German MP Deborah Düring in Conversation with Women Peacebuilders from Israel and Palestine
ALLMEP recently organized a women’s dinner with Member of the German Parliament Deborah Düring, Foreign Policy Speaker of the Green Party, during her visit to Israel and Palestine. Hosted by Feel-Beit, the event brought together notable members of ALLMEP, including Nivine Sandouka (Regional Director), Rana Salah (Regional Office Manager), Riman Barakat (Strategic Officer at Feel-Beit), Rana Fahoum (Director for the Center for Shared Society at Hartman Institute), and Samah Salaimeh (Co-director at Oasis of Peace).
The evening featured an informal discussion on key topics, with a focus on the current situation in Palestinian society post-October 7th and the role of women peacebuilders. The conversation was prompted by a short presentation of statistics highlighting the low representation of women in decision-making roles in the region, be it within the Israeli War Cabinet, the Palestinian Executive Committee, or the Hamas Council. Global statistics on women’s participation in peace agreements were also discussed, underscoring the urgent need to integrate more women into politics and decision-making processes, especially during such politically stagnant times.
The conversation also addressed the severe impacts of armed conflicts on women, including physical violations, suppression of their opinions, and overall mistreatment. The group highlighted the significance of western foreign policies in achieving political solutions to the conflict, focusing on Germany’s role since the onset of the war and the necessary steps to negotiate a ceasefire and the return of hostages.
The dinner concluded on a heartwarming note, emphasizing the importance of these crucial conversations. The evening united strong women who shared their experiences and concerns, forging connections during these challenging times. Plans were made to maintain these connections through virtual meetings and collaborative brainstorming sessions, aiming to develop women-led initiatives for a long-term political solution ensuring justice and peace for all.
During the same visit, ALLMEP organized a tour and discussion at the binational village of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam. MdB Düring met with several civil society leaders to discuss actions being taken to improve the immediate situation on the ground, develop local solutions, and apply grassroots pressure for meaningful future negotiations.
