Amid political turmoil across the Middle East, with talks between Israel and Syria gaining momentum and negotiations on a security agreement progressing, young Israelis and Syrians met this week in Paris for the first-ever summit of youth organization leaders from the region.
The meeting took place as efforts continue to stabilize ceasefire agreements in Gaza and bring back the slain hostages still held in the Strip. Meanwhile, Israel and Syria are engaged in intensive discussions concerning their border and the future of their relations.
The summit was attended by senior representatives from 15 youth organizations, representing more than 10 countries and five faiths, including Israel, Morocco, the UAE, Jordan, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Syria, Kurdistan and the Palestinian Authority.
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The first Middle East and North Africa youth summit held this week in Paris
(Photo: WeAreMENA)
Over the course of three intensive days, the Israeli and Syrian delegations participated in dialogue sessions, workshops, and one-on-one conversations. Participants explored opportunities to advance collaboration between civil organizations, with the aim of encouraging their governments to pursue a political agreement.
“For me, this was much more than a conference,” said the head of the Syrian organization, who spoke anonymously due to concerns for his safety. “It was a chance to meet personally, for the first time, people from the other side, people who showed me that reality is much broader than the stories we were told. In one moment, the stereotypes disappeared and I saw human beings speaking as equals."
He stressed the importance of civil dialogue: “It’s free and unbound by political constraints or outside interests. It allows you to see the person beyond the nationality."
"These kinds of encounters break years of deadlock and open space for genuine conversation," he added. "They remind us that coexistence and peace aren't grand decisions made by statesmen, but small steps that begin when we stop running from one another. Even if peace is still far off, it always begins with two people sitting in the same place."
A regional alliance against terror
WeAreMENA, the group behind the summit, was founded by alumni of Israel's youth movement HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (NOAL) (Working and Studying Youth). It is the first organization of its kind, connecting moderate youth movements across the Middle East and North Africa.
Unlike initiatives that focus on individual encounters, WeAreMENA brings together educational, social and community-based organizations already active on the ground. The goal is long-term peacebuilding through sustained civil cooperation, rather than one-off events.
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'This meeting strengthened the sense of urgency to build a clear regional alliance against terrorism and violence'
(Photo: WeAreMENA)
"During the summit, I had the chance to meet people from across the Middle East who support Israel," said Nitzan Rosenwaks, Executive Director of NOAL, who led the Israeli delegation. "Among them was a Syrian colleague, a former Al Jazeera journalist who now runs an organization working with Syrian youth. He faces daily attacks simply because he dares to openly condemn Hamas and Hezbollah."
“This meeting strengthened the sense of urgency to build a clear regional alliance against terrorism and violence,” she said. “For the sake of children and youth across the region, we must reach out and form partnerships with all the moderate forces around us who value life. This summit renewed my hope that a growing stream of moderates in the Muslim world is working toward a better future for the region’s next generation.”
Participants also focused on combating dehumanization and hatred in the region. They reviewed findings from a joint study conducted with research institutes in the U.S. and UK and discussed a vision document drafted by five organizational leaders. A ceremonial signing of the document followed, with Israeli Ambassador to France Joshua Zarka and former French Ambassador to Israel Éric Danon in attendance.
“There’s been hatred in our region for years. It’s time to move past the boycotts; we all come from the same neighborhood,” said Abdo Ladino, a Moroccan participant. “Together we rise, divided we fall. Everyone in this room comes from the same place, and it’s time for action."
Professor Agil Shirinov of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology closed the summit on a cautiously hopeful note: “I’ve participated in many international events, but this was the first time leaders of youth organizations from across the region came together in this kind of setting. Thank you for the opportunity. It’s easiest to talk about war, and probably most challenging to talk about peace."