FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 9th, 2003

Richard Gere meets with Palestinians at MIFTAH

Acclaimed Hollywood film star Richard Gere accompanied by his delegation from Peacemaker Circles, visited the Palestinian occupied territories this Tuesday and met with Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, PLC member and Secretary General of MIFTAH, and a number of prominent Palestinian academics, artists, film directors as well as other members of the Palestinian Legislative council and of the private sector.

The meeting took place at the offices of The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of a Global Dialogue and Democracy MIFTAH. Geres’ visit comes as an effort to follow up on his earlier meeting during his visit to the occupied territories in June, 2003.

A prominent Hollywood actor Gere, is also an advocate of human rights and has conducted research on methods of non-violent resistance. Gere shared his vision of using peaceful means in order to reach a just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on mutual recognition of Palestinian and Israeli humanity.

Full of optimism, Gere said this meeting is only a starting point for a series of future joint cooperation of activities promoting a peaceful, creative and imaginative, human based peace.

MIFTAH’s contact details:

Labib K Nasir Media and Information Coordinator 972-2-298-9490/1