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Alternative Information Center (AIC)

I. AIC Mission Statement

The Alternative Information Center (AIC) is an internationally oriented, progressive, joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization. It is engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy, grassroots activism and critical analysis of the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The AIC strives to promote full individual and collective social, economic, political and gender equality, freedom and democracy and a rejection of the ideology and praxis (weltanschauung) of separation.

The most urgent regional task is to find a just solution to the century-old colonial conflict in Palestine and confront the ongoing Israeli occupation-regime within its international framework. The AIC method of action develops from the awareness that local struggle must be practically and analytically situated within the framework of the global justice struggle.

The internal AIC structure and working relationship aims to reflect the above mentioned values.

II. Context

Since the collapse of the Oslo agreements, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is growing increasingly complex. Polarized perceptions fueled by injustices and inequalities are leading to mounting instability in the region, threatening the life and well being of all residents of West Asia, in addition to overall peace in our globalised world.

With the September 2000 eruption of the second Palestinian Intifada, Israel adopted extreme and ever hardening military, economic and political measures to coerce the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian people to accept Israel's dictates. These measures, together with the incompetence and rampant administrative and financial corruption in the Palestinian National Authority, led to the January 2006 electoral victory of Hamas to the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Europe and the United States, which strongly promoted these January 2006 elections, reacted to Hamas’ democratic victory by supporting Israel's demand to boycott the newly elected government, thus isolating the Palestinian people and nourishing a military confrontation between Hamas and Fatah. As a consequence of this boycott, a political and humanitarian crisis erupted in the areas ruled by the Palestinian Authority, leading the Palestinian people to the edge of a civil war. Simultaneously, Israel's military attacks and the construction of new settlements and the Wall continue, unabated and with impunity.

The hostile policies towards the democratically elected Palestinian government that were adopted by the European Union and the United States, as well as their unconditional alignment with Israel, express the perception that relations between the West and the Islamic world constitute a "clash of civilizations." This perception, that foresees a permanent global war, has long been promoted by neo-conservative ideologues in the United States and was and partially or fully adopted by western governments after September 11, 2001. West Asia and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are at the very heart of this global war, representing its vanguard and focal point.

Israel's mainstream politicians and opinion makers interpreted the new ideological trends in the West as the end of all peace perspectives in the region and began embracing a regime of separation between the Palestinians, both those in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as well as those who are citizens of Israel, and the Israeli Jews as a desired policy and a political plan. Accepting the ideological premises of the "clash of civilizations", the Israeli mainstream came to a conclusion that there is no need for peace as it is possible to also benefit greatly from a ‘tense security situation.’

However, the Israeli Jewish population does not profit from the separation regime in the making. In fact, as privatization policies are implemented, thus leading to the accumulation of tremendous capitals in the hands of large companies while the welfare state and its symbols are dismantled, a corrupted political system is emerging. As a consequence, social marginalization, poverty and unemployment are all growing.

The Israeli public shares with the Palestinians under occupation a desperation and lack of faith in the political system; no viable alternatives to permanent war and deepening poverty are in sight.

In the period 2007-2010, the Alternative Information Center (AIC) will focus its efforts and resources to actively create for Palestinians, Israelis and internationals a space to discuss, strategize and promote alternatives to the current deadly stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within its local, regional and global contexts. The AIC understands that due to extensive global and regional involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the resolution of the conflict also requires regional and global involvement and cooperation.

As a joint Palestinian-Israeli organization, the AIC further realises that a sustainable peace in the region requires a complete and utter rejection of the ideologies that foster and promote a "clash of civilizations," separation, and social injustice.

Finally, the AIC emphasizes that the end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict demands the end of Israeli occupation and the recognition and implementation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

III. Thematic Areas of Work and Methodology

As a joint Palestinian-Israeli organization that combines activism, research and the dissemination of information, the AIC is a singular space in which Palestinians, Israelis and internationals can develop deeper and more comprehensive perspectives of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within its local, regional and global contexts.  These understandings will contribute to the development of strategies to answer the challenges of the occupation and those created by a reality of global conflict.

Owing to its character and unique socio-political location, the AIC is able to construct bridges between the Palestinian and Israeli societies and contribute to a forging of the political will to address the imbalances and injustices of the conflict. Moreover, as an organization working on the emerging rifts between Islamic and western cultures and societies, the AIC is ideally situated to address the perceptions that contribute to Islamophobia, anti-Semitism and the ideologies related to the touted clash of civilizations.  

In order to answer the challenges posed by the current context, from 2007-2010 the AIC will direct its work in three distinct but interrelated thematic areas:

1. Occupation Watch Centre (OWC)

a.       Occupation Watch Centre (OWC) researches and analyses different social, political, economic and cultural aspects of the Israeli occupation and the way it shapes both Palestinian and Israeli societies. The project will pay special attention to the economy of the occupation, as well as to the political developments in Israel and the Palestinian National Authority.

b.      Due to the central role that Jerusalem and the Israeli settlements play in the development and perception of the conflict, the OWC will research these issues, reporting on settlement related activities and settler violence while concentrating on the social and economic implications of Israeli policies in Jerusalem.

