Interview: MAP Chairman Robin Kealy
12 April 2010
Interview with MAP's Chairman
Robin Kealy is a former career diplomat and Consul General in Jerusalem from 1997-2001, he has been Chairman of Medical Aid for Palestinians since 2008.
What does being Chairman of MAP involve?
Our board has a huge variety of skills and experience, with surgeons, nurses, economists, journalists and diplomats all bringing their energy to MAP's continued development. The Chairman is head of the board of trustees and works to ensure that there is a collective responsibility towards the good governance of the organisation.
I became a MAP trustee in 2004 after retiring from the Foreign Office. After becoming a vice-Chair in 2005 I took over the Chairmanship from Brian Constant in 2008. Since then I've been working closely with MAP's Chief Executive.
As MAP works within a very politicized environment in the Middle East, I think it is important that we work closely with those who have diplomatic experience of the terrain in which we operate. With that in mind I am particularly glad to welcome Lord Patten as MAP's new President. Lord Patten brings a wealth of personal experience to issues surrounding our work. This includes his involvement in the peace process when Commissioner for External Relations for the European Commission.
You recently travelled on a MAP delegation to the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), can you tell us about your visit?
After 43 years spent largely in or working on the Middle East it saddens me to see that the politics of the region are heading in the wrong direction. The situation in Gaza in particular is a reminder of how crucially important MAP's programmes are.
Despite the paucity of political good news stories, I was happy to witness the drive and determination of MAP's partners who are key pillars of the vibrant Palestinian civil society. Their hard work and good humour are essential elements to improving realities on the ground for the most vulnerable Palestinians.
During my visit I witnessed how MAP's role as chair of the health cluster of international NGOs was improving coordination and the accountability of agencies within a developing Palestinian health system. I also saw how MAP's continued partnership with Birzeit University and The Lancet is producing empirically grounded research on the health status of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory.
But you didn't manage to get into Gaza?
Sadly my permit was not processed by the Israeli authorities in time. Indeed there can be little doubt that it is harder than ever for people to get into and out of Gaza. When I was Consul General I would sometimes make two visits a week. Over time, however, access has become more and more restricted. While Israel argues over security concerns, I believe that there should be human security for both sides. There can be no benefits from the siege mentality that is being forced upon the people of Gaza.
As a former diplomat, how do you see the current state of the peace process?
Netanyahu's attempt to explain away as a bureaucratic mix-up the announcement of 1600 new housing units in an East Jerusalem settlement, just as US Vice President Joe Biden was arriving in Israel to kick-start the Middle East Peace Process, lacks credibility to put it politely.
British Foreign Secretaries - like Biden all are good friends of Israel - have been on the receiving end of this type of welcome on their first visits to the oPt after taking office. I recall that how Sir Malcolm Rifkind's visit in November 1996 was characterised by Israeli officials making it extraordinary difficult for him to visit Hebron, which was then the subject of key negotiations.
In 1998 the late Robin Cook visited the oPt and during his trip visited Jebel Abu Ghunaim, upon which Israel was building the Har Homa settlement. Netanyahu claimed to be outraged at this visit, and subsequently cancelled his dinner with the British Foreign Secretary.
So far the Americans have handled the affair pretty firmly, emphasising their basic support for Israel while making no attempt to conceal their anger at the episode. Netanyahu's future dealings with the Obama administration may, however, on this showing, soon come to resemble his very uncomfortable relationship with Clinton in 1998/99.
