• > Back to list

Congress of Caux

Published on 2007-12-27 17:35:00

Because of its quality, its strength and the frank exchange of ideas, the Israeli-Palestinian meeting held in Caux from 23 to 26 June 2006 went beyond all expectations.

In a unique place and without media coverage, this Congress brought together more than 40 men and women from the world of politics, religion, science, academia and the social sciences. Powerful leaders showed their desire to contribute to the construction of "An Alliance for a Culture of Peace in the Middle East".

 

Four days of Intense discussions led to numerous changes and sometimes even exceptional transformations. We must also remember the text that the majority of the participants approved at the end of the Congress. It describes at least seven points of agreement required for the construction of this Alliance, first embodied by this meeting.

Draft Declaration Of Intent
26th June 2003

1. Peace between Israelis and Palestinians can only be achieved by agreements in proper form on the basis of equality and reciprocity, in conformity with international legality.
2. Domination of one people by another is unacceptable. Hence, the need for two independent and sovereign states living in peace side by side.
3. Historical aspirations of the two peoples are a reality; but this reality doesn’t necessarily have a legitimate political application.
4. This conflict has no military solution.
5. We call upon the two parties to put an end to violence of any kind, especially when directed against civilian populations, who suffer daily from the situation on the ground.
6. We call to immediately end all kinds of incitement and demonization of others.
7. The above mentioned principles represent the minimum consensus to which all people willing to venture towards the emergence of a culture of peace adhere. The partakers’ majority is committed to the fulfillment of these goals and has decided to meet for its next congress in Jerusalem.

---

This text was adopted by a majority of the partakers at the first meeting of the “Caux Group” in order to serve as a basis foroup its future action.

Experts Of The Congress Of Caux

Congress Of Caux June 23rd - 26th 2003

Daniel Shek

« … I believe in the inescapable forward movement of peace in our region. I believe that people, civil societies, (…) are more mature for dialogue and reconciliation than our leaders. And even though the shyness and the difficulty of governements to start a dialogue can be understood, the power of those societies is indeed there, and it will lead us to true peace, to true reconciliation.”

Elie Barnavi

« I am going to says something which will stun my Israeli friends. When a Palestinian unit, whatever group it is being sent by, shoots at Israeli soldiers in the territories, or sets a tank on fire and my son is inside it, this is not terrorism.
When some guy blows himself up in a restaurant in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, in the name of God, this is terrorism. And that is the best ally of those who do not want peace in our land.
The day you will understand this - not as individuals, because as such you do understand it - but the day you understand this as a nation, you will have won the case. »

« We are opponents, and we are Siamese twins. Life’s misfortune has stuck us together. Therefore, either we will save ourselves together, or we shall perish together. This must be clear. »

Imam Talal Sedir

« I am glad to hear our friend Barnavi. And I thank him a lot for his frankness and his courage.
I sincerely wish – I say it with all my heart – even if your son is in the Israeli army in in the West Bank, that nothing happens to him. As Palestinians, there’s nothing we can be proud of in killing Israeli people. We have done things in regard to which we have been unjust to ourselves, but also towards you. Just as you have been unjust to ourselves, as well as to yourselves. »

« There is a reality that the Israeli do not want to see ; same for the Palestinians. The Israelis cannot do without the Palestinians. And Palestinians cannot do without the Israelis. I think all this is being recorded. I would like everybody to hear what I am saying.
The water which is found in the Holy Land is drunk by the Israelis and the Palestinians. Israelis and Palestinians eat bread together. The same electricity runs in the Israeli and Palestinian houses. The frontiers of water, the frontiers of air and the frontiers of land are all frontiers that neither Israelis nor Palestinians can do without. (…)
The majority of Palestinians do not hate Israelis, but they hate Israeli occupation. I believe that should occupation come to an end, there will be a unique relationship in the Middle East. And this relationship, we will export in the whole world, in particular in the Arab world, who is waiting for a solution with the Palestinians, so as to build a true relationship with Israel. »

« I would like to tell our neighbours who live with us on the Holy Land that Jewish religion is the first religion to which we believe. And I am not making compliments. It is indeed part of our Muslim faith. »

« In our Muslim religion, in our philosophy, as Muslim Authority, the Holy Land is holy for all of us ; and it first belongs to the Jews to have had the honor of this Holy Land, and to adore it. Then came the Christians, and then the Muslim religion. »

« The Great Rabhi of Israel gave a « fatwa », an authorisation, and I thank him deeply. He said : the life of people is more important than the life of holy places. And I say the same thing, whether they be Christians, Jews or Muslims. The Calif took a word from the Prophet (Mohammed) : « The life of a man is more precious that the Mecca ». We believe that the life of men is more important than anything else. »

Hassan Al Balawi

« It is very difficult to enter a peace process, because it leads us to ask ourselves questions : how can I shake hands with a representant of a State that killed my father, that has occupied my land, that has destroyed my houses, that keeps me from going out and also forces three millions Palestinians to live in a big prison ? It is a very violent internal process. But we all know that to reach peace, we need courage. Peace will not be made between friends. Peace is precisely made between enemies ; ennemies who have fought a long time, who have killed and torn each other apart. »

« I would like to say something that may shock you (…). In front of you, I will give up my Palestinehood. I am no longer a Palestinian. I do not want a Palestinian State. I would like Israel to annex the West Bank and the Gaza strip. And, why not, that this State should be called Israel. But at one condition : that all of us should have the same rights : the right to come back, the right to live, the right to build ; that all of us would be on an equal basis. »

Chief Rabbi Sirat

« While listening to the speakers, I was thinking about a famous picture from Goya, in which two gladiators are fighting, and they are so caught up in their fight that they do not realise that they are standing on clay and progressively sinking in it, so that they soon won’t be able to fight anymore, because they will have disappeared in it.
Time is counted for us. If a certain number of things do not happen, after we have had this moment of truth we just witnessed, we shall have to account for it in face of our conscience and in face of God. (…) Maybe this is the issue of the second part of our meeting, this afternoon. To know how, and in which manner, we shall spread what has been said, what has convinced us, what has touched us to the core of ourselves, to share with as many people as possible what now appears to us as an evidence ; maybe not to all of us ; maybe some of us are still left with questions. But in a general manner, we have reached a moment of truth ; and this moment of truth we should not just keep for ourselves. »

Download :

• congress_of_caux.pdf
• common_declaration.pdf
• excerpts_of_the_congress_of_caux.pdf

V0.97