Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu, Munip El Masri, President of Palestinian ICC and Oren Shachor, President of Israeli ICC came together at the signature ceremony for the opening of the Arbitration Center in Eastern Jerusalem. Representatives from the Palestinian and Israeli business worlds attended the ceremony.  

Delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of Eastern Jerusalem Arbitration Center, Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of TOBB, said, “A very well planned, very useful initiative.  This initiative promises a better future and smoother commercial relations.  Also, this initiative represents the commitment of Palestinian and Israeli businessmen to enrichment of their peoples.  I would like to thank Israeli and Palestinian sides for their common proposal for my presidency.  I am deeply honored by their kind invitation.   The confidence vested in me by both sides imposes upon me a big responsibility.  I promise to do whatever I can.”

Pointing out that peace, trade and richness supported each other, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “One will not exist without the other.  You can trade only if there is peace.  If there is peace and trade, there will be richness, too.   Therefore, the business world is one of the most important links of the chain of peace, trade and richness.”

-'We need dialogue'

Drawing the attention to the fact that Israel is the most important trade partner of Palestine and economy has a key role in bringing the peoples together, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We need dialogue.   We must create more platforms in order to work together.  We must understand each other better.  For this very reason, Jerusalem Arbitration Center is a very valuable initative.  I heartily believe that this center will further facilitate the economic and commercial relations.” 

Munip El Masri, Co-president of the Jerusalem International Arbitration Center and President of Palestinian ICC said, “Today we witness a historical moment here, I’m very happy.  I would like to thank Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.  This Arbitration Center will be located in Eastern Jerusalem.  Nobody other than Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu would be a better candidate.  This will have a positive impact on the relations between the two countries.”

Oren Shachor, Israeli Co-president of the center said, “The Arbitration Center has been created based on the shared view of Israeli and Palestinian business men.  I am happy to see the Turkish ambassador here among us.  Israel and Turkey are friends again as before.  I believe that the Arbitration Center will be a bridge to the peace process.”

- Met Palestinian businessmen in Ramallah

Coming together with Haşim Zugayr, President of the union of Palestine Chambers and Palestinian businessmen in Ramallah, Hisarcıklıoğlu made a speech during which he said, “The Palestinian National Authority is spending reliable efforts to fight the crisis and to create an institutional capacity.   Particularly, it is better than other countries in the region in terms of security, justice, income and expense management, economic growth, and public services.  As TOBB, we keep our determination for an industrial zone in Jenin. We see this project as a project of employment and peace”.

President of TOBB then visited the tomb of the late Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat, and Al-aqsa Mosque.