Brief notes from meeting on 30 Oct

with David, Peter, Pia, V, Sharon and Emad:

Peter's introduction to his work on education and training for primarily Jewish youth. This includes trips across the region, with Morocco as a central piece.
Not to be controlled by the past, but to be aware of past models and successes (like Isr-Egypt peace agreement that has survived to this day even with all that is happening)
Regional approach to advance peace through collaboration, partnerships, and legal instruments
Track-record of METO with initial focus on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) free zone in Middle East (or Zone). Key milestone was the passing of the 2018 UN resolution calling for an annual conference to advance the Zone through consensus-based negotiations by all 24 countries of the region, with support from world powers. Since 2019, these annual conferences have taken place and contributing positively to achieving the Zone.
METO is currently expanding into peace and human security, while continuing our work on advancing WMD disarmament
Status quo didn’t work and we need alternative pathways post-October 7
Target: Regional backing for all Middle East achievements in issues dealing with peace and security.
METO's Motto: “Achieving the [im]possible”

Israeli public engagement
- majority opposition to current policies creates opening
- Target subgroups ready for alternative solutions
- David’s campaign provides “fresh water in hot day” approach
Washington influence pathway
- Oversized impact on Israeli policy requires coalition building
- Need new narrative focused on collective/human security
- Change the zero-sum relationship to become more dynamic by asserting that Israel's security can only be guaranteed when the "other" or Palestinian security is also guaranteed. One side can't have security at the expense of the other.
Youth education and awareness
- Remind next generation of successful peace models (Egypt-Israel border)
- Peter’s students shocked by footage of Sadat’s Jerusalem visit
- Need to “replay the positive, not as naive but as image of what’s possible”

David’s interview series through Pressenza
- 12 languages, focus on peace and nonviolence
- Target: New book authors (Blueprint for Peace), Jacob Ravkin, others
- Combat fragmented “either/or” narratives in international forums
Challenge: International community rhetoric at extremes
- “From the river to the sea” without clear end-game vision
- Need to humanize suffering on all sides
- Historical precedents: US-Japan, Jewish-German diplomatic relations

METO as collective, not traditional organization
- Council with stakeholders from within/outside Middle East
- Board for direction, open participation for ownership
- Anti-ego approach - “confluence of different streams”
Existing peace work mapping
- Peter’s colleagues research in the 1980s found 400+ coexistence projects (jlint Israeli and Palestinian)
- Thousands exist today despite the current crisis, who are they? How can we connect to them? How can we take this to the next level?
- "Connecting them and mapping them is not enough" we need to go to the next level...
- Main challenge: organizations “fall in love with problem, forget solution”
Good examples
- Bangladesh’s “social harmony” system (90% Muslim protecting diversity)
- Tamkeen education program in Tangier

November 17-24: Sharon and Lina Arafat (METO director and former Jordanian Ambasador) in New York, then Washington DC
- Meet with peace organizations, congresspeople supporting nuclear disarmament
- Meet with the US Administration on WMD/Peace & Security
- November 20: Event at RLS--lets get everyone that would be interested in our project there!
Follow-up meeting [Zoom/Google Meet) on November 13, 12 noon EST/NYC
- Include additional participants (Ariane in Paris, others from Chile)
- Share 5-page project summary of METO work
Connections to facilitate
- Peter to meet Sharon & Lina Arafat in NYC
- Fundraiser contacts in US