For the first time since the war in Gaza, more than a hundred journalists, academics and experts from Europe and the Middle East met in London to discuss how the media reported on this war, and to assess the impact on public opinion in Europe and the Arab-Muslim world.

The forum was organized by the Anna Lindh Foundation in partnership with the European Commission, the Arab Media Center (University of Westminster), the Foreign Press Association, Chatham House and the Alliance of Civilizations (UN), to discuss the intensification of polarized perceptions after the conflict and analyzed the different, even contradictory, approaches in media reporting.

Speaking during the debate that concluded the work of the Forum André Azoulay, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation, stressed on "the educational and pluralistic character of this initiative, which met the expectations of all the participants." After highlighting the profound changes that have "reshaped the attitudes and minds of people in the Euro-Mediterranean region", Azoulay mentioned "a before and after Gaza, which requires now the formulation of a new agenda by policy and opinion-makers in the region in order to meet the expectations and requirements of their civil societies"

The President of the Anna Lindh Foundation announced a forthcoming initiative, aiming to bring together, in a major conference, representatives of over 2000 Civil Society Organisations members of the Foundation's Network distributed among the 43 founding countries of the Union for the Mediterranean. According to Azoulay, this conference will facilitate "the reestablishment and reinforcement of the peace process in the Middle East, having in mind the lessons learned from the tragedy in Gaza".

Civil societies in Euro-Mediterranean countries, will contribute in setting the orientation of a new roadmap for peace between Palestinians and Israelis, said Andre Azoulay. He also emphasized the legitimate mission of the Anna Lindh Foundation in contributing to this process of "restoring confidence" in our region.

The President of the Anna Lindh Foundation recalled in this respect "the strength and credibility of the signals given by the Foundation against any misunderstanding, confusion or manipulation of our respective religions and cultural diversity in relation to the purely political nature of the dramas in the Middle East".

Prior to the Forum, Mr Azoulay has also chaired an extraordinary meeting of the Advisory Council of the Anna Lindh Foundation, during which the programme adapted to the new situation was validated, including the launch of the Call for Project Proposals addressed to the Foundation’s network of civil society actors and the preparation of the first Annual Report on Intercultural Behaviours in the Euro-Mediterranean region. In addition, the Council has agreed on the importance of a planned visit to Gaza, the West Bank and Israel by an Anna Lindh delegation of Heads of Network and Advisory Council members in order to assess the needs of local network members and to put in place support initiatives for civil society organisations in the region.