1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,760 Jerusalem, the holy city at the heart of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. 2 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:13,040 Recently discreet but discernible sounds of peace can be heard in the region, bringing 3 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:19,480 a glimmer of hope on both sides, but the situation remains very fragile. 4 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:25,140 This is David, a gifted musician and student of philosophy at Tel Aviv University. 5 00:00:25,140 --> 00:00:31,540 In March 2002, he was killed by a Palestinian gunman, along with nine other young men. 6 00:00:31,540 --> 00:00:34,780 He was just 29. 7 00:00:34,780 --> 00:00:38,980 For Robbie Demelin, the tragedy is still alive in her memory whenever she flicks through 8 00:00:38,980 --> 00:00:43,180 the press cuttings covering her son's death. 9 00:00:43,180 --> 00:00:51,820 And it's called Beloved David, and it's a beautiful, beautiful article. 10 00:00:51,820 --> 00:00:56,740 In her apartment in Tel Aviv, Robbie receives a visitor. 11 00:00:56,740 --> 00:01:02,180 It's a good friend of hers, an Israeli Jew, Ronny Hershenson. 12 00:01:02,180 --> 00:01:07,860 Friendship isn't the only thing Robbie and Ronny have in common. 13 00:01:07,860 --> 00:01:15,020 And I lost my son Amir, 19-year-old. 14 00:01:15,020 --> 00:01:21,020 He was in the Israeli army, was a soldier. 15 00:01:21,020 --> 00:01:27,740 It was Sunday, 22nd of January, 1995. 16 00:01:27,740 --> 00:01:31,820 He was killed by a suicide bomber. 17 00:01:31,820 --> 00:01:35,220 In his life, Ronny has had to face more than most. 18 00:01:35,220 --> 00:01:40,220 Five years after the death of his first son, his second son, Eilat, committed suicide when 19 00:01:40,220 --> 00:01:43,940 his best friend was also killed by a Palestinian bomber. 20 00:01:43,940 --> 00:01:49,020 You might expect parents like Ronny and Robbie to hate the Palestinians and want revenge, 21 00:01:49,020 --> 00:01:50,700 but they feel differently. 22 00:01:50,700 --> 00:01:54,340 Instead of revenge, most of all, they desire peace and reconciliation. 23 00:01:54,340 --> 00:02:01,900 I understood that any form of revenge would just create more in the cycle of violence, 24 00:02:01,900 --> 00:02:03,260 more violence. 25 00:02:03,260 --> 00:02:06,780 And there is no revenge for a lost child. 26 00:02:06,780 --> 00:02:09,500 Nothing I could do could bring my child back. 27 00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:15,740 I said, no, I must raise my voice and let people to hear me, this voice, this voice 28 00:02:15,740 --> 00:02:24,120 of reasonable solution for the conflict, because the circle of violence won't stop 29 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:28,740 unless someone wants to stop it. 30 00:02:28,740 --> 00:02:33,100 Robbie and Ronny are both members of the Parents Circle, an organization bringing together 31 00:02:33,100 --> 00:02:38,100 not only Israeli, but also Palestinian families who have lost children or close relatives 32 00:02:38,100 --> 00:02:44,140 in the conflict and who have devoted their life to peace and reconciliation. 33 00:02:44,140 --> 00:02:49,300 This is Khaled Abu Awad, a member of the Palestinian Resistance and former mathematics 34 00:02:49,300 --> 00:02:50,500 teacher. 35 00:02:50,500 --> 00:02:56,220 Until recently, his mind was set on fighting occupiers to avenge Palestinian martyrs killed 36 00:02:56,220 --> 00:02:57,820 by Israelis. 37 00:02:57,820 --> 00:03:02,740 His two brothers were shot dead by Israeli soldiers, and his son was badly injured. 38 00:03:02,740 --> 00:03:05,940 Khaled keeps his Fatah membership card. 39 00:03:05,940 --> 00:03:10,260 But his opinions and perception of violence have changed radically since he for the first 40 00:03:10,260 --> 00:03:15,500 time met Israeli and Palestinian Parents Circle members, who experienced a similar 41 00:03:15,500 --> 00:03:16,500 tragedy. 42 00:03:16,500 --> 00:03:24,660 I listened to their stories, and I completely forgot that they were Palestinians or Arabs 43 00:03:24,660 --> 00:03:25,860 or Jews. 44 00:03:25,860 --> 00:03:30,980 They became just people who wanted to express their sadness and their personal feelings. 