Jerusalem-Project
Encyclopedia
The Jerusalem-Project is a Swiss-Israeli-Palestinian initiative for the creation of new, unexpected perspectives, which should create a Win-win situation for Israelis and Palestinians. First activities began in 2003; after a preparation for years a systematic cooperation of three essential partners was initiated in October 2008 for a time period of 20 years.
is a Palestinian co-operative organization, that was founded in 1998 by Dr. Rami Nasrallah who is the current executive head of the organization. Its mission is to support the development of a highly informed, competent and active Palestinian civil society which participates in urban democracy and is capable of defending its social, economic and political rights. The IPCC is active in the fields of policy research, urban planning, zoning and development, civil society and community engagement, and the media.
The Futura-Institute (FI) was founded by Professor Shlomo Hasson as a think tank
to discuss issues concerning the future of the State of Israel from a geopolitical, social, economic and cultural perspective. This policy institute was inspired by a vision of Theodor Herzl
, which he outlined in his novel The Old New Land
(1902).
The Lassalle-Institute (LI), based within the Lassalle-Haus, was founded by Pia Gyger and Niklaus Brantschen
. It works with leaders in business, politics and other sectors of society. By means of lectures, seminars, research, coaching and corporate consulting, the institute advocates ethics rooted in holistic consciousness. In 2003, it obtained consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Jerusalem – Open City for Learning World Peace is the most important project of the Lassalle-Institut.
and Book of Isaiah
), that are holy to the three major Abrahamic religions
and speak of Jerusalem as "The Holy City of Peace".
These texts deliver what can be seen as guidelines for Jerusalem and all humankind:
In the future, Jerusalem should be:
Hasson and Nasrallah have developed a joint vision for Jerusalem as an open city. The authors promote a two-state solution with two capitals, living side by side in peace. The main idea is that Jerusalem should be politically divided but physically, economically and socially should function as one open city.
and the European Commission
in Jerusalem.
and Pia Gyger
, live in Jerusalem twice a year for several weeks for networking.
(FDFA) and the office of the European Commission in East Jerusalem. The purpose of the conference was to make the Jerusalem-Project known in Jerusalem and to form a network of engaged Israelis, Palestinians, and international community representatives who would promote the vision and the activities of the Jerusalem-Project. There was a mutual recognition that Jerusalem should be politically divided according to the principles of the two-state solution but physically, socially and economically united.
Cooperation partners
The International Peace and Cooperation Center (IPCC) with seat in French HillFrench Hill
French Hill , also Giv'at Shapira is a neighborhood in northeastern Jerusalem. It is located on territory occupied during the Six-Day War in 1967, later annexed to Israel under the Jerusalem Law in 1980...
is a Palestinian co-operative organization, that was founded in 1998 by Dr. Rami Nasrallah who is the current executive head of the organization. Its mission is to support the development of a highly informed, competent and active Palestinian civil society which participates in urban democracy and is capable of defending its social, economic and political rights. The IPCC is active in the fields of policy research, urban planning, zoning and development, civil society and community engagement, and the media.
The Futura-Institute (FI) was founded by Professor Shlomo Hasson as a think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
to discuss issues concerning the future of the State of Israel from a geopolitical, social, economic and cultural perspective. This policy institute was inspired by a vision of Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl
Theodor Herzl , born Benjamin Ze’ev Herzl was an Ashkenazi Jew Austro-Hungarian journalist and the father of modern political Zionism and in effect the State of Israel.-Early life:...
, which he outlined in his novel The Old New Land
The Old New Land
The Old New Land is a utopian novel published by Theodor Herzl, the founder of political Zionism, in 1902. Outlining Herzl’s vision for a Jewish state in the Land of Israel, Altneuland became one of Zionism's establishing texts. It was translated into Yiddish by Israel Isidor Elyashev...
(1902).
The Lassalle-Institute (LI), based within the Lassalle-Haus, was founded by Pia Gyger and Niklaus Brantschen
Niklaus Brantschen
Niklaus Brantschen is a Swiss Jesuit, Zen master of the White Plum Sangha line and founder of the Lassalle-Institute within the Lassalle-House in Bad Schönbrunn/Zug, Canton of Zug...
. It works with leaders in business, politics and other sectors of society. By means of lectures, seminars, research, coaching and corporate consulting, the institute advocates ethics rooted in holistic consciousness. In 2003, it obtained consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Jerusalem – Open City for Learning World Peace is the most important project of the Lassalle-Institut.
Vision
The vision of the Lassalle-Institut for Jerusalem is based on biblical prophecies (Book of MicahBook of Micah
The Book of Micah is one of fifteen prophetic books in the Hebrew bible/Old Testament, and the sixth of the twelve minor prophets. It records the sayings of Mikayahu, meaning "Who is like Yahweh?", an 8th century prophet from the village of Moresheth in Judah...
and Book of Isaiah
Book of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve...
), that are holy to the three major Abrahamic religions
Abrahamic religions
Abrahamic religions are the monotheistic faiths emphasizing and tracing their common origin to Abraham or recognizing a spiritual tradition identified with him...
and speak of Jerusalem as "The Holy City of Peace".
These texts deliver what can be seen as guidelines for Jerusalem and all humankind:
- «They shall beat their swords into plowshares» Book of MicahBook of MicahThe Book of Micah is one of fifteen prophetic books in the Hebrew bible/Old Testament, and the sixth of the twelve minor prophets. It records the sayings of Mikayahu, meaning "Who is like Yahweh?", an 8th century prophet from the village of Moresheth in Judah...
