Why are the conferences held abroad? | Just Vision تجاوز إلى المحتوى الرئيسي

Why are the conferences held abroad?

Michal Eskenazi 13

Why are the conferences held abroad?

It's actually quite simple: logistically speaking, it is very difficult to organize a conference here, you need permits; sometimes Palestinians aren't necessarily willing to enter Israel for this. It's simpler to hold the conferences abroad. It's absurd, we know we are flying people abroad to meet though they live as close as half hour from each other but considering the logistics, this works. It isn't easy for us, but this is more convenient and it is easier to fundraise abroad if we hold a conference in the donor country rather than here. However, we aim to hold the follow-up meetings in Jerusalem; it will be a smaller gathering and we will be able to raise funds for it in advance. Our goal is to hold as many of the meetings here as possible. Let me give you an example. In mid-December [2005], two weeks ago, we held a conference. It was less a dialogue conference, more like a discussion, entitled "Europe and the Middle East Peace Process: the Role of Young Leadership". We managed to attract high profile Palestinian participants as well as young people [Israelis] who had taken part in a Belgian project that took place in September, but it wasn't easy, and in that case there were only a few people.