BRUNO KREISKY AND THE MIDDLE EAST: BUILDING DIPLOMACY AND RECONSTRUCTING PEACE

Zum 115. Geburtstag von Bruno Kreisky/ Honoring the 115th
Birthday of Bruno Kreisky
Der Mut zum Unvollendeten/ The Courage to Embrace the Unfinished





Corinna Milborn in conversation with Mohammad Anwar Esmat Sadat,
Mkhaimar Abusada, Wolfgang Petritsch and Tobias Lang


BRUNO KREISKY AND THE MIDDLE EASTBUILDING DIPLOMACY AND
RECONSTRUCTING PEACE





Peace and security in the Middle East, that was Bruno Kreisky’s
conviction in the light of the challenges of the 1960s and 1970s,
could not be reached without a Two-State-Solution, the
negotiation between and coexistence of the State of Israel and
Palestine. After decades of efforts to build relations, many
chances and opportunities for such a solution have been missed or
sabotaged on various sides.  We take the opportunity to look
into the past as well as into the future!


In a first part, we look at Kreisky’s relations with Egypt, a
crucialplayer when it comes to the Middle East’s peace and
security arrangements. Due to Kreisky’s close relationship and
friendship with Mohammad Anwar SADAT (1918-1981), he supported
him on his path to the Camp David Agreement. Here, we explore
“Sadat’s Austrian road to Jerusalem” and what strategic interests
Austria and Egypt do also share today in the Middle East. In a
second part, the panel will look into Gaza and the Middle East
after October 7. Despite a “Trump Deal Peace Plan”, perspectives
for peace seem unclear. The challenges for overcoming trauma and
re-building trust, a two-state solution and reconstruction are
enormous. What role could Austria play in this multilevel
re-construction process?





Opening:
Andreas Babler, Head of the Social Democratic
Party of Austria


Panelists:
Mohammad Anwar Esmat Sadat: Leader of the Reform
and Development Party in Egypt and a founding member of the Arab
Council for Regional Integration, nephew of former Egyptian
President M. Anwar Sadat


Mkhaimar Abusada, Associate Professor for
Political Science, Al-Azhar University Gaza, expert on
Palestinian political development, Palestinian Youth,
peace-education


Wolfgang Petritsch, Ambassador, former political
advisor to Bruno Kreisky, President of the Austrian Institute for
International Politics, President of the Austrian Marshall Plan
Foundation; board member of the Bruno Kreisky Forum.


Tobias Lang, Director of the Austrian Centre for
Peace, expert on Bruno Kreisky’s relations to the Middle East


Moderator:
Corinna Milborn, journalist and author, Head of
News at ProSieben, Sat1, PULS 4. Hosts political TV debates