May 30, 2005 REGIONAL COOPERATION THROUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT: LESSONS FROM EUROPE, PROSPECTS FOR THE MIDDLE EAST A Panel Session of the First Annual Local Government Conference Harold Hartog School of Government and Policy Tel Aviv University Participants: Professor Shimon Shamir Head of the University Institute for Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation Dr. Ron Pundak Director General of the Peres Center for Peace Mr. Efi Stenzler Head of the Union of Local Authorities International Relations Commi�ee and Mayor of Municipality of Givatayim Dr. Hussein Al-Araj Deputy Minister of Local Government, Palestinian National Authority and Former Acting Mayor of Nablus Mr. Meir Nitzan Mayor of Rishon Le’zion and Chairman of the Union of Local Authorities, Peace Initiative Team, Israel Mr. Jacques Wallage Mayor of Groningen, Netherlands Councillor Gearóid ÓhEára Mayor of Derry City Council, Northern Ireland Ms. Katalin Pallai Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative, Hungary Editor: Sylvie Kraus Email: Sylvie.Kraus@gmail.com 1