Conflicts have multiple and interconnected triggers and underlying causes. The notion of conflict and violence refers to internal processes as well as visible wars and armed conflicts. In some situations conflicts may inhibit fundamental freedoms, or constrain severely a large proportion of the population in fulfilling their potential. In other situations it may include the violation of individual’s and/or group’s rights, structural inequalities and institutionalized injustice, issues of governance and democracy, uneven development and environmental change.

The continued occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel, the US-led invasion of Iraq and the escalation of terrorism influences Arab human development. Especially the Israeli occupation and its ongoing violations of human and international rights continue to impede a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The international debates on terrorism and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, on democracy and reform in the Arab world have shown the necessity of intensifying the dialogue and turning to peaceful methods of conflict prevention.

In a region troubled by different types of conflicts, the program of the Arab Middle East Office (AMEO) is committed to contributing to the development of a culture of peace. The program aims at identifying possibilities for a peaceful dialogue on three different levels. On the first level the program is promoting dialogue between conflicting parts of the society such as secular and religious groups, different ethnic groups and minorities. On the regional level it is trying to identify possibilities for reviving the dialogue for the peaceful resolution of the Middle East conflict. On the international level it is contributing to intensify the political, religious and cultural dialogue between Europe and the Middle East.

Again AMEO is focusing on the civil society by supporting groups, mainly Non-Governmental Organizations, and political activists who work for dialogue and non-violent solutions on the different levels.  

• Islam and peace, the project aimed at activation of a network of 15 sheikhs who believe in the values of non-violence. The Center for Conflict Resolution & Reconceliation CCRR held 20 facilitated meetings with the sheikhs, which included the production of an illustrated book on parts of the Hadeeth*  concerning non-violence

• .We support Palestinian youth groups meeting in Germany or Europe with Israeli, German, or other European youths. Usually those meetings focus on joint projects like working on alternative media or trainings in non-violence.