Debate with Avi Primor, former Israel Ambassador in DE, former vice president Tel Aviv University, currently Director - Center for European Studies, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, and Saman Khoury, Deputy Chairperson / General Manager, Peace and Democracy Forum East Jerusalem.

Moderation by Wilfried Rütten, director of the European Journalism Centre, Maastricht.

Press report and pictures | video report

The concept of the April debate constitutes a departure from orthodox appraoch to the Israel-palestine conflict. Usually, this conflict is discussed in an adverse form of two positions, of two people accusing the other side. However, assiging guilt is not a constructive way of problem solving and does not provide academic insight, but simpy reiterates deadlocked positions. The April debate invites the speakers instead to make a critical assessment of their own side. On the cultural, political and religious constraints their own country faces in finding a peaceful and humane solution towards this protracted and destructive conflict. The aim of our approach is to raise mutual understanding and empathy for the struggles of each side.