In a country plagued with what may seem to be an irreparable rift, two feminists groups are calling for another problem-solving tactic: Involve women in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Isha L’Isha (Woman to Woman), Israel’s oldest grassroots feminist center, and Kayan, a feminist organization established by Israeli Palestinian women, organized the first national conference to discuss the relevance of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Along with demanding an “increased representation of women at all decision-making levels,” Resolution 1325 states that women play an important role in conflict prevention. Recognizing the importance of “protection, special needs and human rights of women and children in conflict situations,” it “calls on all parties to armed conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape.”

Israel has a low level of female participation in politics. Currently, women comprise 15 percent of Knesset members and three of the 26 cabinet members. “When compared to other countries, Israel still has room to improve in respect to women’s representation in the legislature,” stated a 2001 government report submitted to the United Nations.* Correspondingly, men – politicians and generals – are responsible for the ongoing armed conflict and peace negotiations. Due to “the uniqueness of the Israeli reality, … issues of security and war (which are associated almost exclusively with men and masculinity) receive top priority in national attention and resources,” writes professor Dafna Lemish.**

The conference sought to alert the Israeli community to the need for female negotiators on both sides of the conflict. “Israeli society is not aware of this dimension – even women’s groups,” said Sarai Aharoni, Isha L’Isha’s general coordinator. Diverse perspectives that women could offer are not being considered, she said.

The 12 speakers, who included UN workers, feminist activists, lawyers, jurists and professors from Israel, East Jerusalem and the Palestinian Authority, debated the resolution’s practicality, wording and appropriateness. Lawyer Netta Amar questioned 1325’s potential influence on Israeli society. “Among all the documents signed by the international community, the status of 1325 is one of the weakest. [Without government acceptance, it] can be compared to goodwill declarations,” she said. Other speakers listed the Israeli government’s breaches of the resolution. Professor Frances Raday discussed the connection between treatment of women and outbreaks of armed conflict as well as advances in the recognition of rape as a war crime and a crime against humaity.

In conjunction with the conference, held April 8 at Ramat Gan college, Isha L’Isha and Kayan presented Arabic and Hebrew translations of 1325 in order to make it more accessible to local audiences.

The concept behind Resolution 1325 is meeting with growing approval, said organizers. Internationally, European Union funding circles are beginning to discuss the resolution’s relevance.

Following the symposium, the organizers have received calls from women active in coexistence groups who previously knew nothing about the resolution, said Sarai. Academics not in attendance have called to say how important this work is.

AWID (The Association for Women’s Rights in Development) financially supported the conference as an outcome of AWID’s International Forum
held in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Funding Exchange also provided funds.

Isha L’Isha and Kayan will be publishing a final conference report with speech transcripts. The report will be published in English, Hebrew and Arabic this November. To order a copy, contact Sarai Aharoni at Isha L’Isha – Haifa Feminist Center. E-mail: ishahfc@netvision.net.il.

*Source: Third Periodic Report Concerning the Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). State of Israel, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 2001.

**Source: Lemish, Dafna. “The Ripple Effect: Pornographic Images of Women in Israeli Advertising.” Interpersonal Violence, Health and Gender Politics, Third Edition. Stanley G. French, ed. McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited: Montreal, 1997.

All other information comes from Isha L’Isha/Kayan.