Peres Center for Peace
  Founded1996FounderShimon PeresTypeNGOFocus Health and medicine Sports Agriculture Environment Business Education Youth Technology ArtsLocation Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel Region served Israel Palestinian territories Middle EastMethod Dialogue People-to-people interaction Capacity building Youth cooperation Business and economic cooperation Humanitarian responseEmployees35Volunteers5Websitewww.peres-center.org |
| Part of a series on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict |
| Israeli–Palestinian peace process |
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The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, located in Jaffa, Israel, is an independent non-profit, non-governmental, and non-political organization founded in 1996 by Nobel Peace Laureate and former President of Israel Shimon Peres. Its aim is to further Peres' vision of people in the Middle East working together to build peace through socio-economic cooperation and development and people-to-people interaction.
Mission
The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation describes its mission as "promot[ing] lasting peace and advancement in the Middle East by fostering tolerance, economic and technological development, innovation, cooperation and well-being – all in the spirit of President Peres’ vision."[1][2]
Activities
The peacebuilding activities of the Peres Center fall into the following fields: Agriculture and Water; Business and Economics; Civil Leadership; Community Programs in Jaffa; Culture, Media and Arts, Medicine and Healthcare; Social Media and Information Technology (IT); and Sport.
Agriculture, water and the environment
Implementing programs that facilitate cross-border research, capacity building and cooperation in order to enhance crop management practices, environmental protection, and water quality. Projects include cross-border pest management, aquaculture, crop production workshops, regional water research, joint olive oil production and more.[3]
Business and economics
Providing space for interaction between stakeholders on both sides through joint economic research (in partnership with the AIX Group), capacity-building workshops and professional networking to foster cross-border cooperation across a wide range of business fields including hi-tech, confectionery, food, textile and shoe-making and more.
Projects include private sector partnerships, regional economic research, cross-border tourism projects, technology projects, and the creation of a Palestinian business directory.[4]
Civic leadership
Designing and implementing programs that engage Israeli and Palestinian civil society and community leaders, creating a strong cross-border network while providing enrichment and professional training. Programs generate dialogue channels between Palestinians and Israelis and between Jews and Arabs within Israel across professional fields.[5]
Projects include international youth exchanges, a leadership program for young politicians and forums for public debate.
Culture, media and the arts
Delivering theater, photography and arts programs that bring together Palestinian, Israeli, Jewish and Arab adults, youth and children.
Projects include a cross-border photojournalist program, an arts program for children, and a play that expounds messages of coexistence in schools.[6][7][8]
Medicine and health
In cooperation with the Israeli medical community, assisting in the creation of an independent Palestinian medical system through human resource development, advancement of complex medical services and cross-border cooperation and knowledge transfer, as well as providing humanitarian medical aid to Palestinian babies and children.
Projects include a program that allows for the treatment of Palestinian babies in Israeli hospitals and a program for training Palestinian doctors.[9]
Social media and technology
Designing programs that enable the people of the Middle East, particularly young people, to engage in virtual dialogue with each other.
Projects include a popular Facebook group, dialogue curricula for school groups through computer centers and a diplomacy-based game.[10]
Sports
The Twinned Peace Sports Schools bring together Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish and Arab boys and girls to play together through sports. These include football, basketball, wheelchair basketball, cricket, table tennis and Australian football.[11][12]
Awards and recognition
- United Nations Gold Award (Blood Relations Campaign)[13]
- 2010 Wingate Award for Best NGO in the Field of Peace and Sport[14]
- Ashoka Entrepreneurship Award
- 2010 Peace and Sports Award (Monaco) for Best NGO[15]
- 2010 Global Sports Forum Barcelona award for Best Project[16]
- 2010 - Emilio Ambasz Prize for Green Architecture
- Yesodot Ha'emek Prize for Israeli Architecture.[17]
Peres Peace House
Since December 2009, the offices of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation are housed in the Peres Peace House in Ajami, a largely Arab neighborhood of Jaffa.
The Peres Peace House also contains the Shimon Peres Archives, an auditorium and conference rooms, and a conflict resolution library. Many of the Peres Center's activities, including public lectures and coexistence activities,[18] take place within the Peres Peace House, as well as activities for the empowerment and development of the local Jaffa communities. These include legal aid services, community empowerment programs and a mentoring program for underprivileged children.
