialogue lab.Each conference brings together 40 Israeli,Palestinian and European young professionals, to discuss the EU role in theconflict. Participants create a joint vision and work in small groups on coreissues of the conflict – such as Jerusalem or the settlements – and try to identifyobstacles, internal contradictions within each society, and strategy directionstowards conflict transformation. As for any joint work, most of the meetings wehave take place outside the country. Or in Jerusalem, the only place in thecountry where Palestinians and Jews can meet on a regular basis.[UDA] What common ground have your two organisations found?[Isr] First of all, we have accepted that communication between both sides ispossible. Also, we agree that young people often have more positive attitudes,and can bring new ideas, new concepts to a situation, and therefore should bemore involved in the search for solutions. Young people, on both sides, aredissatisfied with the old leadership, because of its failure to create peace. Someof our existing leaders have been there 30 or 40 years, and we feel there is aneed for a new, younger leadership, and to that end we try to identify whichyoung people might be most likely to affect changes in our respective societies.Our two organisations have also identified certain activities which can bebeneficial, such as learning lessons from other religious, ethnic and politicalconflicts, through participation in workshops such as this one. We also try topursue concrete policy-oriented actions, such as opening European higher educationmobility programmes for Israeli and Palestinian students.[Pal] I think that the most important aspect of common ground between our twoorganisations is that we believe in non-violence. This is a very important thing.Right now, in news coverage of Palestine, the world sees pictures of armedpeople shooting into the air so they assume that Palestinians only believe inviolence. They don’t realise that there is a huge debate going on within the21The majority of Palestinianswould not find it acceptableto sit near your enemyaround the same table. ButI believe that we have totalk with the other side,because we need peace.
Page 1 and 2: CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVEL
Page 3 and 4: IntroductionIn 2005 Northern Irelan
Page 5 and 6: International foundation workshopLo
Page 7 and 8: their organisation was constantly p
Page 9 and 10: allowing the public to see that our
Page 11 and 12: still here. There has to be an hone
Page 13 and 14: [Isr] Is there a consensus regardin
Page 15 and 16: ‘other side’ - relatives were o
Page 17 and 18: preserved and protected, we shouldn
Page 19: first Palestinian uprising, the fir
Page 23 and 24: [Pal] Despite modern technology the
Page 25 and 26: and that’s where we have to go. I
Page 27 and 28: [UDA] If Sinn Féin signs up to pol
Page 29 and 30: engage about; and what obstacles ar
Page 31 and 32: [Council] The 24th November 10 will
Page 33 and 34: [UDA] We need to inform our members
Page 35 and 36: Compared to the place where I come

Learning from others in conflict - CAIN

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