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Women, Peace and Security Initiatives: Israel
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In-Country

Isha L’Isha, Haifa Feminist Center
response to israel's statement at open debate on women, peace & security,
October 2006
Isha L’Isha-the Haifa Feminist Center, was established in 1983 and is the most veteran, grassroots feminist organization in Israel, and its leading voice for women’s rights. The implementation of UN Resolution 1325 has been a central activity for us since 2003, and our project has brought the resolution to the public's attention, and introduced gender mainstreaming about the violent conflict into the public discourse. Our work provides a gender perspective of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by promoting women to be represented on negotiating teams, and by strengthening the voices of women and calling attention to their unique needs and roles.

In October 2006, at the Security Council Open Debate on women, peace and security, nation states were allowed the opportunity to present their past achievements in promoting resolution 1325. When we found out that Isha L'Isha was mentioned at the event, we were delighted that our project was showcased at the UN. However, when we read the statement, we were shocked and dismayed. The official representative of the state of Israel positioned our organization as a government project, taking credit for our dedicated, hardworking efforts, as if to imply that our achievements belong to the state and its institutions.

Urgent Call to Stop Spiralling Middle East Violence
August 3, 2006 - Statement by Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director, UNIFEM; Convenor, International Women's Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace (IWC)

For full statemnet please click here

FIRE marathon broadcast "Voices of Resistance" features women's perspectives on Middle East conflicts
August 2, 2006
Women’s voices and perspectives in reaction to the military aggression in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel will be the focus of a marathon live broadcast via Internet entitled, “Voices of Resistance” on Friday, August 4, produced in Spanish and English by FIRE – Feminist International Radio Endeavour/Radio Internacional Feminista in Costa Rica. The 8-hour live broadcast, which begins at 10 am (Costa Rica/RMT) will be repeated three times during a 24-hour streaming schedule. Listeners may tune in by going to the FIRE website at: www.radiofeminista.net. FIRE is also inviting audience members to write or call during the program to express solidarity with women in the Middle East conflicts. For each email, FIRE will send $5 to women’s organizations that work in those conflict zones; and $10 for each phone call.

For more information please click here

Arab NGO Network for Development Calls upon its friends and supporters all around the world
Today, July 30th, another massacre was committed in Lebanon: More than sixty civilians, among them 37 children, were killed by Israeli bombs while they were sleeping in shelters in the village of Qana. They died not very far away from the mass grave holding the bodies of 106 civilians burned by a previous Israeli attack in April 1996 inside a shelter provided by a UN battalion

For full statement click here

Appeal letter from Peacewomen across the globe
19 July 2006
On behalf of all the International Coordinators and Board Members of Peace Women Across the Globe
(formerly 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005), we join the International Women’s Commission
for Just and Sustainable Peace, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, other human
rights and women’s rights organizations, and the wider international community in demanding the end to all
military operations and violence in Gaza, Lebanon, and Israel

To read the full letter click here

INTERNATIONAL PEACE BUREAU CALLS FOR RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF
DIPLOMATS IN THE MIDDLE EAST
We cannot bear to watch the continuous carnage. We cannot bear to hear the screams of children. We cannot bear to stand by as the United Nations and the G 8 abrogate their responsibilities to stop a war that should never have been started.

To read the full statement click here

Civilians in Gaza in need of protection
July 2, 2006 (Kvinna till Kvinna)
13 Agencies call for immediate and unobstructed access to provide for basic human needs in Gaza.
For common statement click here

2005

Parliament/Knesset Passes New Law Mandating Inclusion of Women for Peace & Security Negotiations & Policy
July 21, 2005
Isha L'Isha Haifa Feminist Center is pleased to announce that the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, has just passed a new law mandating the inclusion of women in teams appointed for peace negotiations and setting domestic, foreign or security policy. This law, an amendment to the 1956 Equal Representation of Women law, is a major milestone in the advancement of women's rights in Israel.

Vigil and Petition for the 5 Draft Resisters
January 4, 2004
The Refusers Parents’ Forum calls individuals to join a vigil in support of Noam Bahat, Shimri Zamerat, Haggai Matar, Adan Maor, and Matan Kaminer, the 5 draft resisters who refused to enlist to an army of occupation and have been sentenced to a whole year in the military prison in addition of the 14 months they already spent in prison and detention. The Refusers Parent’s Forum also urges individuals to write to the Head of the Manpower Department IDF, Brigadier General Gil Regev, who has to either approve the decision adopted by the Court or establish a lighter punishment. To write to Brigadier General Gil Regev click here (Brigadier General Gil Regev, Head of the Manpower Department, I.D.F., Hakirya Tel Aviv, M.P. 02919, I.D.F, Fax: 972-3-5692933). To sign a petition calling for the 5's release click here. For more information visit the Refusers Parents’ Forum.

