Since the Elders were founded they have closely followed events in the Middle East. They recently visited the region for the first time as a group to listen to the people affected by the conflict and to offer their support to all those working for peace.
Here they share their thoughts and impressions from the visit and invite people they have met to tell their stories and join the discussion.
Immediately following the end of Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip last year, Israeli Human Rights organisation B'Tselem gathered 15 young volunteers, mostly students starting their studies in communication or journalism, gave them video cameras, and asked them to document everyday life around them. More »
Words cannot describe what an honor and pleasure it was for me to accompany the Elders on their visit to Bil'in. More importantly, they had such an impact on the village and on the leaders of its brave non-violent movement to resist the occupation. More »
This summer, six Elders – Ela Bhatt, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Fernando Henrique Cardoso (leader of the delegation), Jimmy Carter, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu - travelled to Israel and the Palestinian Territories to listen to the people affected by the conflict and to offer our support to all those working for peace. More »
Following the publication of the Goldstone Report on human rights violations committed during the Gaza conflict, Mary Robinson has called for a full and fair debate of the report's findings. More »
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems to be at a halt. No negotiations are taking place, and even when there are 'talks' and meetings between the sides it seems like no one believes in the next step honest negotiations – the question is why? Can we do something to change this pattern? More »
A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to speak with The Elders. I came as a representitive of Israeli society. Most Israelis feel that people around the world do not understand that Israeli society suffers as well because of the conflict. I am not making a comparison between the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians; all I can say is that both sides suffer from the conflict. More »
At the end of their visit to the Middle East The Elders brought together some of the people they met during their trip to join them for a live discussion, which was broadcast worldwide via our website. More »
Eman Mohammed is a 21 year old photojournalist and blogger based in Gaza city, who is keen to portray the positive potential of the Gaza Strip despite the harsh realities she relays to the world through her photography. More »
During The Elders visit to the Middle East Desmond Tutu was interviewed for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Following publication of the interview Robert Rozett - who had acted as The Elders guide during their visit to Yad Vashem - wrote an open letter to the Archbishop challenging some of the views expressed in the article. Read their exchange. More »
Mustafa Orabi is not your typical proletariat. I could have missed him for an average daily worker as I stood waiting for him in central Ramallah. He is about five foot ten, sun-burned skin, has a few scars here and there yet has the eyes of an intellectual adorned with eyeglasses. He is a self-educated activist whose ideologies lean towards the left and who believes in a bi-national one-state solution. Mustafa is well-spoken and has very clear and firm beliefs regarding the Palestinian issue. More »
Messages for Peace
- Name: Susana Castro
- Location: Lisboa, Portugal