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Think of Others….As you prepare your breakfast think of others.

Don’t forget to feed the pigeons.

As you conduct your wars think of others.Don’t forget those who want peace.

As you pay your water bill think of others.Think of those who only have clouds to drink from.

As you go home, your own home, think of others.Don’t forget those who live in tents.

As you sleep and count the planets think of othersThere are people who have no place to sleep.

As you liberate yourself with metaphors think of othersThose who lost their right to speak.

As you think of distant othersThink of yourself and say

I wish I were a candle in the darkness. Mahmoud Darwish

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On 12 October 2003, a group of prominent Palestinians and Israelis completed a draft framework for a final status agreement to the Middle East conflict that has been raging for decades. The Geneva Initiative is a non-official and informal initiative, although its authors include people who have held or do hold official positions within their respective governments, as well as former senior security personnel, academics, figures from civil society and the cultural world. Significantly, the Geneva Initiative seeks to prove that amidst a climate of hate and mistrust born out of years of violence and suffering on both sides, an agreement can be reached. It demonstrates that partners for peace exist on the Israeli and Palestinian side.

The framework proposes a model for the settlement of critical issues that have divided the parties through the years, such as Jerusalem, borders, refugees and security arrangements. Meant to compliment the Quartet Road Map, the Geneva Initiative represents a comprehensive peace settlement that could be beneficial for both sides, ending ineffectual interim agreements and unilateralism, and paving the way for a historic reconciliation of the two peoples. The Geneva Initiative was officially launched on the 1st of December, 2003, in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Geneva Initiative has received unprecedented media coverage in Palestinian and Israeli press as well as internationally. It was a major news item at its launching, and has generated numerous positive responses from leading politicians, as well as the general public. Polls have shown public support for the initiative to be above one third in both societies. The Initiative continues to be a factor in driving public debate, at this stage from the op-ed rather than the news pages.

The framework proposes a model for the settlement of critical issues that have divided the parties through the years, such as Jerusalem, borders, refugees and security arrangements. Meant to compliment the Quartet Road Map, the Geneva Initiative represents a comprehensive peace settlement that could be beneficial for both sides, ending ineffectual interim agreements and unilateralism, and paving the way for a historic reconciliation of the two peoples. The Geneva Initiative was officially launched on the 1st of December, 2003, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Through the past year, the Palestinian Peace Coalition/ GI continued its public education in the area of peace, non-violence and democracy through working in every district in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The nation-wide program aims to promote the public acceptance of peace, non violence and human rights advocacy in the Palestinian society, especially amongst youth and women, who represent the most fragile parts in the nation.

Significantly, the Geneva Initiative seeks to prove that amidst a climate of hate and mistrust born out of years of violence and suffering on both sides, an agreement can be reached. It demonstrates that partners for peace exist on the Israeli and Palestinian side.

Introduction

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Workshops and Training Sessions

The training and awareness raising program by PPC/GI constituted the main leverage of its

policy. The program aimed mainly at strengthening the Palestinian internal front, as well as

building the capacity of the beneficiaries themselves. Such training is considered the main

opportunity for reaching and educating all members of the PPC/GI The training came in the

following forms:

Educating the youth •

about the terms of Peace

and non-violence.

Specialized training •

about tolerance and

accepting the other.

Specialized trainings •

for youth, women and

society leaders.

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In the year 2004, the Palestinian Peace Coalition was the first to launch a project that is based on the concepts of Peace, non-violence, tolerance and accepting the other.

The project aimed to reach and educate the largest number of people, about the terms of peace and non-violence, in order to help decrease the status of violence in the Palestinian society, which was a natural reaction from the second Intifada.

The project was mainly workshops, seminars and camps for 1112 days that was specialized only in educating the youth, on how to deal with the other part, how to accept them, to believe in the peace process and refuse all means of violence. The project was a total

success, not only for the enormous number of people that participated, but for the changes and effect left on those who participated

The Concepts of Peace and Non-Violence:

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To influence the mentalities and behavior through education •

To educate the youth about the concept of peace, non-violence and tolerance•

To promote a culture of rights and responsibilities •

Development of socioeconomic infrastructure •

To participate in a variety of public civil actions, to maintain democracy and freedom•

The objectives of Workshops and training Sessions:

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The main objective of the Palestinian Peace Coalition is to spread the message of peace for the broadest number of people, throughout open town meetings, and many public events and activities, in order to communicate directly with people to enhance their potential and enable them to assume leadership roles in society.

