Goal of the teams set up in Nazareth is to provide supporting material for the negotiators working on the Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. Two working areas were chosen for this meeting where more input is necessary and support can be most useful: the future of Jerusalem and developing a so-called "Culture of Peace".

The complicated and highly disputed status of Jerusalem is – along with refugees and borders – one of three core issues in the negotiations. Up to this date, a vast range of proposals has been designed by various experts. However, no comprehensive overview of the diverse options exists. Aim of the first team which will be meeting on a regular basis is to map the different models and options, define the components, and present an overview of pros and cons for each alternative. It does not try to push forward an agenda or preference; it wants to provide neutral, factual information to find the best suitable options and a way out should the negotiations reach a deadlock. In the analysis, the Holy Sites and the Old City were discussed separately. For both, different models of sovereignty were out-lined and its implications for the involved parties. A list of pro’s and con’s to each model was put together. A mind map and matrix of the different models will now be set up and further developed with additional experts. These will then be presented to the respective governments and negotiators.

The second team in Nazareth discussed the development of a “Culture of Peace”. This term is a generic name for dealing with the education system, media – issues of incitement, encouraging people-to-people activities, etc. According to an article posted in Ha’aretz on Feb. 20, 2008, the issue of “Culture of Peace” is one of the new issues which Israel wants to be included in the official negotiations. Whereas the head of the Israeli negotiating team, Foreign Minister Livni, prefers that talks on the core issues will take place in maximum secrecy, the talks on the new issues shall be conducted more openly, attracting media attention and thereby creating a feeling of momentum in the negotiations.

To develop a culture of peace it is imperative that both sides will actively work to solidify the agreement by eliciting the support of society members by influencing their beliefs, attitudes, motivations and goals. This requires a well-designed plan, implementation and evaluation of the carried policies. The team worked out a list of components considered necessary to achieve this goal for example issues of perceived security, creating hope, respect and trust for the other side and the creation of a common vision. Once completed, this paper will also be presented to the negotiators.

Katja Tsafrir