Members of the Alternative Information Center (AIC) and the Palestinian Union of Social Workers and Psychologists discussing the issue of normalization between Palestinians and Israelis (photo by the AIC, 2008).
In April, the Alternative Information Center (AIC) signed an
agreement of cooperation with the Palestinian Union of Social Workers and
Psychologists, Hebron district. This 600 member union, the largest in the
southern West Bank, has requested that the AIC
provide its members with a monthly programme of workshops, lectures and other
enrichment activities from the progressive and joint Palestinian-Israeli
perspective of the AIC.
“The importance of this cooperation cannot be
overestimated,” notes Ahmad Jaradat, AIC fieldworker and native of the Hebron area. “The Union
of Social Workers and Psychologists is a grassroots, voluntary organization—not
an NGO. Its members come from throughout the Hebron district, women and men, and it is a
democratic association that holds transparent elections every two years. The
Steering Committee of the Union is also very
special, being composed of members of all Palestinian national parties. The
fact that such a grassroots group actively sought out the AIC, a joint
Palestinian-Israeli association, is testament to our strong work within
Palestinian society,” adds Jaradat.
The AIC already conducted its first activity for the Union
of Social Workers and Psychologists last week, as the AIC Policy Director
Nassar Ibrahim presented a lecture on the issue of normalization. A hot topic
within Palestinian society, Ibrahim noted the importance of defining normalization
and treating it as a living and not theoretical topic. “Normalization, or the
attempt to render the abnormal occupation and its impacts as normal, is a
primary cause of the peace process failures to date,” stated Ibrahim.
“In my discussion I challenged participants to reject
normalization while stating categorically that only a joint Palestinian-Israeli
struggle can lead to a just peace and joint living in the area,” noted Ibrahim.
“I reminded everyone that the Palestinian national movement has already dealt
with the question of joint work with Israelis, this is not a new issue.”
In May, toward the 60th anniversary of the
Palestinian Naqba, the AIC will conduct a workshop for members of the
Union of Social Workers and Psychologists entitled “The Culture of Exile.”
Nassar Ibrahim, policy director of the AIC, discussing the issue of normalization with members of the Palestinian Union of Social Workers and Psychologists (photo by the AIC, 2008).
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