Workshop - on

Palestine and Finland

Nov. 22, 2008 - Nov. 23, 2008

Jericho

Course Outline

Building on many years of interactions and debates between Finnish and Palestinian scholars, officials, diplomats, religious figures, media and civil society representatives, PASSIA, the Finnish Institute in the Middle East (FIME), and the Finnish Representative Office in Ramallah decided in 2008 to embark on a joint project, culminating in a two-day workshop. The international seminar on Palestine & Finland, which was held on 22-23 November 2008 in Jericho, brought together over 50 participants - officials, diplomats, representatives of civil society, and academics with a wide range of fields of specialization, who discussed the history, presence and future of Palestinian-Finnish relations and took an in-depth look at Palestinian internal politics as well as on the prospects of the peace process. The proceedings of the workshop were published in a book.

Participants: Jehad Draidi, DG MEHE; Nisreen Al-Aref, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung-Finance Manager; Jamal El-Aref, Deputy M.E Rep/Anera; Fouad Dakkak, Engineer; Sanna Negus, Journalist; Shaher Hijtani, PDLFEP local Programme coordin.; Hannu Taimisto, Lawyer/COPPS; Kari Lamperi, EUPOL COPPS Prosceutium Exp.; Dr.Olli Ruohomaki, Senior Adviser MFA Finland; Dr.Hennu Juusola, University Lecturer; Sirpa Maenpaa, Deputy Director; Pia Rantala Engberg, Represantative of Finland; Sylvia Akar, Dr/University lecturer; Martti Tuhkanen, Director /lecturer; Outi Saarikoski, Deputy Head Rep.Office; Anna Savolainen, Desk Officer/Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Mona Shamma’, Office&Program Manager; Dr.Ghazi Hanania, Deputy speaker of PLC; Dr.Nafiz Nazzal, Dr.Laila Nazzal, Professor; Jamal Jawabreh, D.General ; Nihekiesson, Consul General; Ghassan Khatib, UN. Lecturer; Luay Shabaneh, OCBS; Adnan Al-Masri, Badael center; Rana Halaseh, Head of technical assistance e Unit; Philip hokaptel, Pol.officer German Rep.off; Anna Brudin, Political Swedish consulate affairs; Sabri Saidam, Presedent’s office; Musa Abu-gharbieh, Fateh Movement; Khalil Nakhleh, Consultant; Lois Nakhleh, Artist ; Sahar Jallad, Advisor to the PLA chairman; Mikko Louhivuori, Rockefeller Museum; Ibrahim Nuaimi, Supervisor of computer labs; Rana alHELSI PhD, Head of technical assistance unit; Rinna Isotalo, Research University of Helsinki; Saleh Rafat, FIDA;

Speakers

Sirpa Mäenpää

Deputy Director General for Middle East and Africa, MFA Finland

Dr. Mikko Louhivuori

Rockefeller Museum

Dr. Riina Isotalo

University of Helsinki

Sanna Negus

Middle East Correspondent, YLE, Finnish Broadcasting Co.

Martti Tuhkanen

Director, Conference Center Paivakumpu, FELM

Dr. Flora Kurikkala

Foreign Ministry

Dr. Olli Ruohomaeki

Foreign Ministry

Dr. Hannu Juusola

University of Helsinki & Foundation of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East

Dr. Sylvia Akar

University of Helsinki

Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi

Chairman of PASSIA, Jerusalem

Hani Al-Masri

Head of Bada’el Research Center, Ramallah

Dr. Loay Shabaneh

Director of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, and Member of Fateh

Dr. Ghassan Al-Khatib

Vice-President of Birzeit University

Dr. Khalil Nakhleh

Senior Researcher and Author on “The One State Option”

Lecture Program

22 11 2008

9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Opening Remarks

Sirpa Mäenpää, Deputy Director General for Middle East and Africa, MFA Finland

Opening Remarks

9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

SESSION ONE: HISTORY OF RELATIONS- The Identification of the so-called Hisham Palace by R.W. Hamilton

Dr. Mikko Louhivuori, Rockefeller Museum

SESSION ONE: HISTORY OF RELATIONS- The Identification of the so-called Hisham Palace by R.W. Hamilton

10:15 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Hilma Granqvist’s Research: Reflections on Historical and Contemporary Relevance in Finland and Palestine

Dr. Riina Isotalo, University of Helsinki

Hilma Granqvist’s Research: Reflections on Historical and Contemporary Relevance in Finland and Palestine

11 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Break

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Break

11:15 a.m. - noon

Palestine and Finnish Media – A Reporter’s Perspective

Sanna Negus, Middle East Correspondent, YLE, Finnish Broadcasting Co.

Palestine and Finnish Media – A Reporter’s Perspective

noon - 12:45 p.m.

Cooperation between Palestinian and Finnish Churches

Martti Tuhkanen, Director, Conference Center Paivakumpu, FELM

Cooperation between Palestinian and Finnish Churches

1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Lunch

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Lunch

2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

SESSION TWO: FUTURE CHALLENGES- The Development of the EU’s Political Role in the Context of the Palestinian-Israeli Relations

Dr. Flora Kurikkala, Foreign Ministry

SESSION TWO: FUTURE CHALLENGES- The Development of the EU’s Political Role in the Context of the Palestinian-Israeli Relations

2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Finland and the PA: Official Relations Since 1995

Dr. Olli Ruohomaeki, Foreign Ministry

Finland and the PA: Official Relations Since 1995

3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Break

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Break

3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Palestinian Minority in Israel and Minorities in the Future Palestinian State: Some Thoughts in the Light of the Finnish Experiences

Dr. Hannu Juusola, University of Helsinki & Foundation of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East

The Palestinian Minority in Israel and Minorities in the Future Palestinian State: Some Thoughts in the Light of the Finnish Experiences

4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

Dr. Hannu Juusola, University of Helsinki & Foundation of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East

Dr. Sylvia Akar, University of Helsinki

Dr. Hannu Juusola, University of Helsinki & Foundation of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East

5:15 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Dinner (with life oud performance)

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Dinner (with life oud performance)

23 11 2008

9 a.m. - 10 a.m.

SESSION THREE: PALESTINIAN INTERNAL POLITICS

Visit to Hisham’s Palace, Jericho

SESSION THREE: PALESTINIAN INTERNAL POLITICS

10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Introduction

Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Chairman of PASSIA, Jerusalem

Introduction

10:45 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Hamas and its Agenda

Hani Al-Masri, Head of Bada’el Research Center, Ramallah

Hamas and its Agenda

11 a.m. - noon

Fateh at the Crossroads

Dr. Loay Shabaneh, Director of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, and Member of Fateh

Fateh at the Crossroads

noon - 12:15 p.m.

Break

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Break

12:15 p.m. - 1 p.m.

Chances and Challenges for Palestinian National Unity

Dr. Ghassan Al-Khatib, Vice-President of Birzeit University

Chances and Challenges for Palestinian National Unity

1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Lunch

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Lunch

2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

SESSION FOUR: PANEL ON THE IMPASSE IN THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT AND THE PROSPECTS FOR A PALESTINIAN STATE

Dr. Khalil Nakhleh, Senior Researcher and Author on “The One State Option”

SESSION FOUR: PANEL ON THE IMPASSE IN THE PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI CONFLICT AND THE PROSPECTS FOR A PALESTINIAN STATE