Citizens of the World welcome the recently agreed to ceasefire after 12 days of missile exchanges between Israel and Iran. This ceasefire is an important first step toward negotiations in good faith between the two countries which will have an impact on politics in the wider Middle East. The ceasefire is also a first step in a wider process of peacebuilding in the Middle East, an area of complex geopolitical dynamics. The ceasefire is tenuous. Thus we must see what role non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can play so that the ceasefire holds and that negotiations start.
The path leading to the ceasefire is complex. President Trump, who announced the ceasefire publicly, certainly played a vital role. Both Russia and China have strong economic relations with Iran. Their leades may also have played a less public role in advancing a ceasefire. If Iran's government and society fell into chaos, there is no telling the consequences.
Now there is a need to build a momentum for peacebuilding measures. The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians continues. The reconstruction of Syrian society moves ahead very slowly. Tensions in Lebanon and Iraq are still strong. Thus there are stronger measures which NGOs must take. There needs to be greater cooperation among NGOs working on Middle East issues as time for positive efforts may be short.
René Wadlow, Association of World Citizens
#The_UN_Goals #peace #apart #nvaction
