"My visit has a clear purpose - to find a solution to the conflict": President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union arrives in Israel | Israel today

Duarte Pashko, president of the Inter-Parliamentary Association (IPU), which unites 197 parliaments (including the Knesset), arrived at the Mishkan this morning (Sunday) - and was received by Knesset Speaker MK Miki Levy in a solemn and official ceremony.

This is the first time since March 2020 that trumpet cheers have been heard in the Knesset plaza, announcing the arrival of a leader the size of a head of state or parliament.

The Speaker of the Knesset and his guest walked on the red carpet that had been taken out of storage, brushed and unfolded for the reception, surveyed the Knesset's honor guard, and the president of the union laid a wreath at the foot of Gilad in memory of the victims of the Israeli military.

Pashko, a member of the Portuguese parliament since 1991, was elected president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union exactly a year ago.

He began his career in the organization in 2002 as a representative of the Portuguese Parliament, and has since held several positions on the organization's committees.

In two weeks he will be 57, married and a father of two, a lover of skiing and cycling, and owns more than 40,000 photos he took himself.

Today, as mentioned, he heads the Inter-Parliamentary Union, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

There is also an office of the organization adjacent to the UN headquarters in New York, by virtue of being an observer at the UN.

The association is intended to serve as a forum for meeting and dialogue between members of parliament, for the purpose of promoting goals of peace and cooperation between the peoples and for the promotion of representative democracy.

In his meetings he discusses political issues and international challenges.

The union has a special committee on the subject of the Middle East, in which there is permanent representation in the Knesset.

Like other international assemblies, declarations and resolutions condemning Israel and its policies are occasionally made at union assemblies;

This was the case when the union condemned Israel for its intention to move the American embassy to Jerusalem, called on it to release Marwan Barghouti from prison and condemned her for arresting MPs on behalf of the Popular Front.

However, the Knesset delegation to the union has repeatedly succeeded in thwarting anti-Israel discussions and decisions, especially around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Promote peace.

Levy and Pashko, Photo: Knesset Spokeswoman Noam Moskowitz

In an exclusive interview with Israel Today, Pashko said that he visited Israel about a decade ago, when he was vice president of the parliamentary friendship of the Portugal-Israel group, and then attended the Knesset seminar on peace in the region.

There he met the late President Shimon Peres.

After visiting Israel, you travel to visit the Palestinian Authority.

Is it the same as visiting us?

"The Palestinian Authority is a member of the union, so there is a relationship with it. My visit to the Middle East has a clear purpose: to encourage dialogue between the two sides and reach a solution to a conflict that has already caused a great deal of suffering." 

What is the organization's policy on statements condemning Israel?

"The organization respects democracy, hence decisions that condemn Israel. I am sorry that there are such condemnations against Israel, because I do not believe they contribute to the spirit of dialogue between the parties."

In the shadow of the UN, what is the power of the Inter-Parliamentary Union?

"We are a long-standing organization with more than 130 years of history. In the past, the union has received two Nobel Peace Prizes for its work in promoting dialogue for conflict resolution. At the UN, the countries are represented by their governments.

"In the inter-parliamentary union, countries are represented by parliaments, usually with many party owners. In this way, we provide real representation that is closer to the concerns of the population."

"Spirits of Peace"

The Speaker of the Knesset, MK Miki Levy, told his guest that "winds of change, peace and normalization are blowing in the Middle East. The union you lead is an excellent platform for promoting normalization in the region, and for promoting the connection between the Knesset and its counterparts in the Middle East. "Listen to our requests, and I thank you for your support."

Levy added to "Israel Today" that "the Knesset represents the entire public, and it is its duty both to represent it in international forums and also to protect the good name of Israeli citizens from populist and false decisions."