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The European Role in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:
Past European Peace Initiatives and Future Possibilities 24 - 28 February 2003 in Hofgeismar (Kassel), Germany In February 2003, 30
students/young activists from Europe (18), Israel and the Palestinian Territories (12) discussed for one week the following three topics: - Narratives of the conflict, - Refugees and Settlements, and - Shared Responsibilities beyond Borders.Moreover, past European peace initiatives as well as the
possibility of an active European role regarding each of the above mentioned topics were tackled in three corresponding workshops. Schedule The conference was divided into four parts:
formulating a common vision, defining the obstacles towards reaching this vision, determining the possible solutions, and initiating actions/projects. During every part, consensus had to be reached and was reached
by all participants. Whereas the common vision was expressed by all of the participants together, the second and third parts were discussed in the workshops, each representing one batch of obstacles. The working method
used throughout the conference was a facilitation method developed by the Institute for Cultural Affairs (ICA). Beside the workshops, two lectures examined, respectively, the role of the European Union and
of a single European country (Germany): Mr Berger, Mashrek and Israeli Unit, EU Commission and
Mr Herbert, Deputy Head of Near East Division in the German Foreign Ministry The
results of the first three parts were presented to and later discussed by: Mrs Buchwald, German-Israeli Society, and
Mr Zimmer-Winkel, German-Palestinian Association
Additionally, several Israeli and Palestinian participants gave short lectures about a certain aspect regarding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, such as the Security Wall and the daily consequences of life within a
conflict. At the following weekend, on 2nd of March, the statement was presented at the Annual Congress of the German-Palestinian Association. Results Two main
results have been achieved: a joint statement by all participants (see statement) and several joint Palestinian-Israeli-European (PIE) projects have been created (see projects). The results are also gathered in the documentation that can be downloaded from our website. Since the conference in Hofgeismar, the
various projects, as well as the organisation of the next conference in Copenhagen in August 2003, are discussed and organised in a mailing list that includes all of the participants. Furthermore, small teams for each
project have been formed. These teams are, however, open to everyone interested in the projects not only to the participants of the Hofgeismar conference. An evaluation of the projects as well as the
development of new projects will be part of the Copenhagen conference. Post-Event: A Post-Event (2nd 6th
of March 2003) organised by AEGEE-Mainz/Wiesbaden and consisting of a leisure and cultural program gave the Israeli and Palestinian participants the possibility to get to know each other in a more casual way and thus expanded and deepened the experience that they had.
Support: We would like to thank the Robert Bosch Foundation and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for their support with
this project.Moreover, we would like to thank AEGEE-Main/Wiesbaden for organising the Post-Event and the regional government of Hessen (Germany) for the financial support. |
