Middle East Programme

Durable agreements to end conflict require the active engagement of those with real constituency. The prime focus of our work in the Middle East is to promote a truly inclusive peace process through dialogue with key Israeli and Palestinian political and religious leaders, who can either help facilitate or hinder progress towards a lasting peace in the region. We promote greater regional and international awareness of issues that obstruct progress and sustain the current impasse, which risks the unnecessary loss of human life.  To create real momentum towards a sustainable peace and future for the region, we:

Engage in a genuine dialogue with cross party and factional Palestinian and Israeli political and religious leaders to understand their perspectives and to share those of others

Organise out of country visits aimed at challenging perspectives and sharing different human insights into resolving violent conflict

Arrange regular roundtable discussions and seminars with visiting experts to share know-how and provide opportunities for reflection

Develop our existing working relationships with those perceived to be ‘hard-line’ Israeli and Palestinian political leaders and factions

Maintain a regional diplomatic dialogue aimed at providing a more informed regional and international response to the conflict

Provide regular briefings to European and regional governments with an analysis of current events

Offer safe spaces for dialogue within and out of the region

The ‘top down’ solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have failed in the past and will continue to fail. A durable agreement that can change lives and prevent further violence requires at each stage of the process the active engagement of key leaders from both sides. Those perceived to be political or religious hardliners need to be engaged.  To promote a genuine process towards peace in the region we need to be good listeners.