Palestinian and Israeli Mayors praise role of city-to-city diplomacy in Middle East peace process
Local and regional authorities in Europe have a crucial role to play in helping to establish the conditions for peace between the Palestinian and Israeli people – this was the message from Mayor of Gaza Majed Abu RAMADAN and Israeli Mayor Yossi SHVO at a seminar in Brussels, organised by the Commission for External Relations of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 31 May.
The two Mayors, who were welcomed to the CoR by President Michel DELEBARRE, both stressed the importance of support from the 'bottom-up' in efforts to achieve concrete results on the ground and to foster dialogue. "Central governments can sign treaties, but it is the local and municipal authorities who make the changes necessary to achieve sustainable peace," said Dr Ramadan.
Opening the seminar, President Delebarre said "city-to-city diplomacy" had not received the recognition it deserves at national or international level, but that it was making a real difference to the lives of ordinary people caught up in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. M. Delebarre, Mayor of Dunkerque (FR), testified to the efforts of his own city, which has helped build a public library and park for peace in Gaza . It is also working in partnership with other European cities on social housing projects in the city. "We should be shouting from the rooftops about the success of practical diplomacy like this," he commented.
Giulio COZZARI, President of the Province of Perugia (IT) and a member of the European Network of Local Authorities for Peace in the Middle East (COEPPO), said a strong commitment from local authorities was vital in view of what he termed the "sensational failure" of the international community to stop the bloodshed. He called on the CoR to "support and promote the direct involvement of all local authorities in Europe " in efforts to resolve the conflict and urged the assembly to become a "spokesman" for the cause. He suggested the CoR could encourage EU institutions to provide more funding for decentralised cooperation and urban diplomacy.
Uno ALDEGREN, the newly-appointed President of the Commission for External Relations and Vice President of the Executive Board of Skåne Region (SE/PES), said these proposals would be passed onto the CoR Bureau.
Dr Ramadan, President of the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities, said that the support of the CoR and wider international concern was of great value to his compatriots. "Despite all the current difficulties and challenges, our spirit remains unbroken and determined in our quest for peace and prosperity," he told the meeting.
He praised European towns and cities for contributing to bridge-building and supporting grassroots initiatives. "Development is peace in another name and sustainable, economic and social development is essential to the peace process," he said. He also claimed that a "good percentage" of Israelis did not agree with the "harsh policies" of their government and were "profoundly sincere in supporting peaceful co-existence alongside a Palestinian independent state".
"What is needed is not better conditions of the occupation, but to end this occupation," he added.
Yossi SHVO, Mayor of the city of Ness-Ziona 25 kilometres south of Tel Aviv, said the Israeli and Palestinian communities had much in common – as indeed had he and Dr Ramadan. "I have just discovered that we were both born in Cairo in the same street – and this is where our paths have crossed," he joked.
For Mr Shvo, Chairman of the Economic Committee of the Union of Local Authorities in Israel , the key to progress is "cooperation based on mutual trust and confidence". He said the two communities – 7 million Israelis and 3 million Palestinians – lived in a densely populated region and faced many of the same problems, particularly in relation to drinking water, water supply, pollution and public health. "These problems are no respecter of borders. There are common projects, but too few. We have out-stretched hands – two nations, two peoples – we are looking for practical proposals," he said.
Gianluca GRIPPA, of the European Commission's External Relations Directorate-General (Near East Unit), stated that the EU had spent 50 million euros on local government infrastructure projects across the West Bank and Gaza since 1998, but acknowledged that "pushing from the top downwards is not enough". "In the Near East, the EU pursues the objective of the two-state solution, and a politically and viable Palestinian state, living in peace side by side with Israel . Local and regional governance is a full part of this picture and its role in peace-building in the Near East is essential," he commented.
Julio CLAVIJO, of the Catalan Fund for Development and Cooperation, said local and regional authorities were not out to usurp diplomacy by Member States but rather to complement their efforts.
Jos CHABERT, First Vice-President of the Brussels regional parliament (BE/EPP), highlighted the role played by organisations such as Bruxelles-Espérance and Marseille-Espérance, which aim to provide a platform for leaders of different faiths and philosophies. "We need a bottom-up approach – but we mustn't sermonize," he warned. Rolf HARLINGHAUSEN, member of the regional assembly of Hamburg (DE/EPP), which is working in partnership with Gaza and the Israeli city of Ashkelon , argued that external efforts to support peace and cooperation would be hampered so long as those trying to help feared for life and limb.
Juliette SOULABAILLE, CoR rapporteur on decentralised co-operation and member of Corps-Nuds Municipal Council ( FR/PES), said she had been disappointed to learn that a number of Palestinian mayors had been arrested during a recent swoop by Israeli forces in Nablus . "What image does this give of democracy," she complained.
Not everyone was happy with the EU's approach in the Middle East . Peter MOORE, member of Sheffield City Council (UK/ALDE), was critical of the impact of the Union's decision to freeze some of its aid to the Palestinian government in response to its refusal to recognise Israel and previous agreements. Has this either helped the peace process or the people on the ground? he asked.
Dr Ramadan suggested that the European Commission widens the scope of allowances paid by the EU to national civil servants under the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) to staff working for municipal authorities.
EU Committee of the Regions (CoR)
Around two-thirds of EU legislation is implemented by local and regional authorities in Member States. The Committee of the Regions was created in 1994 to give representatives of local government a say over the content of these laws. The CoR organises five plenary sessions a year, where its 344 members vote on reports, known as opinions, issued in response to the proposed legislation. The European Commission, which initiates EU laws, and the Council of Ministers, which determines the final content of the legislation (usually in tandem with the European Parliament), are obliged to consult the CoR on a wide range of policy areas including the environment, employment and transport. The European Parliament can also separately consult the CoR.
For more information, please contact:
Dennis ABBOTT
+32 0)2 282 20 99
+32 (0)2 282 20 85
E-mail: Dennis Abbott
Estelle POIDEVIN
+32 (0)2 282 22 70
+32 (0)2 282 20 85
E-mail: Estelle Poidevin
Martin MALLON
+32 (0)2 282 20 33
+32 (0)2 282 20 85
E-mail: Martin MALLON
Document Sources: European Union (EU)
Subject: Peace process
Publication Date: 01/06/2007