Panel Discussion: Conflict Resolution in the Middle East: Capacity Building to Promote Peace and Security

The Middle East Program and the Institute for Inclusive Security hosted a panel discussion with Jinane Doumit, Permanent Peace Movement - Lebanon, Rawan Natsheh, UNESCO, Welfare Association - Palestine, Anat Reisman-Levy, Citizens Accord Forum – Israel and Luna Saddeh, Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling - Palestine. The speakers discussed their experiences in advancing peace in the Middle East at the grassroots level.

Luna Saddeh explained that at the Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counseling she trains people on women's rights issues. She uses tools such as advocacy, documentation, media and capacity building. She works closely with organizations and scholars to sensitize them to gender issues, and empowering women. As the heart of the family, the woman has the power to instill important values that can encourage non-violence and peace. For this to continue happening, however, it is important that women are aware of their legal rights. Women residing in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza and refugee camps do not have a unified legal system to which to adhere. As a result, many women are simply unaware of the securities and protection that can be provided to them by the law. This is another area to which Saddeh has focused most of her efforts. She has worked to develop a unified legislation that focuses specifically on the penal code and family laws, two pieces of legislation that affect women the most.

Jinane Doumit trains people in villages in Lebanon and in Palestinian camps on issues such as conflict resolution, human rights, advocacy and democracy. She is the program manger for the Citizen Lebanon project funded by the National Democratic Institute. She told the participants that at one of her workshops, two extremist groups, Hizballah and the Lebanese Forces, engaged in constructive dialogue and realized that they shared many common values. She argued that many of these opposition groups have the ability to connect and find a common ground; the only stalling point is actually the political leaders. Doumit also stressed the importance of including women in the process of peace building. Some of her recommendations included developing action plans with proper training and having governments work more closely with civil society. In terms of multilateral organizations, she urged them to refuse participation with groups that excluded women from the process.

Rawan Natsheh argued that for capacity building to work effectively, close attention should be paid to the actual needs, wants and realities of the people on the ground. With her experience in research, advocacy and training, she has worked to help young women get involved in the economy. With most of their lives immersed in conflict, women's most pressing needs are learning to sustain themselves economically; only 13% of women actively participate in the workforce. As a project coordinator for UNESCO, Natsheh organized numerous meetings and workshops to teach women how to get involved and survive after a crisis.

Anat Reisman-Levy is the deputy director of the Citizens' Accord Forum and pushes to find a common ground for Jewish and Arab citizens. She works with governmental and non-governmental organizations. In her view, violence comes as a reaction to unmet needs. In the recent crisis in Gaza, Reisman-Levy explained that Israel felt threatened and attacked to uphold its security. The Israeli siege, on the other hand, threatened Gaza's security by stopping the flow of food, clothes, humanitarian aid and other such necessities. Thus, both sides had valid arguments that were based on unfulfilled needs. Engaging all stakeholders in conflict resolution, regardless of what side they are on, is also crucial. In her opinion, there are three identity groups that are essential in understanding the ongoing conflict: the Palestinians in the occupied territories, the Israeli majority and the Palestinian minority in Israel. This third group, the Palestinian minority, was not addressed in the Oslo Accords. The Arab minority was considered an internal Israeli problem but has only resulted in their oppression. It is for this reason that Reisman-Levy's projects have aimed to give these minority groups a voice. Reisman-Levy emphasized that the Arab woman in Israel faces oppression threefold; she is oppressed as a woman in patriarchal Arab culture, as an Arab in Israel and finally as a woman in Israel. As a result, Reisman-Levy has focused much of her work on socio-economic and community development with her primary program, Ofek Nashi, working to empower women and instill social change for Arab women through business. Much of this project has worked to create positive role models of success in civil society and business.

Drafted by Nassima Barrows on behalf of the Middle East Program