To complement the broad media campaigns that the PPC/GI engages in, the organization works on holding open-public events in different locations throughout the PA territories. The day-long event, held in a different location each time, includes a range of activities that engage the local residents in open discussions and dialogue regarding the peace process, negotiations, means to achieve an endgame solution and the role of the community-public. In each event, key public figures spend a full day “on-site” participating in diverse events that engage the local community.

Specific activities may include appearances at local schools; meetings with city councils, activists, NGOs; stalls in the main squares; and an end-of-day “Town Hall” meeting.

Open Town Meetings/Public Events:

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Emphasis on the maintenance and protection of the Palestinian political program •adopted by the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1988, and all the legitimate Palestinian institutions.

Respect the role of PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinian People•

The development of public opinion, and the awakening of social awareness on •issues of concern to society in terms of its seriousness and its negative effects, and the need to resolve.

To demonstrate the existence •of a Palestinian partner against the backdrop of the establishment of the Palestinian unity government and the opportunity for resumption of bilateral talks.

Demonstrate the credibility •and desirability of negotiations, and their possible content.

The objectives of public events:

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In the last couple of years, the percentage of people who participated in the open town meetings was unbelievable, as it was increasing every year and in every activity, the fact which reflects the people`s need to hear and get heard.

And that was clear in the PPC-GI program to promote and strengthen rational voices as well as the campaign of « raise you voice….Vote», were a large number of people participated in this campaign that was directed to the Palestinian public to vote, and urging them to raise the voice of peace and democracy.

The importance of open Town Meeting and public events:

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They are political dialogue seminars which aimed to strengthen the dialogue between individuals living in Palestine and Israelis. The direct channels of discussion were used by each party, to address their grievances in a format that promotes the culture, of open debate and negotiated solutions instead of military superiority to solve conflicts. In 2007 - 2009, the PPC organized, Several joint seminars, with a strong focus on promoting the culture of peace.

JOINT SEMINARAS:

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Raising the voice of the majority of youth on both sides and urging them to participate •in putting an end to the conflict.

Promoting and supporting the Geneva Initiative & the Arab Peace Initiative as a •realistic solution and end the conflict.

Emphasizing on ending the occupation and the establishment of an independent •Palestinian state.

Emphasizing that there is a true partner for peace.•

Breaking commonly held negative views, and provide participants with information, •about the possible peaceful solution, to core issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict mainly Jerusalem and refugees questions, according to Geneva Initiative and other peace plans.

Addressing the International •Community with Geneva Initiative`s policy further to different developments on the ground and engage this community in finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Demonstrate the credibility •and desirability of negotiations, and their possible content.

The Importance of the Joint Seminars:

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The joint meetings convened by the PPC/GI constituted a model of political dialogue between both Palestinians and Israelis. This model was mainly based on exchange of views and the respect of the other point of view. It also, provided the participants from both sides with the free platform to speak and express their opinions towards the different issues of the conflict.

Throughout the seminars, a wide range of topics were raised and discussed, including topics that are considered a core issue for both sides, such as Jerusalem, the segregation wall, the water issue, settlements, refugees, borders, Palestinian economy under the occupation, the effect of the wall on both sides, and above all the role of the youth in creating a change in their own society.

The purpose of the joint seminars is to bring both Palestinian and Israelis, side by side, and think together «how to end this Conflict», and throughout the discussion we hear a lot of things, from laughing, shouting, agreeing on something, and disagreeing on another, and here are some of the quotes that we heard from the participants:

On the methodology: The main topics discussed in the meetings:

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«.., there will be no peace until both sides respect each others»….

« I had a pervious idea about what to eccept, but after I came here everything has changed»….

« for once it is good to sit in front of someone you have blamed your whole life, and just say what you have always wanted to say»….

« we shouted, we yelled, sometimes we cried, but in the end I noticed that we are all the same»…

« ……I do believe in the two state solutions, if we managed to live together for a couple of days, then we will mange to live together side by side»…

«……No matter what you are, Palestinian or Israeli, it doesn’t matter in the end of the day we are both flesh and blood»…

•«..,sometimesweask:Howcanmyvoicealonewouldhaveanimpact?»weanswer:«it could be your voice who makes that impact»….