45 00:03:30,980 --> 00:03:35,820 I felt deep inside that I really belonged with these people. 46 00:03:35,820 --> 00:03:41,300 United in grief and pain, more than 500 Palestinian and Israeli families have become members of 47 00:03:41,300 --> 00:03:43,220 the Parents Circle. 48 00:03:43,220 --> 00:03:48,780 Their association receives EU funding under the Partnership for Peace program, a specific 49 00:03:48,780 --> 00:03:56,980 initiative, supporting civil society and promoting nonviolence on both sides of the conflict. 50 00:03:56,980 --> 00:04:00,700 If those who, with the loss of their children, paid the highest price in the Middle East 51 00:04:00,700 --> 00:04:05,900 conflict are ready for reconciliation, surely everybody in the region can be, too. 52 00:04:05,900 --> 00:04:11,740 That's what Ronny and other members of the Parents Circle believe. 53 00:04:11,740 --> 00:04:16,620 In their eyes, the only reasonable solution to the conflict is an independent and democratic 54 00:04:16,620 --> 00:04:20,820 Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. 55 00:04:20,820 --> 00:04:25,420 This is also the vision of a huge majority of Jews, Israeli Arabs and Palestinians living 56 00:04:25,420 --> 00:04:26,980 in the region. 57 00:04:26,980 --> 00:04:32,060 The two-state solution has always been the objective of the International Quartet, bringing 58 00:04:32,060 --> 00:04:37,340 together the major players in the Middle East peace process, the United States, Russia, 59 00:04:37,340 --> 00:04:41,900 the UN and the European Union. 60 00:04:41,900 --> 00:04:49,900 We are members of the Quartet, and there we, of course, have been supporting both sides 61 00:04:49,900 --> 00:04:56,880 in their very, very difficult task to go ahead according to the roadmap in order to find 62 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:04,000 a comprehensive and secure peace. 63 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:09,160 The European Union maintains a political dialogue with both sides through the association agreements 64 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:12,360 under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. 65 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:17,840 Europe is also the main trading partner of Israel and the largest donor to the Palestinians. 66 00:05:17,840 --> 00:05:24,160 Every year the European Union spends 250 million euro to rebuild destroyed infrastructure, 67 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:28,720 to provide a humanitarian lifeline to the Palestinian people and to support political 68 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:33,000 and financial reforms. 69 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:37,960 While recognizing Europe's important assistance effort, the Palestinians would prefer to see 70 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,760 Europe acting more firmly towards Israel. 71 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:46,720 It took me three months and two days to sign an association agreement. 72 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:51,120 It has taken Egypt about 14 years. 73 00:05:51,120 --> 00:06:01,240 But it took me eight years to persuade the Commission to start restricting settlement 74 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:08,600 exports to Europe, which are a violation of the European Union's own laws, which means 75 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:14,580 it's easier to give the Palestinians than to put pressure on the Israelis. 76 00:06:14,580 --> 00:06:19,660 As regards Israel, it highlights the coordination between the key actors in the region, but 77 00:06:19,660 --> 00:06:27,380 it also recognizes the role of the EU in the peace process. 78 00:06:27,380 --> 00:06:34,140 The European Union is a superpower, both politically and economically. 79 00:06:34,140 --> 00:06:41,580 And I think that therefore we need to recognize that Europe has an interest in the Middle 80 00:06:41,580 --> 00:06:53,020 East, and therefore it is entitled to pursue these goals of reaching stability and increasing 81 00:06:53,020 --> 00:06:55,820 the security of its environment. 