Looking at my role as an European mediator (or participant) in the workshop „Refugees and Settlements“ I can say that it wasn’t always
easy. Of course – nobody expected it to be easy.But my fear was that it would be for one side in some cases to hard and difficult to be confronted with the other side. Most of the Israeli and
Palestinian hadn’t had the chance to meet people from the other side in such an intense way before.
I was amazed about the way they dealt with each other. In my workshop (but also in the assembly) we had
many kinds of discussions:
- needed ones (e.g. those to explain each other their feelings)
- hard and difficult ones (especially in the agreement-finding-process in the solution part)
- painful ones (when emotions went high and when we came to those points which are deep inside the conflict, in the very personal point of view)
- but also fruitful ones, when we found agreements
But as everyone can see in our results we succeed. We were able to talk and to listen to each other.
During the conference I
think that both sides (Israeli and Palestinian) became more open minded to the other side.
Together we were able to find agreements I sometimes really wonder about. Wonder, especially when we were able
for agreements (and especially the Israeli and Palestinian participants) which we never saw between the politicians.
I learnt that it is important to listen to each other. And also to try to understand
the other side in their point of view. If this happens we will be able to talk to each other, and to succeed.
There I see the role for the EU and me as and European participant. We have to be in a way
neutral. But we also have to talk to both – Israelis and Palestinians – to learn more about the conflict, and to be able to mediate.
While the conference it was helpful that there were people who try to
listen, but also to negotiate, who stopped to emotional discussions and who summarized the discussions to the main points (here special thanks to the facilitators!).
During the “social program” in the
evenings we had time to spend together, to talk together (also about daily stuff), to go around through the town and to enjoy together the sun and parks. It was time for having fun together and for making friends.
As someone who also joint the post-event I can say that I was so touched to see how close both sides came to each other.
However this will be continued I’m sure that everybody will take
home that there are people on the other side who also want the conflict to be ended and who are able for compromise. And that there had been built up the basic for trust and friendship.
To recognize that
both sides of the conflict are human beings, and that there is on both sides the wish for a solution – and peace.
I thank everybody for being open minded, for our fruitful conversations and discussions
(by the way: a big HELLO to the two smart guys discussing with me about the Jordan-valley-border… !!!!), for the will to talk and to listen to each other.
But also thanks for creating such a great
atmosphere, for joining together the free time with playing games, going out for dancing, sight-seeing, lying around in parks and for telling jokes. It was so impressive to meet all of you!