2. Building a Future Together (BFT)

 a.       Building a Future Together will organize meetings, workshops, roundtables and conferences for Palestinian and Israeli peace advocates, as well as for those activists working within marginalized and impoverished communities. These activities will promote strategizing and grassroots cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians in the struggle against the occupation.

 b.      Building a Future Together will particularly target its work toward Palestinian communities hitherto marginalized from the activities of peace organizations, with special emphasis on empowerment activities with Palestinian women and youth.  

 c.       In addition to bridging between activists and organisations through its broadcast and electronically published media, Building a Future Together aims to reevaluate the experience of the popular movements and their relations with political initiatives in order to contribute to better strategizing and promotion of alternatives to the current stalemate in the peace process.

 d.      Finally, BFT will directly challenge the culture of conflict and separation that has evolved between Israelis and Palestinians by encouraging the work of writers and artists that promotes a cultural alternative to the conflict, highlighting traditions of constructive exchanges and cross-fertilization to promote peaceful joint living in the region.

3. International Alternatives (IA)

a.       International Alternatives will research and analyse the regional and global dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, utilizing this research to advocate with governments and multilateral institutions for the end of the Israeli occupation and fulfillment of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

 b.     International Alternatives will work closely with the international alter-globalization movement to research the policies of global war and clash of civilizations in order to propose viable alternatives. In its global work with the alter-globalization movement, the AIC will prioritize action with the Alter-Inter Network in a global dimension and with the Magreb-Mashreq network in its regional dimension.

c.       Finally, International Alternatives will disseminate among Palestinian and Israeli social movements these global themes and discussions through reports, seminars and meetings.

The implementation of AIC thematic programs will combine diverse methodologies including publication and dissemination of magazines, reports and policy papers, workshops and conferences, media production, art exhibitions, dissemination over the internet and the publication of books. 

 
IV. Organisational and Programmatic Structures of the AIC

3.1 Program Structure

In the period 2007-2010, AIC projects will be divided into three thematic areas, as outlined in Section II above: Occupation Watch Centre (OWC), Building a Future Together (BFT) and International Alternatives (IA). The thematic areas are distinct but interrelated, such that project staff will work closely to ensure cross fertilization amongst thematic areas and the cultivation of innovative ideas and activities.

3.2 The Directorship Desk

A hierarchical structure of management will be in place while the directorship desk will pro-actively cultivate staff based decision-making procedures. The Directorship Desk will include an Executive Director, a Program Director and a Political Director.

The AIC Board of Directors possesses the authority to alter both the number of staff members comprising the Directorship Desk and the internal distribution of responsibilities within this desk. In all cases, the Board of Directors will consider the Israeli-Palestinian as well as gender balances when altering the number of members and responsibilities within the Directorship Desk.

Under the leadership of the Executive Director, the Directorship Desk as a collective is responsible for the development and implementation of all AIC programs. Decisions will be reached by consensus and the Board of Directors may discuss issues around which consensus is not attained.

The Directorship Desk possesses the decision making authorities relating to all practical matters of program implementation, including but not limited to the reallocation of staff within the organization, the establishment of program priorities and allocation of resources.

The Directorship Desk will meet regularly to both follow up on daily organizational functioning and for longer term issues of planning. It will transparently inform the AIC collective about its decisions, providing that these decisions do not violate the right of privacy of staff members. 

In all issues regarding the employment of staff members, the Directorship Desk will consult with staff members when relevant and the Board of Directors, or a member of the Board of Directors appointed for this matter. The final decision to terminate the employment of a staff member resides with the Board of Directors.

3.3 The AIC Collective

The goal of the Alternative Information Center's labor practices are to promote a working environment that facilitates the collective implementation of the organization's programs, while preserving and fostering the organization's commitments to its values.

The AIC collective is composed of its staff members. Interns, volunteers or individuals contracted to perform specific tasks may be invited to join collective meetings when appropriate.

AIC staff members are collectively committed to the implementation of its mandate. Each member of the collective works on specific and defined projects, but is committed to the overall implementation of the AIC programs. When appropriate, staff members will share responsibilities with other collective members, assisting in tasks allocated to other desks when needed.

The AIC promotes democratic relations among its collective, pro-actively establishing communication channels to encourage an open dialogue on AIC goals, objectives and programs. The goals of internal discussions are to foster the implementation of AIC programs as decided upon by the General Assembly and the Board of Directors and to raise staff awareness and understanding of the staff on issues related to the goals and objectives of the organization.

As an organization committed to radical democratic values, the Alternative Information Center categorically rejects all forms of discrimination among its Board of Directors, its Directorship Desk, staff, interns, volunteers and persons contracted to pursue specific tasks.