In Ireland for their biannual meeting, the Elders met senior politicians to push for the EU-wide labelling of Israeli settlement goods; heard from young activists in Northern Ireland about their growing political disillusionment; and appointed a new Chair.
The European Union can help revitalise the peace process, say Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson in Dublin
Following meetings with Irish leaders, European diplomats and civil society organisations, The Elders urge the EU to help safeguard the two-state solution by introducing labelling guidelines for Israeli settlement goods.
“When the first demonstration happened, I thought: how can they be Jewish?”
In East Jerusalem, Israelis and Palestinians have joined forces to protest settlement expansion into Palestinian neighbourhoods. Six months after The Elders last visited the region, a new documentary tells the story of this shared struggle.
Frustrated by the lack of youth participation in the decision-making process, Zaher Bassioni set out to establish a youth organisation alongside similar-minded young people. Here, he blogs about his vision for a secular Palestinian society - one that practises peace, promotes democracy, and respects individual freedoms.
Why wait for someone else to solve the problems? Anees Barghouthy gives an example of young Palestinians taking proactive action to make a difference in their communities.
Sari Freitekh discovers the hidden serenity of the Qalandia Camp Handicraft Cooperative and meets the women who are empowering their peers through literacy and skills training.
Shira Avni, from Beit Yehudit - The International Cultural Centre for Youth (ICCY) in Emek Refaim, blogs about getting local residents to actively participate in the decision making that affects their lives.
Ranaan Paz is an actor, playwright and musician who spent three years as a paratrooper in the Orev Brigade. In this blog, he describes coming to terms with the difficult memories from his time in the army and argues that it is possible for Israelis and Palestinians to live together.
The Elders, currently in Jerusalem, meet Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and a group of young Israelis. Delegation leader Fernando H Cardoso offers the group's encouragement to all those working for peace.
