| | A Moment for Peace, October 2003
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« In order to exert influence here : one first needs to understand there » | Never has the possibility of peace seemed so distant. Never has the Middle-East sent out such a desperate cry. This is what has determined to organize "A Moment for Peace" the first Inter-Parliamentary Forum in the Middle East that took place 25th to 28th October 2003. This initiative gathered the largest delegation of parliamentarians ever to come to the region :
Where the efforts of diplomats have been unsuccessful, parliamentarians tried to put things forward. They have the legitimacy through election, they like to be in contact with realities and they know about people's sensitivities. | 160 Parliamentarians
The MedBridge delegation represented a very wide spectrum of the European political landscape. | 70%
of the participants had never been to this region. | 28 Parliaments
The European Parliament together with National Parliaments from 25 countries from the European Union joined by the Norwegian and Swiss Parliament. | 15 volunteers
About 15 young volunteers from Paris, Strasbourg, London, Berlin and Brussels dedicated themselves to the realization of this project. |
| Meeting with the real actors of war and peace | This event was hosted and attended by a range of exceptional personalities : | | "Your coming is important. Thanks to this, the people from this region are going to feel less misunderstood, less lonely and this is already not so bad" Elie Wiesel | "Europe has to continue its active role in supporting the peace process" "Until the Israeli-Palestinian issue is not resolved you will never have any political, social and economical reforms in the Middle East region" King Abdullah of Jordan |  |  | "Your visit is important, not only because we want you to listen to us, but also because we want to hear you: dialogue can't be a one way process..." Shimon Peres | "Help us here to create a little Europe. Make them understand that it is worthwhile living with us in Peace"
Tommy Lapid, Israeli Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Justice |  |  | "I want to tell you that you are friends here and I want you to feel as friends" Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister of the State of Israel
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"It's a fact, Europe does not understand Israel anymore but Israel does not talk to Europe anymore" François Zimeray | With very harsh words, Salah Ta'mari, Member of Parliament and President of the law commission of the Palestinian Legislative Council describes to us the wrong-being of everyday life and the morally and economically desperate situation of the Palestinian people. |  |  | At the Knesset, labour party member Avraham Burg defended with passion Israeli democracy. | If one does not understand terrorism, one does not understand Israel.
Facing the shock of human realities, parliamentarians have been able to apprehend the whole complexity of the situation. A very moving meeting with A. Roth took place who talked to us about his 15 year-old daughter who was killed in a suicide attack in Jerusalem. |  |
| Goals reached | Back in their respective countries, numerous participants have expressed the wish to take initiatives in order to follow up what has started with this trip, a true awareness of the realities in the Middle East.
More than ever, Europe can play an active role, under the condition that it will take a balanced position. This trip has changed prejudices. For the members of the delegation "A Moment for Peace" has created a desire for stronger involvement in their own parliaments. |
| "The next step is that we forward the message in our country"
Joseph Cuschieri, Maltese MP | "My impression of the EU involvement has changed. I am convinced that Europeans should strengthen cooperation with the US to make peace more efficient"
Jacek Protasiewicz, Polish MP | "This is an excellent initiative"
Vytautas Landsbergis, former President of Lithuania and now Member of the European Parliament | "My point of view about the Israeli position as changed. I have now a better understanding of its concerns"
Germa Bel, Spanish MP | "I do feel that many parliamentarians like me left with a different perspective of the situation. I feel that Europe should play a grater role in the Middle East and start to be more sensitive to the Israeli viewpoint. It was my first time in Jerusalem and I felt like if I was the place we are always reading about on the news."
Jeffrey Pullicino, Maltese Member of Parliament |
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