A delegation of Ultra-Orthodox senior media figures visit Belfast and London for meetings, 14th – 17th September 2014

Forward Thinking, supported by the British Embassy to Israel, facilitated a delegation of six senior media figures from the Ultra-Orthodox community in Israel to hold meetings in Belfast and London. This visit allowed the delegates to share the various experiences of Unionist and Republican religious and political figures and to discuss what they perceive as the mistakes and achievements of the Northern Ireland Peace Process. Various meetings with religious leaders in Belfast provided a forum for the delegates to explore the roles of politics and religion within a peace process. Furthermore, through meetings with victims of violence and former combatants, the delegation discussed topics such as dealing with the past and moving away from violence.In London, the delegation were received by the Vice Chancellor and senior staff of St Mary's University Twickenham, as well as by trustees of the NGO IDEALS and Lord Hylton in Parliament. These meetings allowed wide-ranging discussions on a number of key issues, including the roles of, and relationships between, religion, politics and different forms of 'extremism.'