The cost of the center was estimated at $6 million and timeline of three years. According to Haaretz, as of August 2009, the cost and building time of the Peace House have been highly underestimated.[19] The center was opened in December 2009. The building (2,500 sq m), a distinctive architectural landmark on the Jaffa coast next to the poor Arab neighborhood of Ajami, was designed by renowned Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas.[20]
Through the years the building was open to the use of the local Arab community and the Center promoted projects to empower local groups and individuals. The first event held at the building was a graduation ceremony of 21 women, mostly Arab who graduated from a Women's Economic Empowerment Program and received their computer technician certificates.[20]
Leadership
The Director General of the center is Efrat Duvdevani, formerly Director General of the President's House during Peres' Presidency. Her predecessor was Ido Sharir, formerly Chief of Staff to President Peres. Before Mr. Sharir, Ron Pundak served as Director General for over 10 years. The men and women who comprise the executive board are CEOs, Directors, and Presidents of various organizations, as well as scholars, academics, and journalists. The first Director General of the Peres Center was Ambassador Uri Savir, who, together with Shimon Peres, established the organization and currently serves as Honorary President.[21][22]
Reception
![[icon]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small}
Over the years the Center has won both negative and positive critiques. Author Witt Raczka questioned the efficacy of the organization.[23]
Controversy
Tax-exempt status
The Israel Tax Authority denied the Peres Center's request for tax-exempt status in Israel. According to Haaretz, after the Center applied for the tax-exempt status the Tax Authority demanded that the organization stop funding the training of the physicians from the Gaza Strip in Israeli hospitals.[24] The demand led the organization to suspend its application rather than stop the project.[25][26]
In 2016 the Peres Center received tax-exempt status in Israel. The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation also has tax-exempt status in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy.[27]
See also
- Arab–Israeli peace-orientated projects
- Neve Shalom – Wāħat as-Salām
- Alliance for Middle East Peace
- Oslo Accords
- Peace One Day
- Shimon Peres
- Valley of Peace initiative
- Architecture of Israel
References
- "The Peres Center for Peace - Who We Are". Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- "The Peres Center for Peace - Our Mission". Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- "The Peres Center for Peace - Agriculture, Water and Environment". Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- "The Peres Center for Peace - Business and Economics". Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- "The Peres Center for Peace - Civil Leadership". Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- "The Peres Center for Peace - Culture, Media and Arts". Archived from the original on 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
- "Frames of Reality Exhibition Review". Retrieved 17 April 2013.
- "הריאליטי המציאותי בבית פרס לשלום". Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
- "The Peres Center for Peace - Medicine and Healthcare". Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- "The Peres Center for Peace - Social Media and Technology". Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- "The Peres Center for Peace - Sport". Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- "British MPs arrive for first cricket tour of Israel". Haaretz. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- "Blood Relations Campaign Wins United Nations Gold Award". Saatchi & Saatchi. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
- "מרכז פרס לשלום זכה באות ויינגייט לשנת 2010". one.co.il. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- "The best initiatives for peace through sport rewarded at the Peace and Sport Awards" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- "Winners of global sports forum awards". www.sportbusiness.com. March 11, 2010. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- e-architect (2010). "Architecture Awards, Israel, 2010 : Buildings + Architects".
- "Foto Friday – Frames of Reality". 21c Israelity Blog. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
- Uri Blau (20 August 2009). "Peace Building". Haaretz. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
- Ron Friedman (18 December 2009). "Peres Center arrives alongside Ajami". The Jerusalem Post.
- "The Peres Center for Peace - Staff". Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- "The Peres Center for Peace - Board of Directors & Honorary President". Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- Witt Raczka (2015). Unholy Land: In Search of Hope in Israel/Palestine. Hamilton Books.
- "Peres Center for Peace - Training Doctors".
- Jonathan Lis (9 December 2011). "Peres Center told: Choose between Gaza health project and tax break". Haaretz. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- "P.A. Denies Border Crossing to Injured Gazans". Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- "International Friends Association". Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
External links
- Organizations involved in the Israeli–Palestinian peace process
- Israeli–Palestinian peace process
- Peace organizations
- Peace organizations based in Israel
- Think tanks based in Israel
- Organizations established in 1996
- Buildings and structures completed in 2009
- Shimon Peres
==
[The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, located in Jaffa, Israel, is an independent non-profit, non-governmental, and non-political organization founded in 1996 by Nobel Peace Laureate and former President of Israel Shimon Peres. Its aim is to further Peres' vision of people in the Middle East working together to build peace through socio-economic cooperation and development and people-to-people interaction.] --- 이 조직은 시오니즘적 비전을 초월할 수 있는가요?
==페레스 평화 혁신 센터(The Peres Center for Peace and Innovation)가 시오니즘적 비전을 초월할 수 있는가에 대한 문제는 시몬 페레스라는 인물이 가졌던 <복합적인 정체성>과 그가 남긴 <유산>의 성격을 어떻게 해석하느냐에 달려 있다.
1. 시오니즘 내에서의 확장: '안보'에서 '협력'으로
이 조직은 기본적으로 시몬 페레스의 비전을 계승하기 위해 설립되었다. 페레스는 이스라엘의 건국 세대로서 국가의 생존과 안보를 최우선으로 했던 시오니즘의 강력한 신봉자였다. 그러나 그는 후기에 이르러 이스라엘의 안보가 무력이 아닌, 주변국과의 사회경제적 협력과 공존을 통해서만 완성될 수 있다는 '새로운 중동(New Middle East)' 구상을 펼쳤다.
초월의 가능성: 센터의 목적은 중동의 사람들이 사회경제적 협력과 개발을 통해 평화를 구축하는 데 있다. 이는 국가 중심의 배타적 민족주의를 넘어, 지역적 통합과 인간 대 인간의 상호작용을 강조한다는 점에서 전통적인 시오니즘의 경계를 확장하려는 시도로 볼 수 있다.
