About ICEO

Mission Statement

The International Committee on Education and Occupation (ICEO) is a not-for-profit, grassroots initiative of international, Palestinian and Israeli educators. Aware of the global dimensions of our work, ICEO’s immediate focus is the Israeli-Palestinian context. ICEO seeks to utilize all forms of education towards ending the occupation, based on the Palestinian national rights of self-determination, United Nations’ resolutions and international law.

ICEO seeks to create better educational conditions and end restrictions on access to education caused by the occupation. It aims to liberate the minds of Israelis and Palestinians children, youth and adults affected by occupation from all prejudices, including all forms of racism, discrimination, stereotyping, and negative representations of the other. It seeks to support projects that develop in these individuals’ critical thinking abilities that encourage them to become active citizens who strive for peace, justice, freedom and human dignity.

ICEO focuses on the role played by education in seeking solutions as well as its part in perpetuating conflict, a focus that has been missing in Palestinian and Israeli peace talks, negotiations and related initiatives.

ICEO strongly believes in the importance of international support and cooperation with local educators in achieving and sustaining a just peace.

Objectives

In its attempts to utilize all forms of education towards ending the occupation, based on the Palestinian national rights of self-determination, United Nations’ resolutions and international law, ICEO has identified the following objectives:

  1. To activate the role of education and educators toward ending occupation and all forms of racism and discrimination.
  2. To create better conditions for active learning, democracy and human rights.
  3. To develop the critical thinking abilities of learners so they may become active citizens.
  4. To network with educators at the local and international level.
  5. To monitor and document all forms of violations and restrictions on educators, learners and their institutions.

Projects and activities

To achieve its objectives, ICEO intends to carry out the following projects and activities:

  1. Organize an annual forum on education and occupation for local and international educators
  2. Map Palestinian and Israeli educational practices and research related to education as a means toward liberation.
  3. Develop a website for networking, sharing resources and keeping members updated.
  4. Where appropriate, create teacher training materials for improving pedagogical approaches.
  5. Document any aspect of the occupation that prevents individuals and groups from participating in Palestinian and Israeli education.
  6. Publish a yearbook or journal with essays on ICEO projects and research and teachers and students’ experiences. Articles may include examinations of the role education plays in perpetuating occupation and in ending it by teaching about human rights, self-determination, dignity, and independence.