Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi

Contents

Introduction

by Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi
Head of PASSIA

It was due to a desire to facilitate an increased understanding of foreign policies, diplomacy and international affairs that PASSIA, back in 1992, formulated a project entitled Training and Educational Program in International Af­fairs, which has over the years earned a widespread reputation.

The program designs seminars to help Pales­tinian professionals and prac­titioners broaden their working knowledge of the politi­cal system, regional policies and external rela­tions of other states and equip them to take on the responsi­bilities expected of them in the international sphere. These semi­nars aim at developing Pal­estinian expertise in international relations, diplo­macy and conflict resolution, and at build­ing relationships with external partners and benefactors. Subjects dealt with to date include Diplomacy and Con­flict Resolution, Strategic and Security Studies , The European Union, The Foreign Policies of Arab States,The USA and Canada, Japan, Pal­estine and the Middle East, and Israel – State, Society & Politics.

Based on the supposition that it is especially beneficial for the Palestinian situation to study the experience of other countries facing an ethnic/territorial-based conflict with all its local manifestations and impacts, PASSIA became interested in the case of Ireland.

In consultation with colleagues and scholars in Ireland as well as at the Irish Representative Office in Ramallah, PASSIA then designed a seminar that incorporated introductory material on Irish history, society, and politics as well as analysis of the peace process in Northern Ire­land, its success or failure, and why or why not a similar process could set work between Is­raelis and Palestinians.

The major goal was to give Palestinian partici­pants an opportunity to gain a better under­standing of the components and workings of the political systems of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which, at the same time, present an excellent case study of a seemingly endless, intractable conflict.

There are many differences between the con­flicts in Ireland and Palestine, but there are also key similarities. For instance, both conflicts are character­ized by a long history of struggle for independence and both have a deep-rooted religious aspect. Both peoples have witnessed uprisings, revolutions, wars and attempts to partition their land, and both have developed and maintained a strong identity. In both cases major documents were signed in 1993 aiming at an end to decades of confron­tation (the PLO-Israel Declaration of Principles in September and the Anglo-Irish Joint Declara­tion on Peace in December), and there have been ongoing negotiations ever since. Both declarations did not really present any new ideas but provided the necessary political con­ ditions allowing the parties to start negotia­tions.

Furthermore, b oth sides experienced divisions between military and politically oriented leader­ships; in both conflicts, the respective national movements - the IRA and the PLO - have en­gaged in a guerrilla military struggle, leading to diplomatic negotiations. And in both cases, to a great extent, the same leaders are in power who have been in power for decades.

Although it was not the goal to compare the Irish and Palestinian experiences, we believed that there are many lessons to be learned from the theoretical and practical implications of the Irish practice of conflict resolution and preven­tive diplomacy.

The seminar itself took place from 10-14 Octo­ber 2004 in Ramallah with a group of 18 Pales­tinian professionals that were selected from a pool of ap­plicants from the West Bank, includ­ing Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. The team of lecturers consisted of Irish academics, Pales­tinian specialists and the head of the Irish Representative Office in Ramallah.

This publication contains a selection of the seminar proceedings and additional informative materials on Ireland/Northern Ireland. It is hoped that its distribution will ensure wider dissemination of information on Ire­land/ North­ern Ireland within the Palestinian community and be­yond.

PASSIA would also like to take this opportunity to express its appreciation to the Develop­ment Cooperation – Ireland, whose kind support - through the Irish Representative Office in Ramallah - made this seminar program possi­ble.

Our thanks go also to the lecturers, who con­tributed greatly to the suc­cess of the seminar. Last, but not least, the PASSIA team would like to thank the Palestinian participants for their comments and enthusiasm to learn about the Irish case.

PASSIA
The Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, Jerusalem
Tel: +972-2-6264426 / 6286566 • Fax: +972-2-6282819
P.O.  Box 19545,  Jerusalem
Email: passia@palnet.com
Copyright © PASSIA