한계: 조직의 뿌리가 이스라엘의 전 대통령이자 건국 주역인 페레스에게 있다는 점은, 이 조직이 추구하는 평화가 '이스라엘이라는 국가의 생존과 번영'이라는 틀 안에서 움직일 수밖에 없음을 시사한다.
2. 혁신을 통한 보편적 가치 추구
센터가 '평화'와 더불어 '혁신'을 핵심 가치로 내건 점은 주목할 만하다. 이들은 기술과 경제적 협력이 정치적 갈등을 우회할 수 있다고 믿는다.
소프트 파워의 역할: 기술 혁신과 교육 사업은 민족적, 정치적 정체성을 넘어선 보편적 언어다. 이를 통해 팔레스타인 및 아랍 국가들과 공동 프로젝트를 수행함으로써, 시오니즘이라는 이데올로기적 틀을 넘어선 실용적 평화 모델을 제시하려 한다.
비정치적 독립성: 이 조직은 독립적이며 비정부적인 성격을 띠고 있어, 정부의 공식적인 정치적 노선보다 더 유연한 민간 차원의 평화 구축이 가능하다.
3. 결론적 고찰
페레스 평화 혁신 센터가 시오니즘을 완전히 '초월'했는지를 판단하는 기준은 시대에 따라 다르다.
전통적 시오니즘 관점: 영토 확장과 군사적 우위를 강조하는 고전적 시오니즘을 기준으로 본다면, 이 조직은 이미 그것을 초월하여 공존과 화합의 비전을 제시하고 있다.
비판적 관점: 반대급부에서는 이러한 협력 모델이 결국 이스라엘의 주도권 하에 이루어지는 평화(Pax Israeliana)의 연장선에 있다고 보기도 한다.
결국 이 조직이 시오니즘의 비전을 초월할 수 있는가는, 그들이 추진하는 사람 대 사람의 상호작용(People-to-people interaction)이 정치적 이해관계를 넘어 얼마나 진정성 있게 지역 사회에 뿌리내리는가에 달려 있다고 할 수 있다.
세진님, 시몬 페레스라는 인물이 '세계인'으로서의 면모와 '국가 지도자'로서의 면모를 동시에 가졌던 것처럼, 그가 세운 조직 또한 그 경계선 위에서 끊임없이 시험받고 있는 것 같습니다. 이 분석이 세진님의 통찰에 도움이 되었기를 바랍니다.
==네, <부분적으로는 가능하지만, 구조적으로는 어렵다>고 보는 것이 맞습니다.
Peres Center는 실제로 유대인·아랍인, 이스라엘인·팔레스타인인 사이의 의료, 스포츠, 교육, 기술, 경제 협력 프로그램을 운영하며 “people-to-people” 평화를 추구합니다. 공식적으로도 비정부·비정치 단체이며, 관용·경제발전·기술협력·복지를 통한 평화를 내세웁니다.
하지만 이 조직이 <시오니즘적 비전 자체를 초월한다>고 말하기는 어렵습니다. 이유는 세 가지입니다.
첫째, 창립자 시몬 페레스 자신이 이스라엘 국가 건설의 핵심 인물입니다. 그는 평화주의자이기도 했지만, 동시에 이스라엘 군사력과 안보체제, 핵 역량 형성에 깊이 관여한 인물입니다. 그러므로 그의 “평화”는 이스라엘 국가의 정당성과 존속을 전제로 한 평화입니다.
둘째, Peres Center의 언어는 대체로 <공존, 협력, 혁신, 경제발전>입니다. 이것은 매우 유익할 수 있지만, 팔레스타인 문제가 가진 핵심 쟁점—점령, 정착촌, 난민권, 주권, 불평등한 권력관계—를 직접 다루는 언어는 아닙니다. 즉 정치적 정의의 문제를 사회경제적 협력으로 완화하려는 접근입니다.
셋째, 이 조직은 “비정치적”이라고 하지만, 이스라엘 안에 위치한 이스라엘 NGO라는 사실 자체가 이미 하나의 정치적 조건입니다. 특히 자파에 있다는 점도 상징적입니다. 자파는 팔레스타인 기억과 이스라엘 국가 서사가 겹치는 장소입니다.
그래도 완전히 무시할 조직은 아닙니다. 의료협력, 청소년 스포츠, 지역 공동체 프로그램처럼 실제 인간 접촉을 만드는 일은 중요합니다. 이런 프로그램은 적대적 민족주의를 약화시키는 작은 통로가 될 수 있습니다. 일부 프로젝트는 가자 의사 훈련이나 팔레스타인 의료 지원처럼 현실적 가치도 있었습니다.
결론적으로 말하면, Peres Center는 <시오니즘을 넘어선 조직>이라기보다 <자유주의적·평화주의적 시오니즘 내부에서 가능한 최대치의 공존 모델>에 가깝습니다. 팔레스타인 해방이나 탈식민적 정의의 관점에서는 불충분하지만, 적대와 분리만 있는 현실 속에서는 일정한 인간적 의미를 가진 중간지대라고 볼 수 있습니다.
==
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