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Grassroots Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in Jerusalem public space, Jerusalem, Thur.-Fri. Nov. 14-15


Immediate Release
Media Inquires - Sari Cicurel
Sari m productions
248-766-0945 sari.cicurel@gmail.com

Minds of Peace To hold a public negotiation on PEACE with Israelis and
Palestinians
November 14-15 New Location Horse Garden near Hamshbir, Jerusalem, Israel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6fpQDZ4yVQ.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the most entrenched conflicts in the
world with disastrous consequences for all the people involved. Many substantial
peace-making initiatives have been carried out but have failed to produce a
lasting peace. The 22nd session of the Minds of Peace Mini Congress illuminated
the stark differences between two sides. Not the two sides at the negotiating
table though. The six Israelis and six Palestinians who met in Hamashbir Plaza,
Jerusalem on October 24-25 worked to find common ground. Led by Minds of Peace
founder Sapir Handelman and Palestinian moderator Ibrahim Enbawi, the Israeli
delegation and the Palestinian delegation negotiated possible solutions to their
struggle.

The other more difficult side was the contingency of determined demonstrators in
the audience who did their best to disrupt the negotiations. The congress
started to look like a battle field between right wing extremists and those who
support the establishment of a Palestinian state. On Friday the negotiators were
surrounded by a fence and police forces. Leaders of the large group surrounding
the tables and objecting were invited to join the negotiations, but they
preferred to stay on the sidelines preventing progress. Video link of Day two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx4L4Uwbo7c

However, the two delegations concluded one preliminary agreement despite many
efforts to spoil the events with whistles and shouting. Both delegations
committed to meet again November 14-15 at Horse Square. “The line between
freedom of speech and chaos can be very thin,” commented Handelman. “In order to
have peaceful negotiations on our part we have asked religious settlers, who are
pro peace, to come to the event, participate in the discussion with the audience
and try to relax the atmosphere and asked other people for other organizations,
who are `experts` in peaceful dialogue, to participate in the dialogue with the
audience.”

November 14-15 negotiations will tackle a conclusive peace pact
with discussions on borders, security, refugees and Jerusalem.
Dr. Sapir Handelman, Chairman of the Board of Minds of Peace is available for
interviews

Dr. Daniel Mahgerefteh, of Los Angeles, is the chief executive officer of Minds
of Peace and explains, “One of our goals is to directly involve the public in
the difficult, messy, and painful peace making process the debate, struggle with
compromise, and acceptance. The event is also designed to demonstrate the
peacemaking creativity, zeal and power of the public without the political
pressures faced by diplomats and government officials.” The congress comprises
Israeli and Palestinian delegations made up of people from all walks of life
that come to discuss debate and negotiate solutions to the conflict under the
guidance of two moderators.

In the October Congress, the two delegations succeeded to conclude a preliminary
agreement – Trust Building Measures – the topics are: Prisoners, incitement and
violence, and settlements. The members negotiating agreed that the solution to
the conflict is: Two states for two people in one land, located between the
Mediterranean and the Jordan River.

The assembly has five sessions of two hours to conclude peace agreements. The
Israeli delegation will include: Zeev Raz - Colonel (ter.) Ze`ev Raz, combat
pilot the attack on the Iraqi reactor in 1981, Abie Moses , who lost his wife
and young son in a terrorist attack, making him a symbol of bereavement and of
standing against terrorism, Orna Oshri, graphic editor of Yedioth Ahronoth,
Rabbi Haim Cohen and Yehoshua Meyer a religious settler Kibbutz Kfar Etzion. The
Palestinian delegation included academics, educators, business people, former
prisoners and students.

In almost all of the congresses, the delegations succeeded to reach peace
agreements. “It is an amazing result because the various delegations included
people with deferent political views and from all walks of life, for example:
settlers and right wingers, ex Palestinian prisoners, generals, business people,
academics and people that lost loved ones in the conflict, said founder of Minds
of Peace, Sapir Handelman..

Dr. Handelman explains, “This congress demonstrates a classical symptom of
intractable conflicts like the Israeli-Palestinian one. Any peacemaking
initiative that can lead to a change will increase the level of violence. The
extremists, on both sides, will try to crash it. Therefore, it is critical to
involve the people in the peacemaking process.”
###

More information on Minds of Peace:
Media Request: Sari M Cicurel sari.cicurel@gmail.com

Dr. Sapir Handelman, Chairman of the Board of Minds of Peace
972-50-307-6927 and sapir.handelman@gmail.com

Daniel Mahgerefteh, chief executive officer of Minds of Peace -
dmahgerefteh@yahoo.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Minds-of-Peace/186081194106
Website: www.mindsofpeace.org

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