And therein lies the hope. For the collective memory of Palestine can only be helped by new media like the web if the young have the desire to unearth and preserve it. As witnessed by the young men who, in Bethlehem, took on both the Israeli army and the Palestinian police They seem to assert their right to remember Sabra and Shatilla. A plan to exchange visits and increase contacts with the governments and business communities of the key Latin states is already underway and is expected to gain more momentum in coming months. A high profile Egyptian delegation has just returned from a 13-day Latin American tour, which included stops in Chile, Uruguay and Mexico.
Chile is the most active of all Latin states and the one with the biggest overseas investments.
Mexico is obviously the Golden Gate to the economies of the US and Canada. Uruguay and Chile see eye to eye with Egypt on many international issues, and officials in the respective trade ministries are creating a detailed strategy for expanded trade relations. The Egyptian delegation, headed by Sallama Shaker, assistant minister of foreign affairs for the Americas, was the first of many that will visit the region. The delegation, Shaker said, provided their hosts with a thorough explanation about potential trade and investment opportunities in Egypt. Given the signs of a good recovery that these countries have shown after being hit by recent economic crises, it is expected that these figures will continue to rise.