“Combatants for Peace”, a civil movement jointly established by Palestinian and Israeli individuals, has been officially announced as the Winner of the Anna Lindh Euro-Med Award for the Dialogue between Cultures 2009. The Award, which is bestowed and voted on by the members of the Anna Lindh Foundation's networks of civil society present in forty-three countries, recognizes this year the contribution of organizations and individuals in promoting a culture of peace and coexistence in the Euro-Mediterranean Region.

The Fourth Edition of the Euro-Med Award for Dialogue between Cultures, an initiative of the Anna Lindh Foundation and its partner Fondazione Mediterraneo, was launched back in March 2009 in the framework of the Regional Initiative Restore Trust Rebuild Bridges, with nominations received from civil society organizations across the Region. Members of the Anna Lindh Foundation region-wide network, totalling over 2800 civil society organisations, participated in electing this year winner, Combatants for Peace.

The Movement, which is formed by former Palestinian militants and Israeli soldiers, has gained recognition for promoting a peaceful and right solution to the conflict through dialogue and non-violent means. After brandishing weapons for so many years, and having seen one another only through weapon sights, former Palestinian militants and Israeli soldiers have decided to put down their guns, and to fight for peace and justice.

“We believe that only by joining forces, will we be able to end the cycle of violence, the bloodshed and the occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people. We no longer believe that it is possible to resolve the conflict between the two peoples through violent means; therefore we declare that we refuse to take part any more in the mutual bloodletting”, emphasizes Raed Hadar and Avner Wishnitzer, Palestinian and Israeli coordinators of the movement.

Various joint actions are held by Combatants for Peace in which Palestinians and Israelis work hand in hand against oppression. Such actions include olive harvests to help Palestinian farmers who have limited access to their fields due to Israeli settlements or military presence; removal of road blockages that tears the Palestinian villages apart; assistance in re-building demolished houses, etc. The movement intends to initiate and carry out such actions more frequently, thus enhancing trust and solidarity between Palestinians and Israelis.

The second place of the Euro-Med Award for 2009 went to History in Action Project Team (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia), a group of 55 transnational and inter-ethnic team of historians and history educators from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia who succeeded in overcoming ethnic, religious, linguistic divisions in order to elaborate a common history textbook for the region. The third place went to the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (Israel) and Israel Women’s Network (Israel) and finally, the fourth place went to Parents Circle Families Forum (Israel and Palestine). The second place will be receiving a special mention and the others will get an honourable mention.

The official Bestowing Ceremony will be held in Stockholm, Sweden, on 21st of September 2009, which marks the International Day of Peace, with the presence of Mr. André Azoulay, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation, representatives of the Swedish Government which is currently holding the EU Presidency as well as high-profile personnalities from political and cultural field.

For more information on "Combatants for Peace", please visit www.combatantsforpeace.org