|
To the untrained political eye, the AIC conference may seem like a
standard political or academic conference. Yet, this perception is
erroneous, as regional and international political developments dictate
against the holding of a joint Palentinian-Israeli seminar,
particularaly in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
To begin with, the decision to organise an international conference
in Bethlehem was far from obvious at a time when even the 'modest'
ceasefire had been systematically and methodically sabotaged by the
Israeli Occupation army.
Secondly, it was unimaginable to gather over 50 international
guests and panellists at a time when Israeli authorities had already
started implementing countless obstacles preventing international
activists from reaching Palestine.
Thirdly, it was difficult to fathom obtaining the agreement of
both the local Palestinian community and the national and popular
organisations to the mere presence of 50 Israelis in Occupied
Bethlehem, even if they were anti-Occupation activists. Part of the
local Palestinian population was obviously reluctant of the presence of
unknown guests who are citizens of the occupying state.
Lastly, it was truly unique to succeed in bringing Israelis to
an Occupied Palestinian city at a time when Israeli authorities were
effectively criminalising such meetings and acts.
Consequently, for the first time in recent memory members of
the Palestinian, international and Israeli civil societies gatherd in a
central Palestinian city to discuss their domestic and regional
situation and its linkages to the larger struggle against
neo-liberal globalisation on the one hand, and the international
anti-war movement on the other. -- from the Introduction by Dr. Moshe (Shiko) Behar
|
Publications 
