Tzili Charney, founder of The Leon Charney Resolution Center was part of the delegation of Anwar Sadat’s Congressional Gold Medal Commission on Tuesday, February 19th at the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt. She engaged President Sisi in dialogue pertaining to the important mission of the Resolution Center and gave an overview of its various programs. Afterwords, she received some words of encouragement and appreciation from President Sisi about how important the center’s mission is and to continue its ongoing effort to reach regional peace.
Read moreSadat Congressional Gold Medal Reception
On November 13th, Tzili Charney was an honorary guest at the occasion of the centennial of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's birth and the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Camp David Accords, the Anwar Sadat Congressional Gold Medal Commission celebrates his recognition by the US Congress with a Congressional Gold Medal for his efforts to promote peace and reconciliation. The event took place at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington DC.
Of his many achievements, President Sadat is most widely recognized for making peace with Israel. On November 19, 1977, in the aftermath of the Yom Kippur war, he became the first Arab leader to officially visit Israel. In his address to the Knesset, he proposed ending 30 years of hate and animosity between his country and the State of Israel through establishing a mutually beneficial peace treaty. This action ended up laying the foundation for the first round of serious and direct negotiations between the two countries. During this time, President Sadat cultivated a strong working relationship with US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger throughout months of shuttle diplomacy. Secretary Kissinger later remarked, "He [Sadat] possessed that combination of insight and courage which marks a great statesman."
As a result, on September 17, 1978, President Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed the Camp David Accords, the first step towards the 1979 signing of a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. President Sadat and Prime Minister Begin were awarded the Nobel Prize for their efforts in 1978.
Anwar Sadat was one of the greatest visionaries the world has ever seen, a champion of peace and a pioneer of diplomacy. He devoted - and lost - his life to combat, hatred and intolerance, sending a message to the world that peace can prevail.
Today, it is more important than ever to remember these virtues of goodwill and peace as Israel seeks to establish peace and security in the Middle East. As President Sadat said on his visit to Israel in 1977, "There are moments in the life of nations and peoples when it is incumbent on those known for their wisdom and clarity of vision to overlook the past, with all its complexities and weighing memories, in a bold drive toward new horizons."
Press Articles
Jerusalem Post | Israeli, Palestinian Students Reach Elusive Peace Deal
Students at the Eastern Mediterranean International Boarding School (EMIS) have achieved what senior global diplomats have repeatedly failed to accomplish: a peace agreement to end the Israeli - Palestinian conflict.
More than 70 Israeli and Palestinian 11th graders, together with students from 17 countries at EMIS, reached the peace agreement last week in a 24-hour simulation of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
i24 News: Peace Talks
FPA’s World Leadership Forum in New York City to receive the honor.
Three Leon Charney Diplomacy Program students have been named Sackler Fellows by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA). Alexa Menashe, Jessica Malinowska and Maria Hasbun attended the FPA’s World Leadership Forum in New York City to receive the honor.
Read moreISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONGRESS OF THE WOMEN
On 19 May 2017, two hundred Israeli & Palestinian women convened in Tel Aviv to negotiate solutions to the conflict. Having been the first time only women participated in a public negotiating process, this was a rare and powerful event in the Middle East.
Read moreCongress of the People 1000 Israelis & 1000 Palestinians Negotiated Peace - Rabin Square, Tel Aviv, Israel
On Friday, March 17, around 2000 Israelis & Palestinians from all walks of life came to Rabin Square to discuss, debate, and negotiate the conditions for an effective peace process. The negotiations were conducted around 40 tables plus a plenary one. This unique event was another significant step towards the establishment of a major Israeli-Palestinian Public Negotiating Congress with political influence.
Read moreAcademy of Peace
On Friday, January 13th, 2017, Hebrew-language courses geared towards Palestinians from the West Bank began at the Charney Resolution Center. We are working on expanding the initiative to other fields of study.