Training course in Brussels and Berlin

A group of Palestinian students from Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies at Birzeit University, have participated in a study and dialogue program for prospective diplomats and students participating in the EU class of the International Studies Master program, from  September the 23rd to September the 30th. The training program which took place in Brussels and Berlin was organized by Konrad- Adenauer- Stiftung (KAS), in coordination with its offices in Berlin and Brussels.

The program was divided into two parts, the first was one in Brussels where it focused mainly on the EU itself and it institutions, the EU stance towards the Palestinians and the Palestinian- Israeli conflict as well as other issue concerning the EU, and also on the Belgium government and its main constituents. The second part took place in Berlin, where it concentrated on the German institutions and its constituents, as well as on the German stance and policy towards various issue mainly the Palestinians State, Palestinian- Israeli conflict and the EU financial crises.

During the program, participants met with high ranking officials and representative in the EU and Germany , with whom they discussed the different issues related to the relationship between the EU and Palestine, the economic and political situation in the union, and the Palestinian- Israeli conflict. The discussions focused mainly on prospective solutions to the conflict, highlighting the one/two states solutions, and the role of the EU in the crippling peace process. Participants exchanged views with their European hosts, and also listened to what the EU and Germans consider as their official policy. Exchange of views was a great opportunity to present the contradicting visions sometimes from each side, going through a constructive debate in trying to support each one’s policy or view.

The Palestinian students explained to their hosts, Israeli violations of the international law and the signed agreements with the Palestinian side, through the continued settlements expansion through the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the increasing settlers’ attacks against Palestinians, the apartheid wall, the strengthen of Gaza siege and separating it from the West Bank, and also preventing the Palestinians from accessing what so called Area C.

The students praised the EUs’ positions, stances and policies towards the Palestinians, yet stressed on the fact that what Israel is creating on the ground is irreversible and threatening the two state solution, where the Palestinian would have a viable state. They also emphasized on the need of taking practical steps from the International community and the EU in particular to pressure Israel and to push the Israeli government to meet its legal commitments. Some of the suggestions by the students was to boycott the Israeli products that comes from the settlements, as the United Kingdom and South Africa started doing.

The program also included meeting the Palestinian delegations in both Belgium and Germany, where the students met Mr. Hadi Shebli, Deputy Chief of Mission in the Palestinian General Delegation to the EU, and Mr. Salah Abdel Shafi, our Ambassador to Germany. Both officials briefed the students about the nature of their work in each country, the Palestinian community there, and the difficulties they face abroad.  Students also met representatives from KAS in Brussels and Berlin.

During the visit and beside meeting officials and representatives, the students had a unique opportunity by visiting the most vital European institutions, like the European parliament, European Commission, European External Action Service (EEAS), European Council, Belgian Parliament, European Commission, headquarter of the Palestinian General Delegation to the EU, German Federal Parliament, Federal Council of Germany, and the Potsdam. In each institution, the students were accompanied by official guides and instructors, whom they gave comprehensive explanation about the evolution of those countries/ Union and its institutions, functioning and policies mainly on their foreign policy. They got to know the mechanisms by which these bodies work, inner elections procedure and the controlling power within those institutions and parliamentarians.

Alongside the visit, entertainment and sightseeing was also on the schedule, where the students had the opportunity to attend a very famous concert in Berlin, as well as going for two city tours in Brussels and Berlin, and also visiting a nearby town close to Berlin called Potsdam, residence of the Prussian Kings and German Kaisers. And on the top of that, they had the chance to tour the Reichstag Dome.

Over all, it was a very successful trip and a very informative program, with mutual benefits for both side, since the European officials got the opportunity to meet Palestinian students, and listened to their views and observations. On the other hand, the students were introduced to a very unique opportunity in which they met high rank officials, knew how the EU functions, knew how the foreign policy is made and reflected, visited EU and German institutions, conveyed the Palestinian letter to the world, and had the opportunity to practice diplomacy in real. More important, it was an interesting occasion to observe where the Palestinians are not working well, and how the Palestinian leadership can do more in order to reflect the right and real image of the Palestinians and their plight, because it was really obvious that some officials knew nothing except the image of terrorism that was affixed with the Palestinians. Others knew what occupation means but did not really imagine how its reflected on the ground. For example, one apparent urgent need the Palestinian have to do is enhancing their public diplomacy, as well as intensifying filed visits for diplomats and foreign officials.