A delegation of the Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung visits KAS Ramallah - Foundation Office Palestinian Territories
In his speech Mr. Dane explained the role of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in the Palestinian Territories, reflected on the Palestinian developments in the context of the regional and international dynamics and highlighted the current state and future prospects of the German engagement in the region. The delegation expressed its outstanding interests in the activities of the KAS office as well as in the regional perspectives through its many questions, which successfully concluded the encounter.
Mr. Dane opened the briefing with refection on the legal complexities in the Palestinian Territories, which provide a framework for any political, legal, economic as well as cultural engagement. He stressed the three-fold role of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, in which it promotes the German-Israeli-Palestinian contacts, encourages the regional socio-economic development and maintains the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue.
Mr. Dane listed the activities of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in the Palestinian Territories, which cover the cooperation with local universities and various civil society organizations, contribute to the tasks of German diplomatic representation and promote the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. The partnership programmes include i.e. a project in the Palestinian village of Taybeh, which supports the Palestinian economic growth as well as the bloom of the tourism sector; the cooperation with the Institute for Community Partnership (ICP) at the Bethlehem University, which offers an outstanding programme in education and training in public administration; and the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue projects, which aim to bring the Israelis and Palestinians together in a fruitful and effective way.
Mr. Dane also addressed the regional challenges. One of the most tremendous obstacles to the Palestinian socio-economic development is constituted by the fragmentation of the West Bank in areas A, B, and C, as well as the more than 200 expanding Israeli settlements and outposts. The area C, which is de facto been governed by the Israeli Civil Administration, covers more than 60% of the West Bank. Mr. Dane reminded the guests about the Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation in area B, creating the precedence for an expansion of Area A, which is under Palestinian control. This would strengthen the Palestinian administrative and security competences and simultaneously present a step forward towards the two-state solution.