82 00:06:55,820 --> 00:07:01,780 And therefore we believe that Europe has a role to play. 83 00:07:01,780 --> 00:07:06,540 Seven o'clock in the morning, Palestinian Ali Hijawi is crossing the checkpoint between 84 00:07:06,540 --> 00:07:08,740 Ramallah and Jerusalem. 85 00:07:08,740 --> 00:07:12,540 Today it took him ten minutes to go past the Israeli guards. 86 00:07:12,540 --> 00:07:15,700 On other days it takes him one hour or more. 87 00:07:15,700 --> 00:07:20,140 Movement is still very difficult for Palestinians from the West Bank, cut off by the security 88 00:07:20,140 --> 00:07:25,860 wall built by Israel. 89 00:07:25,860 --> 00:07:27,360 Ali is a businessman. 90 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:32,260 He has a master's degree in pharmacy and works as a quality manager in a big pharmaceutical 91 00:07:32,260 --> 00:07:33,540 firm. 92 00:07:33,540 --> 00:07:38,580 Every Thursday he travels with a group of other Palestinians from the West Bank to Israel. 93 00:07:38,580 --> 00:07:44,700 Destination, the University of Haifa, where two days a week Ali and his friends participate 94 00:07:44,700 --> 00:07:49,100 in the study program, Building Business Bridges. 95 00:07:49,100 --> 00:07:52,940 This is another initiative co-financed by the European Union under the Partnership for 96 00:07:52,940 --> 00:07:54,620 Peace program. 97 00:07:54,620 --> 00:08:00,060 It seeks to foster Israeli-Arab economic cooperation by bringing together and training the best 98 00:08:00,060 --> 00:08:04,460 qualified Israeli and Palestinian young business leaders. 99 00:08:04,460 --> 00:08:09,820 After twelve months of study, Ali is very satisfied, both on a professional and personal 100 00:08:09,820 --> 00:08:10,820 level. 101 00:08:10,820 --> 00:08:18,620 The picture became more clear because what I know for Israel that I know the soldiers 102 00:08:18,620 --> 00:08:27,820 killing people, so now I know the human beings which I started dealing with. 103 00:08:27,820 --> 00:08:33,020 Getting to know each other often means heated debates between Israelis and Palestinians. 104 00:08:33,020 --> 00:08:38,860 We have fights sometimes, we agree on certain points, we disagree on certain points, which 105 00:08:38,860 --> 00:08:44,300 makes a more clear view of what we are living in. 106 00:08:44,300 --> 00:08:49,180 After two hours of driving, Ali and his friends arrive at the University of Haifa. 107 00:08:49,180 --> 00:08:53,880 After the inevitable security check, the students take their seats in the classroom. 108 00:08:53,880 --> 00:09:01,780 The classes start with a lecture on financial management. 109 00:09:01,820 --> 00:09:06,060 With the Building Business Bridges program, the University of Haifa is a pioneer and leader 110 00:09:06,060 --> 00:09:08,020 in the cause for peace. 111 00:09:08,020 --> 00:09:12,660 This unique program, bringing Jewish and Arab people together, helps to overcome the barriers 112 00:09:12,660 --> 00:09:14,660 between the two communities. 113 00:09:14,660 --> 00:09:18,860 The students get closer to each other and invite classmates to their homes on family 114 00:09:18,860 --> 00:09:20,200 occasions. 115 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:25,900 This personal relationship is long-lasting, as students who graduated last year testify. 116 00:09:26,900 --> 00:09:34,380 From a personal point of view, it was very enriching in a way that it allowed me to get 117 00:09:34,380 --> 00:09:38,620 to know both Palestinians and Israeli Arabs from inside. 118 00:09:38,620 --> 00:09:44,380 After two years in the program, not only I have business connections, but I also have 119 00:09:44,380 --> 00:09:45,380 friends. 120 00:09:45,380 --> 00:09:53,660 The only way to solve the conflict is to let both sides understand the other side. 121 00:09:53,660 --> 00:09:57,900 Promoting understanding and building bridges between the two communities will remain a 122 00:09:57,900 --> 00:10:03,760 priority for the European Union, determined to play an active role in the roadmap to peace 123 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:04,660 in the Middle East.