4:3 – Disarmament and transformation of arms - «Neither shall they learn war any more» Book of MicahBook of MicahThe Book of Micah is one of fifteen prophetic books in the Hebrew bible/Old Testament, and the sixth of the twelve minor prophets. It records the sayings of Mikayahu, meaning "Who is like Yahweh?", an 8th century prophet from the village of Moresheth in Judah...
4:3 – Training and building of a culture of peace - «All people will walk every one in the name of his god» Book of MicahBook of MicahThe Book of Micah is one of fifteen prophetic books in the Hebrew bible/Old Testament, and the sixth of the twelve minor prophets. It records the sayings of Mikayahu, meaning "Who is like Yahweh?", an 8th century prophet from the village of Moresheth in Judah...
4:5 – Interreligious and intercultural dialogue based on mutual appreciation.
In the future, Jerusalem should be:
- a unique capital of two states: of the state of Palestine and the state of Israel
- an open city: politically divided, physically undivided
- a city in which people and goods circulate freely between the different sectors and the surrounding areas
- a city of peaceful coexistence
- a functioning, versatile town with high quality of life
- a cosmopolitan city which constitutes a universal centre of peace and conflict resolution as a part of the global network of cosmopolitan cities
- a city which connects the strengths of its cultural and religious heritage with tourism, financial services and information technology
- a city which becomes a place of peace between mankind and the earth – thanks to renewable energy, sustainability in urban planning and an environmentally friendly lifestyle of the population
Hasson and Nasrallah have developed a joint vision for Jerusalem as an open city. The authors promote a two-state solution with two capitals, living side by side in peace. The main idea is that Jerusalem should be politically divided but physically, economically and socially should function as one open city.
Contact with the United Nations (UN)
In January 2009, the Lassalle Institute associated the partners from East Jerusalem and West Jerusalem with representatives of the UN, including the Swiss ambassador Paul Seger. In 2009 and 2010, the Lassalle Institute linked up the IPCC and the FI with the offices of the United Nations Development ProgrammeUnited Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
and the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
in Jerusalem.
Activities in Jerusalem
In January 2007, the Lassalle-Institut set up an office in Jerusalem. The leaders of the Jerusalem-Project within the Lassalle Institut, Niklaus BrantschenNiklaus Brantschen
Niklaus Brantschen is a Swiss Jesuit, Zen master of the White Plum Sangha line and founder of the Lassalle-Institute within the Lassalle-House in Bad Schönbrunn/Zug, Canton of Zug...
and Pia Gyger
Pia Gyger
Pia Gyger is a Swiss specialist for special education, psychologist and Zen master of the White Plum Sangha lineage. She is co-founder of the Lassalle-Institute within the Lassalle-House in Bad Schönbrunn/Zug, Canton of Zug. She is co-initiator of the Jerusalem-Project.-Education:Gyger studied...
, live in Jerusalem twice a year for several weeks for networking.
Activities in Switzerland
The Lassalle-Institut in Bad Schoenbrunn and in particular its Jerusalem office are continuously evolving the project, establishing it in Switzerland, preparing conferences at the Lassalle-Haus, visiting Jerusalem and the United Nations Headquarters in New York, doing fundraising and other activities.Conference: Jerusalem: The Global Challenge
From October 14–16, 2010, the first annual international conference on the issue of Jerusalem and the challenges it faces was held under the title Jerusalem: The Global Challenge in the „Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Centre“ in Jerusalem. It was organized by the Lassalle-Institut, the IPCC and the Futura Institute, with the support of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign AffairsFederal Department of Foreign Affairs
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs is a department of the federal administration of Switzerland. It is charged with maintaining the foreign relations of Switzerland and serves as Switzerland's ministry of foreign affairs...
(FDFA) and the office of the European Commission in East Jerusalem. The purpose of the conference was to make the Jerusalem-Project known in Jerusalem and to form a network of engaged Israelis, Palestinians, and international community representatives who would promote the vision and the activities of the Jerusalem-Project. There was a mutual recognition that Jerusalem should be politically divided according to the principles of the two-state solution but physically, socially and economically united.
See also
- Projects working for peace among Arabs and Israelis
- Alternative dispute resolutionAlternative dispute resolutionAlternative Dispute Resolution includes dispute resolution processes and techniques that act as a means for disagreeing parties to come to an agreement short of litigation. ADR basically is an alternative to a formal court hearing or litigation...
- Israeli–Palestinian conflictIsraeli–Palestinian conflictThe Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
- ConciliationConciliationConciliation is an alternative dispute resolution process whereby the parties to a dispute agree to utilize the services of a conciliator, who then meets with the parties separately in an attempt to resolve their differences...
- Conflict resolutionConflict resolutionConflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of some social conflict. Often, committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest...
- Conflict resolution researchConflict resolution researchConflict resolution is any reduction in the severity of a conflict. It may involve conflict management, in which the parties continue the conflict but adopt less extreme tactics; settlement, in which they reach agreement on enough issues that the conflict stops; or removal of the underlying causes...
External links
- Lassalle-Institut
- International Peace and Cooperation Center (IPCC), East-Jerusalem
- Futura-Institut of Prof. Shlomo Hasson, West-Jerusalem
- Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, East-Jerusalem
- Interview with Rami Nasrallah and Shlomo Hasson. „If the enemy is your friend“ („Wenn der Feind ein Freund ist“). Swiss TV, August 30, 2010
- Jean-Michel Berthoud. "Swiss group pushes for peace". Swissinfo.ch, December 27, 2010