Introduction

INTRODUCTION 1 CONTENTS 03 Message from the Chairman 04 Forward Thinking: The Foward Way 06 Forward Thinking: Our Philosophy 07 The Current Cost of Conflict in the Middle-East 08 Foreword: What has happened to ‘Noblesse oblige’? by Sir Jeremy Greenstock 10 Middle East Programme 16 Helsinki Policy Forum 22 Tunisia Programme 24 UK Programme 28 Our Finances 29 Our Staff 2 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN It has been another challenging year, with a sense of deepening crisis in large parts of the Middle East. Conflicts, with their tragic humanitarian consequences, continue to rage in Libya, Syria and Yemen. Regional tensions are mounting and threaten to unleash further violence unless checked. Meanwhile there are still few public signs of any meaningful progress towards a durable resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In this difficult context, the demand for Forward Thinking’s services as mediators and facilitators remains exceptionally high. We continue to work on the principle that only through maintaining confidential spaces for dialogue is it possible to resolve challenges and build the conditions for a peaceful, prosperous and secure Middle East. In this spirit, the past twelve months of activity have been highly significant for Forward Thinking. In the Middle East, in spite of all the current challenges, we have successfully established an avenue for Israelis and Palestinians political figures to directly meet and exchange honest reflections on how to begin moving beyond the current impasse. In the Helsinki Policy Forum, we have maintained a channel for key figures from Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to exchange ideas on where co- operation might be possible. While in the UK, our work with the office of the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation has allowed crucial insights on how Britain’s response to terrorism impacts diverse communities to be shared with policymakers and helped spark new debates. On behalf of all the trustees I’d like to thank our incredibly committed and hard working team for all their energies and efforts. WILLIAM SIEGHART CBE | CHAIRMAN OF FORWARD THINKING INTRODUCTION FORWARD THINKING: THE FORWARD WAY By Oliver Mcternan Director The question that I am most frequently asked regarding change in the near future. The lack of job opportunities my work is ‘Do you ever give up hope that there can ever and the inability to earn an income deprive many of the be peace in the Middle East?’ opportunity of marriage and creating their own family life. My honest answer is simply ‘no’. What motivates me to In the course of the past year we have worked closely with continue our efforts is what I like to describe as an Palestinian Ministry of Education facilitating conferences ‘informed optimism’ that is rooted in the knowledge designed to address at least some of these issues. We that there are people on both sides of this conflict who have also communicated our findings to the EU and a are capable of achieving an agreement that may not be number of European governments in the hope of helping ideal for either, but can accommodate sufficiently the to create a greater awareness of the needs, which left aspirations of the two peoples engaged in competing unaddressed, risk undermining any efforts to achieve an claims over the same piece of land. This is not to be blind agreement within the foreseeable future. The inability of to the fact that there are enormous challenges to be the EU and the individual member States to engage all of faced but none of these are intractable. the Palestinian factions greatly undermines their ability to work effectively to achieve change. The lack of inclusive Peace in the Middle East, based upon a just and durable engagement at an official level risks institutionalising the agreement between Palestinians and Israelis, is not only divisions that currently exist and add to the frustrations possible, but is an imperative to achieve a sustainable felt by many looking for change. stability and development in the whole of the Gulf/ MENA region. The current status quo in this region is not Throughout the year we have continued to use the sustainable. Hundreds of millions of people cannot be Irish experience, North and South, as a space in which expected to endure a life without any possibility of both Israeli and Palestinian political figures can explore achieving their genuine aspirations and full human separately the unavoidable obstacles and challenges that potential. they are likely to face once they embark upon a serious process of achieving peace. In the visits we arrange to The horror of what we are witnessing in Syria and Yemen Belfast and Dublin they are given the opportunity to is a clear warning of what the future norm could be if engage with senior figures that played a significant role in we continue to ignore the urgent need to address the the Irish Peace Process, and to examine close up some tensions that arise from the current structural injustices of the initial and ongoing challenges of reaching an within the region as a whole. This is particularly true in agreement and sustaining a process. the Occupied Palestinian Territories where in the past year we have facilitated regularly monthly meetings with The aim is not to teach lessons on how to do peace, but cross factional groups of politicians, youth and business to provide insights into the messiness of a peace making entrepreneurs. process, some of which may or may not be applicable to their own situation. Our focus in the past year has been to At every level we witnessed a deep sense of frustration bring to Ireland delegations from Likud and the National particularly at the lack of any political or economic Religious party. There were many enriching conversations development. The young in particular feel frustrated which have continued on their return home. and demoralised as they see very little prospect of real The aim is not to teach lessons on how to do peace, but to provide insights into the messiness of a peace making process. 4 INTRODUCTION View over Jerusalem Photo credit: Robert Bye Our challenge now is to build upon these delegations Our engagement with diverse Muslim communities across and to assist those engaged in this process to continue to the UK took a new focus during the course of the year. develop the insights gained from their visits to Belfast and Whilst we continued to facilitate dialogues between the Dublin. A dialogue that can help shift people’s entrenched communities and the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism perspectives cannot be rushed but requires respect, Legislation, a new channel of dialogue was opened up patience and a commitment of time. This is precisely the between the communities and the Crown Prosecution Forward Thinking approach. We assist those with whom Service. The aim of these dialogues is to promote greater we engage to develop their own agenda and to explore understanding and help to change perspectives that can the unavoidable issues if they are to reach sufficient undermine social cohesion. This is also the aim of our consensus on the compromises that will be necessary to programme Pathways into Politics that encourages young achieve a durable peace. Muslims to examine the options open to them in the political life of the country. Our efforts to promote a regional dialogue aimed at promoting greater and sustainable stability in the Gulf/ Whether we are working in the Middle East, the Gulf, MENA region have continued through the activities of the North Africa or here at home in the UK, the core of what Helsinki Policy Forum. we are doing is frontline mediation aimed at challenging and changing perspectives that keep peoples and The Forum provides a mechanism that helps to convene communities apart. As an organisation we aim always at least twice or three times a year senior policy makers to be inclusive and demand driven – we respond to from the region and ten European countries. It is also an agenda set by those with whom we engage. We a channel for ongoing conversations that can help to are grateful to our donors - governments, trusts and identify, and where possible, manage potential crises individuals – without whose support we would not exist. between some of the main actors in the region. To achieve this goal Forward Thinking continues to work We are also grateful to Bookmark who provide not only in close partnership with the Finish Foreign Ministry, to the premises out of which we work but also an whom we are also grateful for their continued support excellent working environment for our team. and sponsorship. The working relationship is a good example of what can be achieved when a government provides diplomatic as well as financial support to a non- government body. 5 OUR PHILOSOPHY Conflict mediation requires addressing attitudinal challenges - entrenched mindsets, fears and aspirations - that can inhibit moving forward on key disputed issues. Our approach to dialogue rests on six pillars: DEMAND-DRIVEN FLEXIBILITY & ADAPTABILITY TRANSPARENCY & CONFIDENTIALITY INCLUSIVITY WORKING AT MULTIPLE LEVELS SUSTAINED COMMITMENT 698 MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES PARTICIPATED IN 304 IN THE UK & IRELAND 50 IN TUNISIA IN ISRAEL, THE WEST BANK, IN EUROPE 198 EAST JERUSALEM AND GAZA 84 INTRODUCTION THE CURRENT COST OF CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE-EAST Nowhere in the world has suffered from as much conflict in the past 50 years as the MENA region. On average, countries in this region have experienced some form of conflict every 3 years. At least half a million civilians and combatants have died in conflicts since 2011. In 2016, a third of the region’s population – 87 million people – were directly affected by war.

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