Como, Italy, May 22-June 2, 2002

The International Peace and Cooperation Center (IPCC) and the Peres Center For Peace organized a Palestinian-Israeli Civil Society Forum entitled “Crisis in the Middle East: Civil Society’s Role in Shaping the Future”. Over 20 Israeli and Palestinian civil society leaders with a shared ambition to generate new ideas on conflict resolution and their future relations attended the event.

The Forum consisted of several sessions, each touching upon different aspects of the role of the civil society in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The topics of discussion were The Palestinian and the Israeli Civil Society – State of Affairs; The Current Crisis: Causes and Implications; Political Negotiations Scenarios and their Influence over the Conciliation Process and the Civil Societies; The Role of Civil Society in Influencing Public Opinion in Regards of Peace Building; The Current Situation and Future Scenarios of Palestinian – Israeli Relationships: What To Do and How?; and Rethinking the Palestinian and Israeli Relationship.

The participants articulated the grave political, social and economical situation of both sides, addressed the complex reality of the crisis and the fears and dilemmas of the people, and discussed the role of civil society in the political conflict. They concluded that the changes in the political situation after 1994 and the Oslo agreement have affected the role of civil society in Palestine, giving it a less political form. They also agreed that the main goal of civil society groups should be to influence public opinion in order to affect the policy of the government.

The closing sessions discussed actions required for the future. Palestinian participants concluded that any vision of peace should not be predicated on the formation of a mini state but rather on a full sovereign state, existing side by side with the Israeli state and based on the 1967 borders. The Palestinian and Israeli participants agreed upon a joint mission to deliver a relevant and responsible message of peace and dialogue.