Medbridge

MedBridge is a European organization whose goal is to promote dialogue and mutual understanding between Europe and the Middle East.[1] Its aim is to enable Europeans willing to be informed on the Middle East or to support Israeli-Arab peace efforts, to access the most direct, comprehensive and objective information possible on the political situation in the region.

MedBridge
MottoA Bridge between Europe and the Middle-East
Founded2003 (Belgium), 2004 (France)
TypeNon-profit
NGO
Location
ServicesConferences, Seminars, Visits, Exhibition
FieldsPromoting dialogue and mutual understanding between Europe and the Middle-East
Key people
Willy De Clercq, Marco Pannella, Ana Palacio, François Léotard, François Zimeray
Websitewww.medbridge.org

History

Medbridge was created in 2003. It has been registered as a French non-profit organization since 2004.[2] The organization was created by European leaders from different political backgrounds, such as Willy De Clercq, Marco Pannella, Ana Palacio, François Léotard and François Zimeray.[1][3]

According to Israeli diplomat Yigal Palmor, the organization gathered in October 2003 the largest European parliamentary delegation that has ever visited the Middle East.[4] 160 parliamentarians from 28 countries took part in the visit.[5] In January 2008, the delegation accompanied another large delegation of 60 parliamentarians from 21 European countries.[6] King Abdullah II was consulted by a delegation of Medbridge during this visit, and actively lobbied for the creation of a state of Palestine.[7][8]

In February 2007, after French president Jacques Chirac told the press that if Iran held a few nuclear weapons, it wouldn't be a big deal, a delegation of French politicians was sent by Mebridge to Israel and Palestine to get a hands-on approach of the problem instead of viewing the conflict through the lens of the French press.[9] In June 2007, MedBridge organized a visit of French writers to the Middle-East in cooperation with Le Monde Magazine.[10]

Activities

Since its creation in 2003, the organization has initiated a dozen of international events. These include conferences, exhibitions, international meetings and visits of European parliamentarians and civil society representatives to the Middle East.[11]

Visits to the Middle East

Medbridge has organized visits to the Middle East for public leaders and decision-makers. About 500 parliamentarians, from 30 European countries, took part in these visits.[3][11]

In addition to political visits, MedBridge has also initiated several visits for civil society representatives and opinion leaders.

Events
Mahmoud Abbas and François Zimeray during Parliaments for Peace in 2008.

Medbridge has organized several conferences. In the past important leaders such as Ehud Barak, Édith Cresson, Claude Goasguen, Antoine Sfeir, or Alexandre Adler took part in these.[3][12]

MedBridge has also organized exhibitions, among others at the French Senate.[3][11]

In 2005, MedBridge, in cooperation with the organization Hommes de Paroles, organized the first World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace, gathering 100 imams and rabbis from all over the world under the patronage of Albert II of Belgium and Mohammed VI of Morocco.[3]

People involved

Among the people who received the delegations of MedBridge are:[3][4][13]

Among the people who took part in the delegations are:[3][4][10][13][14]

References
  1. "Qui sommes-nous ?" [Who are we?] (in French). Medbridge. 2011. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012.
  2. Journal Officiel de la République Française, April 10, 2004
  3. "Title unknown (dead link)". Medbridge. Archived from the original on September 5, 2010.
  4. Primor, Adar; Haaretz Correspondent (October 24, 2003). "European lawmakers to visit the region to promote understanding". Haaretz.
  5. "Une chance pour la paix" [A chance for peace]. MedBridge. 22 July 2003.
  6. Cojean, Annick (21 February 2008). "Visite express au Proche-Orient" [Express visit to the Middle East]. Le Monde.
  7. "King Meets A delegation From "Med Bridge" Centre". Kingabdullah.jo. 26 October 2003. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  8. "King Meets a Delegation from "Med Bridge" Center". Kuna.net.kw. 26 October 2003. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  9. Uriel Heilman (11 February 2007). "French politicians see region's nuances". Jta.org. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  10. "Voyage d'écrivains français en Israël et dans les Territoires palestiniens – 18 au 22 juin 2007" [Delegation of French Writers to the Middle-East – June 18 to 22, 2007]. MedBridge. 29 June 2007.
  11. "Initiatives: Tous les articles dans Initiatives" [All items in Initiatives]. Medbridge. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  12. MedBridge (May 6, 2009). Conference medbridge. Dailymotion.
  13. Mesguishe, Hanna (February 7, 2008). "Medbridge : Les parlementaires européens visitent la région" [MedBridge: MEPs visit the region]. Guysen News International. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013.
  14. "Newsletter n°124 du 21 avril 2005 – Sommaire" [Newsletter No. 124 of 21 April 2005 – Summary]. Embassy of Israel in France. 21 April 2005.
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