1. “A New Role for Religion in the Middle East,” by Marc Gopin
   
   Marc Gopin, James Laue Professor of World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, says that during this time of violence and distrust, “there is one thing that makes a huge difference in developing relationships between enemies. That is the power of gestures that are made across civilizations… In all cases there is only one way to the future and that is an alliance of religious and non-religious people who hammer out together the democratic and nonviolent values that they share.”
   (Source: Common Ground News Service, December 22, 2005)
2. “Jerusalem will be Divided,” Haaretz Editorial
   
   In response to an apparent statement by an adviser to Ariel Sharon that Sharon is prepared for a compromise even on Jerusalem, and the subsequent panicked denials by Sharon, a Haaretz editorial writes: “it is clear that any political arrangement - whichever prime minister signs it - will involve a division of Jerusalem.” The adviser’s comment revived the old Likud election slogan, “Peres will divide Jerusalem.” “One could have expected that such a brave leader [Sharon] would respond to the new-old Likud slogan by saying that Jerusalem will be divided - because that is in Israel's interest.”
   (Source: Haaretz, December 15, 2005)
3. “Win-Win: Can it be Done?" by Ammar W. Mango
   
   Jordan Times writer Ammar W. Mango explains: “Conflict in business is part of everyday life. When dealing with it, most people have preset notions about how to behave and how to negotiate. Traditionally people focus on how to get the most out of the other person or company. This is called a win-lose style of negotiation… Win-win stresses the importance of parties understanding their wants and needs clearly so they can devise together a solution that satisfies both sides.”
   (Source: Jordan Times, December 9-10, 2005)
4. “Turkey Hosts New Talks on Thwarting Bird Flu,”
   by Judy Siegel-Itzkovich
   Judy Siegel-Itzkovich of the Jerusalem Post reports on the first meeting of Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian health and veterinary officials to prepare for an avian flu pandemic. “The experts met under the umbrella of the Middle East Consortium on Infectious Disease Surveillance (MECIDS), whose goals are to improve the ability of Middle Eastern nations to respond to disease outbreaks and to build mutual trust through transborder cooperation.”
   MECIDS was founded in 2002 by Search for Common Ground and the NTI Global Health and Security Initiative.
   (Source: Jerusalem Post, December 15, 2005)
5. “Speaking of Democracy!”
   by Husam S. Madhoun for the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH)
   Husam S. Madhoun responds to a U.S. House “resolution that conditioned future financial aid to the Palestinian National Authority on the exclusion of Hamas from the upcoming legislative elections slated for January 25,” as well as a similar statement from the EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana. “For the democratic process in Palestine to be genuine and not just cosmetic, it is an imperative that extremist groups in Palestine, especially Hamas to participate in the legislative elections.”
   (Source: The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH), December 20, 2005)

hagalil.com 07-06-2005