Cross-party delegation of MLAs from Northern Ireland visit Israel and the West Bank, 25th – 30th October 2015

Between 25th – 30th October Forward Thinking facilitated the visit to Israel and the West Bank of a delegation of Northern IrishMembers of the Legislative Assembly from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Independents.

Travelling between Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Ramallah the delegation met with members of the Knesset and members of the PLC, academics and British and Irish diplomats, in order to share the experience of the conflict and subsequent peace process in Northern Ireland and to explore the parallels and divergences with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The diversity of political perspectives within the delegation of MLAs ensured that discussions addressed the existence of deep oppositions within an imperfect but peaceful framework, making clear the reality of the challenges but dividends of peace.

In the context of the escalating violence in Jerusalem, the deep fear on both sides was tangible. All participants described the widespread sense of frustration and hopelessness which, on the Israeli side, is fuelling the logic of security, containment and status quo, and on the Palestinian side, the resort to violence out of despair. One key theme that emerged was the necessity of both Israel and the Palestinians creating the conditions for the development of a representative and functioning Palestinian government, restoring a degree of confidence in the political process.