The Palestinian leadership and Kerry’s Framework Negotiations Published: 23 March 2014 Böll Debate While the negotiations about the framework agreement facilitated by US Secretary of State John Kerry are still ongoing, Palestinians are debating their political options beyond the talks which many regard as futile. The Heinrich Böll Foundation organized a round table debate entitled “The Kerry Framework – (Any)where to go from here?” aiming to discuss this issue with Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh, former negotiator and senior advisor to president Mahmoud Abbas, political analyst, legal advisor, and former PLO spokesperson Diana Buttu, as well as the director of the human rights organization Al Haq, Dr. Shawan Jabarin.
From Camp to City – A Visit to Za’atari Published: 20 February 2014 During a recent visit to Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan I had the opportunity to see part of the reality of the Syrian conflict at first hand, and to experience the unique and constantly evolving urban landscape of Za’atari camp. This landscape has changed dramatically since Dr René Wildangel, director of hbs Palestine/Jordan visited Za’atari in October 2012 just 3 months after it opened (his report can be read here).
UNSURE HOW TO RESPOND Published: 2 February 2014 The Palestinians are unsure of how to respond to Kerry's long-anticipated Framework Agreement. Should they agree, refuse, or give an ambivalent reply? Kerry could conceivably be asked to prolong the negotiations in the hope that he could come up with the settlement that has so far eluded him.
Jordan’s Elections: Transparent but not Democratic Published: 5 November 2013 Anna Lührmann was part of a short-term election observation mission of the National Democratic Institute (NDI). In addition to briefings and debriefings in Amman, she observed polling in Jarash in Jordan’s North. Based on this experience and NDI’s preliminary statement on the election she assesses the democratic quality of last week’s elections for the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation...
Palestinian Youth Communication Project- phase II: “Young people are planning… Young people are doing” Published: 5 November 2013 Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies (MASARAT) in cooperation with Heinrich Böll Stiftung started on 2011 a project to facilitate communication between different young Palestinians in different locations: West Bank, Gaza Strip Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. The communications was mainly through video conferences and internet.
Research Gaps in Palestinian Scholarly Work Published: 5 November 2013 The IJS is a branch of Institute for Palestine Studies (IPS), a highly respected institution, which is very influential in the Palestinian context. For the last six years IJS cooperated closely with Heinrich Böll Stiftung (hbs), mainly in publishing the Jerusalem Quarterly (JQ) journal.
Barbara Unmüßig visits Palestine Published: 5 November 2013 The Heinrich Böll Stiftung Ramallah welcomed Barbara Unmüßig, the co-president of the hbs, from 01 April to 05 April 2012. Ms Unmüßig attended numerous meetings with civil society actors and conducted three field trips, starting with a tour to Al Walajeh , the separation wall and the settlements in the area around Bethlehem, led by George Rishmawi from the Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies.
End Israeli Closure of Gaza Strip Now!! Published: 5 November 2013 The Heinrich Böll Stiftung in Ramallah invited Raji Sourani, head of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), to Germany. During the trip he briefed officials, NGO activists and politicians from all parties represented in the German Parliament about the current situation in Palestine and the Gaza strip
Yemen’s revolution: The lack of public reasoning Published: 5 November 2013 The sound of heart beats was deafening in Sanaa’s 20th street when protestors moved in the demonstration’s forefront. Around 15 snipers were positioned on rooftops on two sides of Dairi street intersection with 20th street. Protestors planned on Friday, March 18th, to expand the sit-in area and to erect new tents at the intersection. An account of the people’s revolt in Yemen prior to the departure of Ali Saleh by Nadia Al-Sakkaf/ Chief Editor of the Yemen Times......
Perspectives #2 May 2011, Special Issue: People's Power - The Arab World in Revolt Published: 5 November 2013 Perspectives - Political Analysis and Commentary from the Middle East is a publication series of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung’s offices in Beirut and Ramallah provides a platform for analysis and viewpoints of experts from the region. The self-immolation of young and jobless Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi in the provincial town of Sidi Bouzid, being deprived of his vegetable stand and humiliated by the authorities, triggered popular movements and historic events in the Arab World completely unexpected in their magnitude…