North America
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace issued a paper entitled "Requiem for Palestinian Reform--Clear Lessons from a Troubled Record" by Nathan Brown, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, Director of Middle East Studies Programme at the George Washington University, and author of "Palestinian Politics after the Oslo Accord". For further information, visit the web site: http://www.CarnegieEndowment.org
The Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP) & The Middle East Institute will hold a presentation on 1 March 2007 entitled "The Israeli Palestinian Crisis: Situation and Prospects" by Jan de Jong, FMEP cartographer, analyst, and former strategic planning consultant for the PLO Negotiations Unit and the World Bank. Mr. de Jong will assess the Israeli-Palestinian crisis in the context of attaining Palestinian socio-economic viability, as the core foundation of the two-state solution, will review crucial Palestinian and rural development imperatives and examine how these are prejudiced by the construction of the Israeli settlements, roads and the wall. The presentation will also include territorial options for a two-state solution. For further information, contact E-Mail: info@fmep.org or visit website: http://www.fmep.org
International Crisis Group issued on 28 February 2007 a report entitled "After Mecca: Engaging Hamas". The report provides a detailed examination of the Saudi-brokered Mecca Agreement. For further information, visit the web site: http://www.internationalcrisisgroup.org
Europe
Transformational Business Network (TBN)--a network of businessmen trying to alleviate poverty in impoverished areas of the world--is currently raising resources to start a project to set up call centres using modern call routing technology in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The organization aims to devise a scheme that would not be affected by the frequent closures to boost Palestinian economy. TNB hopes to create 900 jobs over five years offering IT support and other services across the Middle East. The project will be initially run by TNB in close cooperation with Palestinian, Israeli and UK partners. TBN projects include: a joint venture with Bethlehem University on a programme providing training and a MicroMBA to develop high growth technology-based business in the area. For further information, visit the web site: http://www.tbnetwork.org
International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), Association of Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), B’Tselem and Adalah--The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel issued a press release on 27 February 2007 regarding their respective presentations to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) on 22 and 23 February 2007 in Geneva. The three organizations presented information on the status of implementation of ICERD by the State of Israel. The CERD Committee is expected to issue its concluding observations and recommendations to Israel in March 2007. For further information, contact E-Mail: mcamberlin@fidh.org or visit web site: http://www.fidh.org
Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem
The Alternative Information Center (AIC) issued a press release informing about the demonstration held on 23 February 2007 in Bil’in to mark the second anniversary of the mobilization against the wall. Hundreds of Israelis, Palestinians and internationals participated in the demonstration. For further information, visit web site: http://www.alternativenews.org
International Solidarity Movement (ISM) issued a press release on 27 February 2007 to inform that Ta’ayaush and Rabbis for Human Rights are rebuilding together the large number of houses demolished by the IDF on 14 February in the South Hebron Hills. The villagers in the area struggle to stay on their land despite ongoing home demolitions, settler and military harassment. Villagers have requested the organizations that internationals maintain a permanent presence in the area after the rebuilding for protection from settler harassment. For further information, visit ISM web site: http://www.palsolidarity.org
Palestinian Counselling Center (PCC) and the Education and Psychology Department at Birzeit University will hold a conference on 26 and 27 February 2007 entitled "Mental Health in Palestine: Reality and Challenges". For further information, contact E-Mail: pcc@palnet.com
Peace Now issued a report in February entitled "Outpost Report 2006". The report states that the growth of settler population continues at a steady rate, which is three times higher then the rate amongst Israel proper. The report provides information on settlers, tenders, construction starts, special security areas, bypass roads and infrastructure, construction sites and construction in outposts. For further information, visit web site: http://www.peacenow.org.il
United Nations
The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will hold the United Nations International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace, with a theme "Re-launching the Israeli-Palestinian peace process--Challenges and vision", at FAO Headquarters, Rome, 22 and 23 March 2007. The objective of the Meeting is to support international efforts aimed at achieving peace in the Middle East, focus the world community’s attention on the question of Palestine, and emphasize the importance and urgency of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the establishment of an independent State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security. The Meeting will also look into how the conflict affects relations between Muslims and Western societies, and provide an opportunity for an interreligious and intercultural dialogue in this regard. For further information, visit the web site maintained by the Division for Palestinian Rights: http://www.un.org/depts/dpa/ngo/index.html
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The NGO Action News is a bi-weekly newsletter issued by the Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat and intended to provide information on worldwide NGO activities relevant to the question of Palestine. Organizations interested in sharing information about their activities through this newsletter may contact the Division for Palestinian Rights at:
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Room S-3350 Fax: (212) 963-4199
New York, NY 10017 E-mail: dprngo@un.org
Please be advised that the final decision with regard to selecting material for inclusion in the newsletter rests with the Division for Palestinian Rights. The Division cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided to it by contributing organizations.