Alastair Crooke is the founder of Conflicts Forum - an international movement which engages with Islamist movements internationally. Alastair also organises the US and unofficial European dialogues in 2005 with Hezbollah, Hamas and other Islamist movements. He is a former special Mid-East adviser to European Union High Representative, Javier Solana. And has facilitated various Israeli-Palestinian ceasefires during 2001-2003, including being instrumental in the negotiations leading to the ending of the siege of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. Mediated in the negotiations leading to the ceasefire declared by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in June 2003, and was a staff member of President Clinton's Fact Finding Committee, led by Senator Mitchell into the causes of the Intifada. Alastair also has direct experience of conflict over a period of 30 years in Ireland, South Africa, Namibia, Afghanistan, Cambodia and Colombia, including being a coordinator in hostage negotiations. He is an author of articles and contributor to television productions on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and general insurgency and political Islam.