Dear supporters,
For more than a month now, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has kept us on tenterhooks. We are shocked by the developments not only in Russia and Ukraine, we are also deeply concerned
about the political reactions in Germany and other countries. The war already leads to consequences for security policy that could initiate far-reaching, worrying political changes. In both our project regions, too, the situation continues to deteriorate.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the nationalist outbursts of Milorad Dodik, Serb member of the state presidency, find no end: again and again, he menaces the secession of the Republika Srpska. Most
recently, he left a meeting of the collective state presidency on the Ukraine war in an „éclat“. Dodik is pro-Russian and demands that Bosnia and Herzegovina shall take a neutral stand on the war, while the other presidency members support sanctions against Russia. He declared this „unconstitutional“ and once more threatened with secession.
In Serbia, the incumbent President Vučić with his right wing conservative “Serbian Progress Party” won the early elections with almost 60% and consolidated his political power.
Three attacks by Palestinians in Israel with eleven deaths within one week have again aggravated the situation in Israel and Palestine at the beginning of April. After the attacks, authorities increased security measures.
In addition, the Israeli army entered Jabed near Jenin in the West Bank in a military operation to arrest six people suspected of being linked to one of the attacks. Locals were injured and at least one person was killed. In Hebron, protesters clashed with the Israeli army; in the clash, one person was killed. More violence during this year’s overlapping holidays of Ramadan, Passover and Easter is feared everywhere.
For us as a dialogue project, all these incidents are yet another stark reminder of how important it is to never take peace for granted, but to actively fight for it.
Our partners are courageously committedto this struggle.