On May 19, PPC/GI organized a youth workshop in Gaza with the attendance of 80 University students, youth activists, and youth leaders from Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad entitled "a Roundtable for University students from all factions ".The Workshop is part of a Project, in which PPC/GI tries to advance reconciliation among Palestinian as a crucial step on the road to peace with Israel

Date: 19.05.2009

Among the speakers were Mr. Faisal Abu Shahla, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), and Dr. Ismail Radwan, leader in the Hamas movement.

The participants stressed several important points, including:

1. Abu Shahla encouraged students from both parties to work side by side, and not let the current split divide them, noting that at the end of the day the common denominator is that all participants are Palestinians and that internal divisions must be stopped immediately

2. Dr. Radwan stressed the importance of educating youth, especially University students about the culture of Peace ,tolerance, mechanisms of successful negotiations, dialogue and accepting the other, stressing that in order to accept the other we have to accept ourselves and the people around us, "in order to reach Peace we have to accept the others, but we cant do that before accepting ourselves, our society and the people around us, if we succeed in that we can achieve Peace".

3. The Speakers stressed the role of the Palestinian youth in ending this state of division, " there must be a true partnership between the youth, private sector and civil society organizations, together hand in hand, they will make a difference' .

4. The participants also shed light on the role of the youth in decision making, ' the Palestinian youth must be aware of current political situation, and it’s affect on their lives', ' the Palestinian youth must play and effective role in this chaos , and must participate in the decision making.