Visit of the German Green Youth (23rd- 24th of March 2011)
On the occasion of their visit to the region, 15 members of the Grüne Jugend (Green Youth), the political youth organization of the German Greens, spent two days in Palestine. Heinrich Böll Stiftung Arab Middle East Office Ramallah organized meetings with Palestinian politicians, partner organizations and a tour to the Jordan Valley.
The visit shed light on the main social, political and ecological issues Palestinians face and the importance of the recognition of the Palestinian State.
First, the Green Youth met Dr. Nabil Shaath, a long time member of the Fatah party and the head of the International Relations Commission of Fatah. Dr. Shaath is also a Member of the Central Committee, the highest executive body of the Movement, the former foreign minister and a long time peace process negotiator. Within the meeting Nabil Shaath gave the Green Youth a briefing on the political strategies of the Fatah movement and provided them with in depth information on the ongoing conflict and the situation in the region. Dr. Shaath stated that the first strategy of the Fatah focuses on the recognition of the Palestinian State within the ‘67 borders by the international community, especially by the UN General Assembly and the European States. The second strategy highlights the promotion of the public civil non-violent resistance against the occupation, were the Fatah work against further settlement expansions and the building of the Wall. The third strategy covers the continuation of establishing state institutions by the government. Later Dr. Shaath introduced leading members of the Fatah Shabiba, the youth organization of Fatah. The young Palestinians informed the German group about the life of the young Palestinian generation and shed light on internal Palestinian issues such as unemployment, the educational system, corruption and the issue of the division of Palestinian political fractions.
On the second day the group visited the foundation’s partner organization Shashat, a NGO that focuses on women’s cinema and the social and cultural implications of women’s representations. At Shashat the Green Youth watched the short movie collection “Crossroads” and had the opportunity to meet the film makers Omaima Hamori and Dara Khader. An eager discussion and exchange could be established, which focused on cultural and gender issues within the Palestinian society.
In the afternoon the Green Youth went on a tour with hbs partner Maan Development Centre to the Jordan Valley, focusing on the situation of the Palestinian population living in Area C, which is under full Israeli control over security, planning and construction. The tour led the Green Youth to desiccated wells, an Israeli dumping site and to the village Jiftlik where the group was hosted by members of the “Save the Jordan Valley Committee”. Though the tour of the Jordan Valley and the profound information provided by Maan and the Save the Jordan Valley Committee the Green Youth could gain first hand insights by seeing the effects of the Israeli occupation and settlement policies on the local Palestinian community.