The International Human Rights March in Palestine and Israel
December 20, 2003 to January 14, 2004
The Coalition of Women for Peace in Israeel, and the the General Union of Palestinian Women together with the Jerusalem Center for Women support this initiative launched by Human Rights March. During this 3-week period, Jewish and Arab women have planned an itinerary that will include daily: a march (walk) to advocate peace and human rights, discussions with individuals and organizations that are part of civil society, and cultural and musical exchange. Women will be walking through both Israel and Palestine, splitting the days about evenly between them. For more information visit Human Rights March. To read a report of the march, click here.

International Day of Solidarity Against the Wall
November 9, 2003
Some two hundred Palestinians, 35 Israelis and a similar number of internationals gathered yesterday in the village of Zububa to mark the international day of solidarity against the wall. A Tel Aviv-based organization , "Anarchists Against Fences", participated in a march organized to tear a portion of the fence down. Despite the military represion, activists were able to traspass the barbed wire and at the electronic fence. By the time more army forces arrived, the fence was already noticeably cut. To read the full report click here. Photos and video footage available from cat@squat.net. For more information visit Gush-Shalom.

"The Wall Must Fall"
November 9, 2003
Coalition of Women for Peace, Gush Shalom, ICAHD: Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, Rabbis for Human Rights, Ta'ayush: Jewish-Arab Partnership, and The Mas'ha Group calls individuals and organizations world-wide to hold a Wall Must Fall Action on November 9th to protest agaisnt the Wall constructed by the Israeli Government on Palestinian land. In Israel the Wall Must Fall Action will take place in Jerusalem on November 8th, 2003. For more information visit the Coalition of Women for Peace.

Solidarity Vigil with the Pilots
September 29 , 2003
A solidarity vigil opposite the Defense Ministry gate in Tel-Aviv (Kaplan St.) was hold to express support for the refusal of the 25 combat pilots to obey illegal and immoral orders to bomb Palestinian neighborhoods in the course of targeted liquidations. The refusal to serve of 25 Israeli Air Force pilots has great significance since Air Force pilots are the heroes of Israel, epitomizing the best, brightest, and bravest. The letter presented and signed by the 25 Israeli Air Force pilots was published by Yediot Aharonot, Israel's largest circulation newspaper by far. Click here for the article prepared by Yediot Aharonot and the full text of the letter. For more information visit Gush Shalom.

The Assasinations policy kills us all
September 11, 2003
A protest vigil initiated by Ta’ayush and joined by Gush Shalom was organized on September 11, 2003 against the assasination policy, the killing of civilians and the occupation. The prostest called for the sanity, peace, equality and security for both Jew and Arab populations. For more information visit Gush Shalom.

Searching to End the Lament
May 30, 2003
Women and Men wearing stark black lay down outside the Cinematheque in Tel Aviv on May 30, 2003, in a mass international rally to end the occupation. For photograpghs and a full description of the initiative please click here. For more information visit the Coalition of Women for Peace.

Operation Keeping out the Witness
May, 2003
Coalition of Women for Peace called to protest against the government efforts to create a separation fence between Arabs and Jews by not allowing journalists, international volunteers, peace activists or any other contact between Israel and Palestine. To see the ad please click here. For more information visit the Coalition of Women for Peace.

First National Conference to Discuss the Relevance of the UN Security Council Resoultion 1325 to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
April 8, 2003
Women to Women, Israel's oldest grassroots feminist center, and Kayan, a feminist organization established by Israeli Palestinian women, organized the first national conference to address the relevance of UN Resolution 1325 to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The purpose of the conference was to alert the Isarel community of the need of women participation in the peacebuilding process. Arabic and Hebrew translations of the Resolution 1325 were presented to make it more accesible to local authorities. To read a report click here. To order a copy of the final conference report please contact Sarai Aharoni. For more information visit Women to Women.

Don’t say we didn’t know!
March, 2003
A demonstration took place to prevent the expulsion of Palestinian cave dwellers from their homes and increase the amount of water allocated to the Bedoin in the Negev. To see the initiative’s ad click here. For more infomartion visit the Coalition of Women for Peace.

Don’t vote for war!
January, 2002
Prior to the elections of January 2002, the Coalition printed and placed 5,000 posters with the message “Don’t vote for War! throughout Israel. The poster used the image of the pioneer women (Halutza) to appeal to and empower women’s role. Unfortunately, the campaign didn’t have the expected outcome but it created an important precedent. To see the poster please click here. For more information visit the Coalition of Women for Peace.

High School Senior’s Letter
Septmber, 2002
The Israeli Youth Refusal Movement publicized two protest letters, both sent to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in which young men stated their refusal to take part in the oppression of the Palestinian people by serving in the Israeli army. The first letter, published on August 2001, was signed by 62 youths; while the second letter, published on September 2002, had more than 300 signatores. Several young men have been called up and sentenced to several consecutive prison sentences for refusing to serve in the Israeli army. To read both letters click here. For more information visit The Israeli Youth Refusal Movement.

