Speakers
Yossi Mekelberg, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House
Dr Edith Schlaffer, Women Without Borders
The Next Century Foundation attended an ICSR event at King’s
College on May 10 which discussed the role of civil society in conflict
resolution strategies, highlighting personal cases in the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. The two speakers, Yossi Mekelberg of Chatham House and Webster
University, and Dr Edith Schlaffer of Women Without Borders, gave accounts of
their experiences and involvement in the grassroots of conflict resolution.
Dr Edith Schlaffer noted how Women Without Borders targets
Palestinian and Israeli women to drive the peace process from the grassroots
level ‘through, intimacy and honesty’. Projects such as SAVE (Sisters Against
Violent Extremism) and Mothers For Change, work to involve Palestinian and
Israeli mothers to share their grievances with each other. Work by SAVE and Mothers For Change has included creating dialogue between mothers and victims of suicide bombers from Palestine and Israel.
SAVE looks for credible civil society groups and those women already
challenging the extremist ideologies and works with them to de radicalise the
youth. Quoting a case study, Dr Schlaffer noted how SAVE interviewed 40
Palestinian women; not one wanted their son to be a martyr. The role of women in peace processes,
she said, was ruefully lacking, especially considering that they have the
potential to be the driving force in civil society. Women’s closeness to both
the family and the community, Dr Schlaffer explained, could be pivotal in grassroots peace strategies.
Yossi Mekelberg argued that civil society is central to a
democratic country as it provides an important check for the State. He was
rueful of the current political situation in Israel following the announcement of the new coalition, which he felt left little
room for a legitimate and strong opposition in the Knesset and that the role of
civil society would therefore become pivotal. He intimated that civil society
in Israel has historically been strong, retelling a story of when he was
serving in the Israeli army during the Lebanese War in 1982 whilst protesting against the war when not on duty.
However, the current situation in Israel presents a civil
society that is lacking of a Leftist influence, Mekelberg said. He argued that
70% of the Israeli population support a two-state solution but do not see a
viable opposition on the Palestinian side to engage with in negotiations. Therefore, there need to be strong civil society groups in Israel to engage people in the peace process. There
are examples of cross national organisations that exist, such as the Physicians
for Humans Rights (made up of Arab and Israeli physicians), but for Mekelberg
more needs to be done.
Yossi Mekelberg has been involved in the Blood Relations
Project, a symbolic act where grieving Palestinians and Israelis come together
to donate blood – to be shared by Israeli hospitals through the Israeli Blood
Bank, Magen David Adom and by the Al-Makassed Islamic Charitable Society
Hospital for Palestinians in East Jerusalem.
The role of a strong civil society is evidently crucial to
drive a peace process forward. The Arab Spring has highlighted the importance
and strength of civil societies in mobilising and safeguarding change. Equally,
grassroots peace movement ideas should be examined in policy making processes
in a region that has been blighted by failed conventional methods.