Quotes:

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The launching of the Geneva Initiative on December 1st, 2003 as a model for a draft «Permanent Status Agreement» between Israelis and Palestinians came at a time of increased violence, destruction, and loss of hope on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

The GI organized a series of political oriented meetings, aiming at launching a serious debate about the persisting state of affairs, within Palestine and Israel. Through our activities, we challenged two claims that have been put forward by the skeptics, and by those whose agenda was served by the absence of a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. First, it challenged the claim that a peaceful solution of this conflict is not possible.

Secondly, it demonstrated that there are partners on both sides who are able to make peace contrary to the claim that either side has no partner with whom to make peace.

Furthermore, by targeting the political decision circle, including parliamentarians, ministers and other officials, the Geneva Initiative forced a deep and serious debate, not only about the permanent status issues, but more importantly, on the resurgence of the debate within the national or «secular» political factions on the political discourse about the need for a revival of a pragmatic political vision based on the two-state solution.

The Geneva Initiative also tackled the issue of national division, creating a platform for representatives of every Palestinian faction to put pressure and create conditions needed to reach an end to the political split.

Political Meetings:

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Raising awareness and ensuring public support for the bilateral •negotiations on a final agreement among the Israeli and Palestinian societies and leadership.

Promoting for the Geneva Initiative as model for translating the two state •solution among the Palestinian and Israeli societies.

Searching for a true partner, by addressing decision makers, civil society •organizations, the media and policy echelons.

Respecting the role of the PLO as the sole representative of the Palestinian •people.

Strengthens moderate voices and exerts pressure on Israeli and Palestinian •leaderships to purse bilateral negotiations to achieve the two-state solution.

Objectives:

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The PPC-GI aimed at creating a basis for networking between civil society organizations. Such basis is mainly dependent on strengthening the concepts of peace, non-violence and tolerance in the Palestinian society.

The network of relations with a variety of Palestinian civil society organizations helped in creating a body functioning as a watch dog and political advocacy group, and take an active role in empowering the Palestinian society, especially the fragile segments, in order to take an active role in the political processes and the shaping a Palestinian political and socioeconomic system, based on moderate and liberal values.

Our actions and activities with the civil society address a series of topics and target groups in order to mobilize the public into participating in the process of decision making. Such activities mostly take the form of seminars, workshops and capacity building training.

Throughout our cooperation with the civil society organizations we created the mechanisms necessary to influence the public opinion, increased the role of women and youth in the political and social life and equipped local community and activist groups with the tools and knowledge, thus triggering a “bottom-up” process and momentum to promote peace, tolerance and the democratic values.

Civil Society

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To contribute in building a democratic civil society based on the respect of human •rights, respect of the role of law, social justice, non-violence, and mitigating all acts of discrimination.

To build a broader coalition supporting the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-•Israeli conflict based on the two-state model in accordance with the UN resolutions and within the parameters of the Geneva Accord.

To create a platform •for dialogue among the members of the civil society sector; including political parties, unions, business sector and other social movements.

Promoting the culture •of peace, dialogue and non-violence in the society.

Promoting the •ideologies of equality and strengthening the democratic political system.

Objectives:

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Youth Camps

The PPC/GI works with a large group of selected youth leaders, both males and females, who have been nominated from the different youth and education institutions for training them intensively on the issues of leadership skills, peace building and education, conflict resolution by non-violent means and on the communication and presentation techniques.

Thousands of youth leaders have joined these sessions and seminars throughout the last 6 years, with more than 20 youth camps had been held over the last two years. The overall objective of these youth camps is to create strong base of young leaders, who believe in the culture of peace and in disseminating the same among others.

The youth camps are divided into three categories:

Leadership Programs•

Voluntary work•

Empowerment of the youth •

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Objectives:

Empowerment of youth and civil society organizations.•

Reduce stereotypes, prejudice and ethnocentrism among the Palestinian youth •and replace them with a different view of others as peace partners.

Increase people`s acquaintance with, and acceptance of, the Geneva Accord as •an appropriate model for solving the conflict.

Strengthen the role and representation of youth in the public life.•

To produce a core group of volunteers and young activists to work as •ambassadors of peace and tolerance in their local areas and societies.

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