A protest Happening in Tel Aviv: End the Occupation!
December 27, 2002
Almost 1500 people gathered in a mass Women and Men Black Vigil in Tel Aviv to protest against the occupation under the slogan “End the Occupation and No to Racism”. Among various demonstrations, the censored film “Jenin,Jenin” was featured in public. To see the report of the mass international rally to end the occupation please click here. For more information visit the Coalition of Women for Peace.

Transfer-Racism-Enough
December, 2002
Women and men dressed in black gathered in a mass Women in Balck Vigil to protest against the occupation and the threats to trasnfer Arab citizens out of Israel. To see the initiative's ad please click here. For more information visit the Coalition of Women for Peace.

Joining the Olive Harvest in Palestine
December, 2002
The cultivation of olives is a central source of income for the Palestinian families living in the West Bank region, where almost half of all cultivated land is used to grow olives. The olive harvest runs form early October to late November. The Harvest have been suffering from the deliberative destruction of cultivated crops by the settlers to the recent attacks to harvesters by settlers. On December 2002, peace activists joined the olive harvest to protest against the harassment of the Palestinian harversters by settlers. For the full report please click here. For more information visit the Coalition of Women for Peace.

Address to the UN Security Council
On a letter to the UN Security Council regarding Resolution 1325, Gila Svirsky from the Coalition of Women for Peace, stated that 15 years ago, when it was ilegal in Israel and forbiden in Palestine, Jew and Arab women met secretaly driven by the aim of peace and justice. The outcome of these meetings was an agreement that declared the establishment of a free, independent and secure state of Palestine side-by-side with a free, independent and secure state of Israel as the core of a political settlement. Coalition of Women for Peace aims to promote the above mentioned agreement and to strenghten the Resolution 1325 in the frame of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. For the full text of the letter please click here. For more information visit the Coalition of Women for Peace.

Tent of Peace
2000
During the past 3 years, The Bridge: Jewish and Arab Women for Peace in the Middle East, has been organizing the Tent of Peace in Druze and Bedouin village. They hold meetings of “creative women” to promote the status of women in both Jewish and Arab Palestinian sectors, as well as meetings of women and men, writers, poets, lecturers, intellectuals, teachers, journalists, media, of all creeds and denominations, with the aim of building bridges of understanding through culture and literature of "the other." For a description of The Bridge click here. For more information visit IFLAC-The Bridge: Jewish and Arab Women for Peace in the Middle East.

Violet Khouri Campaign
Violet Khouri was the the first Arab Mayor in the whole of the Middle East and the whole world. A campaign was organized by Jewish and Arab women to support its candidancy for Mayor of the Galilean town, Kafr Yassif. Despite a difficult begining, since her male colleagues in the Municipal Board refused to cooperate with her, arguing that it was the worst insult for an Arab to be governed by a "mara", a mere woman, Violet Khouri became a successful and efficient Mayor during her eight year-period service. Due to her focus on education, for both female and male, today, Kfar Yassif has the highest percentage in the whole of the Middle East of academic educated women, who are motivated and know how to struggle for equal rights in all fields and disciplines. For more information visit IFLAC-The Bridge: Jewish and Arab Women for Peace in the Middle East.

International

The International Human Rights March in Palestine and Israel
December 20, 2003 to January 14, 2004
The Coalition of Women for Peace in Israeel, and the the General Union of Palestinian Women together with the Jerusalem Center for Women support this initiative launched by Human Rights March. During this 3-week period, Jewish and Arab women have planned an itinerary that will include daily: a march (walk) to advocate peace and human rights, discussions with individuals and organizations that are part of civil society, and cultural and musical exchange. Women will be walking through both Israel and Palestine, splitting the days about evenly between them. To join the march visit Human Rights March.

Gather the Women Congress: Weaving a World that Works
October 16-17, 2003
An Israeli woman together with a Palestinian woman will particpate in the "Gather the Women Congress: Weaving a World that Works" Conference, in San Francisco. Both peace leaders from the city of Haifa, North of Israel, will represent the International Forum for the Culture of Peace (IFLAC) spreading the message that multicultural and pluralistic Haifa, where Jews, Arabs and Christians live thogether, can be a model of peace for the Middle East. Click here to read the press release. For more information visit Gather the Women.

Stop Destroying Lives – Act Now for Rights and Justice
October, 2003
Amnesty International calls individuals and organizations worldwide to write to the Israeli authorities urging them to release inemdaitely all conscientious objectors and administrative detainees who have been imprisoned. Amnesty International considers conscientious objectors all Israeli soldiers and reservists detained because they refused to perform their military service. In addition, administrative detention is a procedure under which detainees are held without charge or trial. No criminal charges are filed, and there is no intention of bringing a detainee to trial. By the detention order, a detainee is given a specific term of detention. On or before the expiry of the term, the detention order is frequently renewed. This process can be continued indefinitely. To take action click here. For more information visit Amnesty International.