In 2006, political developments encouraged parties to re-orient their programme focus. The HD Centre, the DFA, and the parties, went through a comprehensive process of assessing the parties' future needs in terms of support provided by third parties. Acknowledging the changing situation in the region and the increased professionalism of the parties, the DFA and the HD Centre dissolved the GIC on 31 August 2006. The HD Centre's involvement ceased accordingly.

Soon after the GI's official launch in Geneva on 1 December 2003, two non-profit organisations were created to campaign locally and internationally towards the understanding that it is in the two sides' best interest to return to the negotiating table in view of reaching a permanent solution to the conflict.

The two organisations worked with different sectors of the Palestinian and Israeli societies to establish principles of non-violence, dialogue, tolerance and democracy. Activities carried out have included workshops, lectures and public debates on the elements of the draft agreement, as well as visits and outreach to local communities, training for the youth and summer camps for children.

The following are samples of the promotional activities undertaken by the two Palestinian and Israeli NGO's: Palestinian Peace Coalition and Hlep Heksem (Education for Peace) in support of the Geneva Initiative.

Partner Campaign
A major successful campaign is known as the "Partner for Peace Campaign." In this bought-media campaign, Israeli and Palestinian public figures address each other's publics through various media outlets, in short films, explaining that there is a partner on the other side for a comprehensive permanent status solution to the conflict, along the lines of the Geneva Initiative. The features were broadcasted to the public through local movie theatres, television stations, the Internet, newspapers, as well as radio and satellite television.

Israeli-Palestinian encounters
Israeli and Palestinian students have very seldom opportunities to meet, talk and exchange views. Consequently, and even though they are close neighbours, they hardly know each other; preconceptions dominate the image they have from one another. The Geneva Initiative seeked to break this vicious circle by inviting students from both sides and exposing them to the daily life, challenges and hopes of the other side. The objective was to increase the understanding and trust between both sides. These encounters were held in Israel, the Palestinian Territories and abroad.

Day in a town
A "Day in the Town" is a one-day set of events in a given locality including schools and public town-hall style gatherings. This public outreach activity allowed to reach people in their homes and halls, in co-operation with the local leadership, while adjusting the Geneva Initiative message to suit the daily concerns of the local community. The objective was to advocate the idea of talking and negotiating with neighbours.

Jerusalem tours
The Geneva Initiative organised guided tours of Jerusalem which provided a visible demonstration of the challenges existing around the Jerusalem area, including the separation barrier, in contrast with the Geneva Initiative proposed border. The participants were exposed to the other side's reality and shown a concrete, visible demonstration of the solution reached in the Geneva Initiative. The purpose was to raise public awareness to the advantages of an agreed permanent solution that would benefit both sides.

The DFA invited the two sides to Geneva on 1 December 2003 to officially launch the Geneva Initiative and affirm their commitment to advancing it among their respective publics. Attending the event were hundreds of Israeli and Palestinian civil society leaders, as well as prominent members of the international community supportive of the Initiative.

The HD Centre was approached by the DFA and the parties, to work closely with them to promote the GI. It established along with the DFA, the Geneva Initiative Committee (GIC) in November 2003, a committee to oversee the receipt and distribution of funds for the promotion of the Initiative.

The GIC met regularly to discuss the parties' strategy, programmes and projects, and to provide advice on fundraising. It oversaw the parties' promotional activities and ensured that the funds provided to the Geneva Initiative parties by donors were rigorously managed. To do this, the GIC established a financial reporting mechanism for the non-profit organisations established by each party to ensure that expenditures were properly reported upon and externally audited. Palestinian and Israeli representatives kept the GIC informed of their activities, and reviewed and discussed implementation of projects with GIC members.

The Geneva Initiative was initiated by well-known Israelis and Palestinians some of whom participated in previous official negotiation rounds between the two parties. Prominent individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, including political, security, business, academic, and civil society activists, became involved in the process. The talks, facilitated from the start by a private Swiss individual, were led by Dr. Yossi Beilin, former Israeli justice minister, and Mr. Yasser Abed Rabbo, PLO Executive Committee member and former minister of information and culture in the Palestinian National Authority.

After nearly two years of intensive talks, the two sides produced the first ever detailed blueprint for an Israeli-Palestinian permanent status agreement. This agreement is based on previous official negotiations - including those held in Camp David and Taba - and is in line with the United Nations international resolutions as well as with the Roadmap. The uniqueness of the Geneva Initiative lies in the fact that it is the product of a joint Israeli-Palestinian effort. It provides detailed and workable solutions on issues that have never been addressed in such a way before: borders, the status of Jerusalem, refugees and security arrangements.

The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) decided to support the Geneva Initiative as it stemed from civil society on both sides and was in line with Switzerland's civilian peace building policy. The DFA acted as a "facilitator" in the negotiations but did not have any influence on the content of the Accord. Other Governments, foundations and individuals extended support for this initiative.

The Geneva Initiative offers a detailed "blueprint" for an Israeli-Palestinian permanent status agreement. It is based on the Clinton parameters of December 2000, which were, at the time, accepted by the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority as a basis for negotiations. It also builds on former permanent status negotiations including those held in Camp David and Taba.

The main contents of the Geneva Initiative are:

• Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders, entailing the dismantlement of the major part of the Jewish settlements. Where dismantlement is no longer possible, the resulting loss of Palestinian land is to be compensated by a 1:1 land-swap.
• Creation of a - demilitarized - Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, linked to each other by a land-corridor.
• An all-time obligation of the Parties to fight terrorism and violence and to take measures to put an end to incitement.
• The division of Jerusalem in a Western and Eastern part, the parts becoming the capital of Israel and Palestine respectively. The Old-City will remain undivided and open but the different wuaters will be attributed to either Israel or Palestine according to the belonging of the majority of the quarters' population.
• That the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif will be under Palestinian sovereignty, the Wailing Wall under Israeli sovereignty.
• That a solution to the Palestinian refugees is found entailing an act of informed choice on the part of the refugee on his/her permanent place of residence. Palestinian refugees are presented with the following options: they can take residence within the new State of Palestine, emigrate to a third country, remain in their current host country. Immigration to the State of Israel proper shall be at the sovereign discretion of Israel, in accordance with options and modalities set out in the draft model agreement.
• A multinational force (MF) whose role is to guarantee both Parties' security and to supervise the provisions of the agreement which pertain to security. In particular the MF will patrol the international border of Palestine jointly with the Palestinian border police.

Source: Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Berne, May 2005