Working for Peace- TUFI and Peace Groups
The decades long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians remains one of the most talked about and contested issues on the international stage. Palestinians and Israeli’s are still being killed or wounded on a regular basis, both combatants and innocent civilians whilst many, especially but not exclusively on the Palestinian side, are living in poverty.
TUFI believes in the pressing need for a viable, contiguous Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders. This is not only essential for the Palestinian people, it is of crucial importance for Israel as it will never attain peace and security whilst the clear national aspirations of the Palestinians remain unfulfilled. Both Palestinians and Israelis have the right to live their lives without fear of violence and TUFI believes that British trade unionists should play their part to help them break the cycle of violence.
TUFI’s primary role is to encourage relations between British Trade Unions and their Israeli and Palestinian counterparts to strengthen the role they play in supporting peace and social justice in the region. However, we believe that trade unionists can play an active role to support those in the peace movement who are working in a consistently difficult atmosphere. We believe that constructive action to help those who are working for peace on both sides can make an important contribution in bringing an end to decades of suffering.
TUFI is working with a range of organisations to help promote the cause of peace. A list of the organisations that we are working with is listed below:
Givat Haviva
Givat Haviva is a peace educational institution that works to build cooperation and coexistence between Israel’s Jewish and Palestinian communities and between Israelis, Palestinians and people from Arab States, primarily Jordan. It runs the Jewish-Arab Centre for Peace that brings more than 15,000 students, teachers, community professionals and laypersons who are Jews, Palestinian Citizens of Israel and members of other minority communities together for peace education work. One of the many projects that bring together Israeli, Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza and Jordanian young people is Crossing Borders (www.crossingborder.org) run in conjunction with other regional NGOs. The young people meet together, often in a third country, to write a magazine for distribution in schools. Givat Haviva now runs a small group of mixed Jewish and Arab schools with its own coexistence focus curriculum. TUFI regularly takes its delegations to Israel and Palestine to visit Givat Haviva and are working with the Friends of Givat Haviva UK who can be contacted at GivatHaviva@aol.com.
One Voice
One Voice is an organisation with offices in Tel-Aviv & Ramallah that runs a range of the peace education projects in both Israel and Palestine. Its goal is to find moderate or pragmatic voices from all political parties on both sides to find common ground and work for peace. They also run an international education programme, focused primarily on University campuses but with relevance to schools, to help increase awareness and understanding of the issues in Israel and Palestine. TUFI is working with them to host meetings for Trade Unionists with leaders from their Israeli and Palestinian offices. For more information about their work in the UK contact sayyeda.salam@leadersquest.org
Friends of the Bereaved Families Forum
This organisation works in the UK to support ‘Parents Circle – Families Forum’ (www.theparentscircle.com/) composed of Israeli and Palestinian bereaved families who have joined together to spread a message of tolerance, dialogue and non-violence. This organisation is active in the Palestinian Territories and Israel, promoting peace and reconciliation. Members of this group, as well as supporting bereaved families across the divide, are also involved in education, creating opportunities for dialogue between the two communities. TUFI is working to promote the important work this group of amazing people are doing to spread tolerance despite their personal grief. For more information contact info@FamiliesForum.co.uk
Peace Now UK
Peace Now UK works in the UK to promote the goals of Israeli Shalom Ahshav - Peace Now, founded in 1978 as a grassroots peace movement, campaigning for a comprehensive peace between Israel and its Arab neighbours and a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on mutual recognition, self-determination and peaceful co-existence. TUFI has recently established contact with Peace Now UK and is looking at potential joint projects to involve trade unionists in promoting a meaningful two-state solution. For more information contact paul@peacenowuk.org
The Abraham Fund Initiatives
The Abraham Fund Initiatives works to advance coexistence, equality and cooperation among Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens by creating and operating large-scale initiatives, cultivating strategic grassroots projects and conducting public education and advocacy that promote its vision of shared citizenship and opportunity for all of Israel’s citizens. It runs a range of initiatives designed to empower Israel’s Arab communities and tackle discrimination in Israeli society. TUFI is currently working with them to help set up a UK based support network.
Geneva Initiative
The Geneva Initiative is the organisation founded to support the Geneva Accords, the final status peace proposals created by a group of moderate Palestinian and Israeli Politicians, NGOs and individuals.
Hand in Hand
Hand in Hand is an education project that runs three mixed Jewish and Arab schools in Israel, aiming to break down barriers between communities. Each school is co-directed by Arab and Jewish co-Principals and each classroom is co-taught by Jewish and Arab teachers. Students at each grade level are balanced between Arab and Jewish children and are taught in both Hebrew and Arabic, learning to treasure their own culture and language while understanding the difference of others around them.