Presentation on CAPT (Israel/Palestine Experience) November 2011 Charmain Jones and Sharon O’Toole Supporting Rural Communities
Project outline and participants CAPT (Communities and Policing In Transition) • It’s overall aim: “ To facilitate structured and meaningful engagement between communities and Policing (on a local cross community and cross border basis) to assist the development of a safer and more peaceful society” • Participants included the PSNI, Gardai, Republican and Loyalist exprisoners, community, voluntary and statutory agencies within NI and across the border regions Supporting Rural Communities 2
Benefits to RCN and the Wider Community RCN Benefits • 3 rural enablers and CSI Officer have taken part in conflict related study visits to different regions – great for networking, understanding, breaking down barriers and prejudices. • Publicity for RCN and the Rural Enabler Programme Wider Community • Increased linkages and co-operation within and across communities/cross the border, opening up pathways that were not already there, discussions which would otherwise have not taken place.
Outcome and opportunities – Rural enabler joint project between Tandragee and Kilkerley, PSNI contact. – Working with Charter NI in relation to women’s network in Portadown – PSNI links with North Belfast – urban – CSI Officer and RE for Co. Tyrone – PSNI and Volunteer Bureau – Cookstown Clergy Forum – Good links with NIHE Branch Cookstown – Better linkages with Cookstown Council, invite to attend Flags Forum Supporting Rural Communities 4
Presentation Themes • Young people • Flags and emblems • Housing • Interface / Shared space • Racism • Community Development/Commun ity Relations • Institutions Supporting Rural Communities 5
Young People • The Israeli government • Young girls in Muslim force it’s young people societies, poor to serve in the army - opportunities for uniformed and educational attainment carrying weapons. and professional • There are certain areas development. in Israel that are • In Bethlehem at Jewish owned, these 6.30am in the young people will have morning, in the local never met a Palestine primary school, person children voices ringing noisily in play. 6
Palestinian young people’s Art on the Wall of the West Bank Supporting Rural Communities 7
Flags & Emblems • Israeli Flag • Palestine Flag • Palestine Flag • British Flag • Irish Flag • British in Israel • Irish in Palestine Supporting Rural Communities 8
Israeli symbols At the British Embassy Painted Kerbstones Supporting Rural Communities 9
Palestinian Symbols Supporting Rural Communities 10
Housing Israeli Palestine • Build on high grounds • Segregation into zones, A B overlooking Palestinians with and C defence walls • Water tanks given to • Water pumped directly into households houses • Palestinian settlements, less • Israeli settlements well planning. planned • Rubbish and Rubble, litter on • Clean and tidy homes the streets • Greenery visible • Little greenery • Better service roads • Windy road /longer journeys • Good street lighting • Lack of services • Worse in rural areas compared to Urban. Supporting Rural Communities
Examples of housing Palestinian road from Bethlehem to Ramallah Israeli Red topped houses Standard of living in most rural areas Supporting Rural Communities 12
Interface/Shared Space • The Palestinians living in • Links and networks have Israel have developed since being established. strategies for living and • A lot of bottom up sharing within the Israeli approaches on both sides state. • Community Policing for • The Abraham fund is a Arabs in Israeli states in its clear example of this, a infancy. Palestinian organisation that has developed direct links with the Israeli government Supporting Rural Communities 13
Abraham Fund’s Art Gallery – One Initiative Supporting Rural Communities 14
Racism • The Jews want an Israeli • There are levels of apartheid Jewish state. The Jewish clearly present religion is exclusive, only to • Division and control Jews. measures are in place that • The human right of the erode the basic human Palestinian people to rule rights and the quality of life themselves is not of the Palestinian people. recognised, even though • Violence is still present international agreements from both sides and a lot of are in place non-militarised violence. Supporting Rural Communities 15
Community Development / Community Relations • A shared future is not on • Leadership is not coming from the Jewish Authorities, right the agenda wing religious pressures for a • Resources are used as a Jewish state only. control • Palestinian Political groups • There is a proposed 2 state such as the Hamas are still solution agreed from 1960. engaged in violence, the Fatah is corrupt and don’t have the • Community development on support of the people the ground is present on • International pressures such both sides but at a local, as America support the Jewish even regional level state and thereby allow the • Israel is surrounded by human rights violation. The Arab countries/poor International community relations with Syria divided. Supporting Rural Communities 16
Places of Interest The garden of The Wailing Wall Gethsemane The Mount of Olives Supporting Rural Communities 17
Institutions • During the • The State institutions transformation, a 6yr we visited were: period was imposed on 1) Palestinian Police the Palestinian’s to 2) Minister of Interiors build up their state 3) Abraham Fund institutions. In 2000 4)Irish/British/American is period ended. Embassy's • Stalemate Palestinian Chief Of Police pictured with PSNI officers Supporting Rural Communities A18
Palestinian Police Force • The Palestinian Police • Daily invasion of Israeli Force is a law Police to Palestinian enforcing agency with Cities, a curfew of no political influences Palestinian police that affect them. It ensues. works in accordance • Palestinian police force with law, court and police Palestinian judicial degrees people, to enter into B and C zones, approval must be given by the • Occupation plays a Israeli authorities. crucial role in the co- ordination of the police • The type of arresting by the Israeli Supporting Rural 19 Communities
Compare and Contrast to NI • Similarities: • Differences 1) the fighting has stopped, 1) 2 opposing groups who shows how far NI has come, want different resolutions we have lots of celebrate 2) FEAR: Perceived fear of about each other fuels the conflict 2) National and International and hinders the outcome. pressures are not supporting a peace process, most work is coming from the ground. 3) Normalising of the 3) A shared vision for the future abnormal for survival, The is one which NI is prepared to segregation that exist in work towards. 2 state both communities solution with sharing of 4) Religion is used as a means resources for Israel/Palestine of division and recognition purposes Supporting Rural Communities 20
Lessons learnt • Injustice breeds conflict • Leadership working towards peace is essential • In the mist of such conflict, the holy visits experience were one of peace. • International support • There are people working needed endlessly on the ground from both sides, making a • Building relationships and difference. trust key to creating • There is a realisation by the understanding of each Palestinians that conflict other won’t achieve want they want. Supporting Rural Communities 21
Intercomm details For more information on CAPT: Contact Michelle Wilson Intercomm, 290 – 292 Antrim Road, Belfast 02890 352165 Supporting Rural Communities 22
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