Israel & Palestine
In 2003 RTC began a programme of conflict transformation capacity building in Palestine and Israel. The programme works in partnership with civil society organisations on both sides of the conflict to build their capacity for effective, strategic and coherent work for positive change within their own communities.
Phase one
During the first phase of this programme Conflict Transformation Resource Groups (CTRGs) were established in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel. The CTRGs are made up of key members of civil society who have become competent in conflict transformation skills and recognise the importance of handling conflict by non-violent means. The members of the CTRGs are able to contribute to the resolution and management of conflict at the community level within their own constituencies.
Phase two
We are now in the second phase and are working with the CTRGs in the West Bank, Gaza and Israel to support them in their ongoing programmes. Having worked with our partners to develop their skills in conflict transformation, RTC maintains regular contact with them and makes frequent visits to the region in order to give professional support and supervision [accompaniment]. Members of the CTRGs are now developing their own programmes to incorporate conflict transformation into their ongoing work and also cascading their new skills to other staff in their organisations and their partner organisations.
"A major achievement has been the growth of confidence of CTRG members to intervene directly in conflict. A recent example of this involves a CTRG member facilitating dialogue between the Hamas government and a number of community organisations they had raided on suspicion of links with Fatah."
From mid-term monitoring report, Professor Andrew Rigby, Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies, Coventry University