Medbridge
{{Infobox organization
|name = MedBridge
|logo = Logo MedBridge Strategy Center.png
|logo_size = 200px
|type = Non-profit
NGO
|founded = 2003 (Belgium), 2004 (France)
|location = Paris
|key_people = Willy De Clercq, Marco Pannella, Ana Palacio, François Léotard, François Zimeray
|fields = Promoting dialogue and mutual understanding between Europe and the Middle East
|services = Conferences, seminars, visits, exhibitions
|num_members =
|homepage =
}}
MedBridge is a European organization whose goal is to promote dialogue and mutual understanding between Europe and the Middle East. Its aim is to enable Europeans willing to be informed on the Middle East or to support Israeli-Arab peace efforts, to access the most direct, comprehensive and objective information possible on the political situation in the region.
History
Medbridge was created in 2003. It has been registered as a French non-profit organization since 2004.{{citation | title = Journal Officiel de la République Française | date = April 10, 2004 | number=announcement 1064| title-link = Journal Officiel de la République Française }} The organization was created by European leaders from different political backgrounds, such as Willy De Clercq, Marco Pannella, Ana Palacio, François Léotard and François Zimeray.{{cite web | url = http://www.medbridge.org/qui-sommes-nous | title = Qui sommes-nous ? | trans-title = Who are we? | publisher = Medbridge | language = fr | year = 2011 | archiveurl = https://archive.today/20120908011630/http://www.medbridge.org/qui-sommes-nous | archivedate = 8 September 2012 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.medbridge.org/showpage.php/en/2/1/page.html |title=Title unknown |publisher=Medbridge |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905133751/http://www.medbridge.org/showpage.php/en/2/1/page.html |archivedate=September 5, 2010 }}
According to Israeli diplomat Yigal Palmor, the organization gathered in October 2003, and was the largest European parliamentary delegation that has ever visited the Middle East.{{cite news | url = http://www.haaretz.com/news/european-lawmakers-to-visit-region-to-promote-understanding-1.103660 | title = European lawmakers to visit the region to promote understanding | newspaper = Haaretz | date = October 24, 2003 | first = Adar |last = Primor | author2=Haaretz Correspondent}} 160 parliamentarians from 28 countries took part in the visit.{{cite web | url = http://www.medbridge.org/une-chance-pour-la-paix |trans-title=A chance for peace | title = Une chance pour la paix | publisher = MedBridge | date = 22 July 2003}} In January 2008, the delegation accompanied another large delegation of 60 parliamentarians from 21 European countries.{{cite news | url =http://www.lemonde.fr/cgi-bin/ACHATS/acheter.cgi?offre=ARCHIVES&type_item=ART_ARCH_30J&objet_id=1025201&clef=ARC-TRK-NC_01 | title = Visite express au Proche-Orient |trans-title=Express visit to the Middle East | date = 21 February 2008 | first = Annick |last = Cojean | newspaper = Le Monde}} King Abdullah II was consulted by a delegation of Medbridge during this visit, and actively lobbied for the creation of a state of Palestine.{{cite web|url=https://kingabdullah.jo/en/news/king-meets-delegation-med-bridge-centre|title=King Meets A delegation From "Med Bridge" Centre |website=Kingabdullah.jo|date=26 October 2003|accessdate=14 August 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticlePrintPage.aspx?id=1403150&language=en|title=King Meets a Delegation from "Med Bridge" Center|website=Kuna.net.kw|date=26 October 2003|accessdate=14 August 2017}}
In February 2007, after French president Jacques Chirac told the press that if Iran held a few nuclear weapons, it wouldn't be a big deal, a delegation of French politicians was sent by Mebridge to Israel and Palestine to get a hands-on approach of the problem instead of viewing the conflict through the lens of the French press.{{cite web|url=http://www.jta.org/2007/02/11/news-opinion/israel-middle-east/french-politicians-see-regions-nuances|title=French politicians see region's nuances|website=Jta.org|date=11 February 2007|author=Uriel Heilman|accessdate=14 August 2017}} In June 2007, MedBridge organized a visit of French writers to the Middle East in cooperation with Le Monde Magazine.{{cite web | title = Voyage d'écrivains français en Israël et dans les Territoires palestiniens – 18 au 22 juin 2007 | url = http://www.medbridge.org/voyage-decrivains-francais-en-israel-et-dans-les-territoires-palestiniens-18-au-22-juin-2007 |trans-title=Delegation of French Writers to the Middle-East – June 18 to 22, 2007| date = 29 June 2007| publisher = MedBridge}}
Activities
Since its creation in 2003, the organization has initiated a dozen international events. These include conferences, exhibitions, international meetings and visits of European parliamentarians and civil society representatives to the Middle East.{{cite web |url=http://www.medbridge.org/category/initiatives |trans-title=All items in Initiatives |title=Initiatives: Tous les articles dans Initiatives |publisher=Medbridge |accessdate=28 November 2012 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130415095851/http://www.medbridge.org/category/initiatives |archivedate=15 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}
= Visits to the Middle East =
Medbridge has organized visits to the Middle East for public leaders and decision-makers. About 500 parliamentarians, from 30 European countries, took part in these visits.
In addition to political visits, MedBridge has also initiated several visits for civil society representatives and opinion leaders.
= Events =
File:François Zimeray et Mahmoud Abbas.jpg
Medbridge has organized several conferences. In the past important leaders such as Ehud Barak, Édith Cresson, Claude Goasguen, Antoine Sfeir, or Alexandre Adler took part in these.{{cite video|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x97ahj_conference-medbridge_news|title=Conference medbridge|author=MedBridge|publisher=Dailymotion|date=May 6, 2009|first=|language=|type=}}
MedBridge has also organized exhibitions, among others at the French Senate.
In 2005, MedBridge, in cooperation with the organization Hommes de Paroles, organized the first World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace, gathering 100 imams and rabbis from all over the world under the patronage of Albert II of Belgium and Mohammed VI of Morocco.
People involved
Among the people who have received the delegations of MedBridge are:{{cite news | url = http://www.guysen.com/es/print.php?sid=6715 | title = Medbridge : Les parlementaires européens visitent la région | trans-title = MedBridge: MEPs visit the region | newspaper = Guysen News International | date = February 7, 2008 | first = Hanna | last = Mesguishe | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://archive.today/20130103070026/http://www.guysen.com/es/print.php?sid=6715 | archivedate = January 3, 2013 }}
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Among the people who have taken part in the delegations are:{{dead link|date=February 2017}}{{cite web | url = http://paris1.mfa.gov.il/mfm/Data/75592.html | date = 21 April 2005 | title = Newsletter n°124 du 21 avril 2005 – Sommaire |trans-title=Newsletter No. 124 of 21 April 2005 – Summary | publisher = Embassy of Israel in France}}
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References
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