Reviews 2006
Political Education
September 2006
During the weekend of October 27-28, the WBC hosted 22 activists from
Young Labor and Young Meretz. They participated in a seminar about
socio-economic issues and economic theories.
The main purpose of the seminar was to offer the participants basic economic knowledge and to discuss with them classic and modern economic theories. The lecturers were almost all economists, some of them with international reputation, like Dr. Dan Ben David from the Tel Aviv University.
During the weekend, some of the most controversial issues related to Israel's economy were discussed, among them the national budget, the gap between the rich and the poor in Israel - which is the largest in the western world -, the government's policy towards the weaker parts of the population, and other critical issues.
The participants left the weekend with a deeper knowledge about the social crisis that Israel is dealing with, the economical science and the economical ideology that lies within the economical policies.
The seminar is planned to be the first in a series of seminars which will be held in the WBC during the next year. The series has two main aims: to offer the activists a political education training and to introduce them to the WBC in order to encourage our partner organizations to be as involved as possible in the WBC’s activities.
Congress - 10 Years Willy Brandt Center
German Foreign Minister Steinmeier
September 2006
The basis for the Willy Brandt Center (WBC) was set in 1996 with the
signing of the trilateral agreement in Ramallah. On the occasion of the
ten years anniversary a conference was hold with Frank-Walter Steinmeier,
the foreign minister of Germany, as keynote speaker. "The kind of
grass root work you are doing, shows courage, engagement, patience and
endurance", the foreign minister congratulates on the jubilee.
"I have to be convinced by that work, that it will be worth it in the
future. Otherwise I could not do my work neither." He reminded that
the peace process which followed Oslo in 1996 appeared to be over after
Jitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a fanatic. And he concluded by the
telling the activists: "Willy Brandt would be very proud of
you."
Also Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Minister of development aid, joined the congratulations. "I have a great respect for this kind of joined project." The center was an island of dialogue in a sea and a region full of difficult conflicts.
The last days, the foreign minister was engaged in the effort for a ceasefire in the Lebanon war. But with that they had not reached the core of the conflict, he said. A political approach to the problem has to be imbed in the revival of the whole middle-east peace process.
Adib Saleem, Member of Shabibet and the team of the WBC said that a dialogue after the war in Lebanon is just worth it, "if we do not just speak, but achieve an agreement for sure." Eran Hermoni, chair of youth organization of the Israeli labor party answered: "If somebody wants to speak with me, I will speak with him. But only, if we want to find a conclusion, too." And he could not see this will in the Palestinian government. 60 Percent of the Israelis were in favour of a dialogue with the Palestinians, emphasized Uri Zaki, head of the Meretz-youth.
Who was Herbert Frahm aka Willy Brandt?
Young politicians explore possibilities for peace making
July/September 2006
With the financial support of the German 
Stiftung für Erinnerung, Verantwortung
und Zukunft (Foundation for Remembrance, Responsibility and Future)
and ConAct the WBC gives five Palestinian, five Israeli and six German
political activists the possibility to explore the legacy of Willy
Brandt.
The former chancellor of Germany is especially known for initiating political changes: He initiated the so called "Ostpolitik" (East Policy) during the Cold War that led to a rapprochement between the Communist/Socialist Eastern countries, in particular East Germany, and West Germany. He is also known for calling for a new policy of the North towards the South for reducing poverty in the South.
The young participants learn about Willy Brandt's political visions and
approaches while they are also introduced to the current political
realities n Germany, Israel and Palestine. The results of the projects are
presented in an 
exhibition in the WBC in September 2006.
This project is led by Heike Kratt, coordinator of the WBC.
Pictures of the Seminar
Pictures of the Exhibition
The WBC at the IUSY-Festival 2006 in Alicante, Spain
July 2006
Between 18.-23. July the WBC presents its work at the IUSY Festival in
Alicante, Spain. IUSY, the International Union of
Socialist Youth, officially adopted the WBC as one of its projects in 2001
and assured its support again in 2004 by making the WBC part of its
"Action Plan for Peace".
The WBC presents its work at the IUSY Festival with its 7000 participants from all over the world in a workshop on conflict transformation, an exhibition about Human Rights, and a video presentation during the festival's main conference about the Middle East.
The WBC is represented by Heike Kratt, coordinator of the WBC.
Learning Politics
Delegations of Young Labor and Young Meretz and a delegation of Young Fateh visits Germany
May 2006
The WBC was involved in preparing and implementing a visit of delegations
of Young Labor and Young Meretz and a delegation of Young Fateh to Germany
in May 2006.
The four delegates were invited by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Israel to explore the current
political and economic realities in Germany.
An important part of their visit was the participation in the National Congress of the Jusos in Saarbrücken, Germany. The delegates could explore how young German politicians are implementing their visions and ideas into action.
This project is led by Heike Kratt, coordinator of the WBC.
For a successful political future
Training a new generation of young negotiators
Since March 2006
In cooperation with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in the Palestinian Territories a
group of sixteen young Palestinians active in Shabeebat Fateh are
participating in a political education programme. In four successive
workshops the group learns about politics, society, and history of
Palestine, Israel, and the European Union. On the basis of this knowledge
they are trained to improve their negotiation skills and political
communication. The programme is running until November 2006 and takes
place in Ramallah and Bethlehem.
The project is coordinated by Nimala Kharoufeh, representative of Young Fateh in the WBC.
Young and Left in Jerualem
Helping to develop an open, tolerant, and vivid city
Since February 2006
Through a series of meetings and seminars the WBC offers a group of Young
Meretz in Jerusalem to develop its organisational and communicative
skills.
The group aims to increase the political participation of young Israelis
in Jerusalem helping to develop an open, tolerant, and vivid city.
The project is coordinated by Tal Shahar, representative of Young
Meretz in the WBC, and Maja Crabtree, a senior political activist of Young
Meretz.
