Letter from Israeli and Palestinian Women to the US Secretary of State
Ad Hoc Coalition of Palestinian and Israeli Women, 6 February 2005


The following letter was delivered to the Executive Secretariat that travels with Condoleezza Rice during her recent visit to Israel (Feb. 6).  It was also the subject of articles in the English and Hebrew editions of Ha’aretz newspaper on February 7, 2005.

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State, the United States

Dear Madame Secretary,

 
We welcome you on your mission to the Middle East.

We the undersigned are Palestinian and Israeli women, members of organizations from both sides of the political divide, who call upon you to use your good offices to bring women into the peacemaking process, and thereby advance peace in the region.

For the past two decades, women in the Middle East have been at the forefront of peacemaking efforts.  On both sides, women have worked to end the violence and militarization of our respective societies, have vigorously opposed the human rights abuses, and have even forged peace agreements that would bring a just end to the occupation.

Women are the majority stakeholders in this enterprise, with proven expertise in reconciliation and rapprochement, yet not a single Israeli woman, and only one Palestinian woman, has held an official role at any Middle East peace summit.  This is not only in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325, mandating the involvement of women in all areas of national decision-making, but a squandering of formidable skill, talent, and experience that both nations can ill afford.

Madame Secretary, you are well aware of the suffering - the bloodshed, suicide bombings, reprisals, destruction of homes, and erection of barriers preventing access to schools, hospitals, and places of work.  Women on both sides oppose these acts of violence, and are committed to swiftly concluding the brutal reality.  We understand the price for every hour of delay.

We ask for your intervention, Madame Secretary, in breaking the silence imposed on women.   We ask that you meet with a combined delegation of Israeli and Palestinian women  peacemakers, a forum that would allow us to present our views, and that you seek additional ways to promote the involvement of women in the peacemaking process.  We believe that our involvement would hasten the advent of peace.

We wish you success in your efforts, and offer our partnership in all initiatives for peace.

Yours very truly,

Signatories (in alphabetical order):

1. Achoti [my sister]

2. Anwar: Jewish and Arab Women's Leadership Group

3. Bat Shalom

4. Coalition of Women for Peace

5. Community School of Women

6. Economic Empowerment of Women

7. Haifa Women's Coalition

8. Isha l'Isha: Haifa Feminist Center

9. Israeli Association for Feminist and Gender Studies

10. Itach: Women Lawyers for Social Justice

11. Kayan Feminist Organization

12. Kol Ha-Isha: Jerusalem Women’s Center

13. Lily Habash / Palestinian Women’s Forum

14. MachsomWatch: Women for Human Rights

15. Palestinian Campaign for Freedom and Peace

16. Shin: The Israeli Movement for Equal Representation of Women

17. Shouruq Society of Women in Palestine

18. TANDI: Movement of Democratic Women for Israel

19. Women Against Violence

20. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom – Israel section

21. Women's Studies Center

22. Women's Parliament

 
Ad Hoc Coalition of Palestinian and Israeli Women
P.O. Box 10252, 91102 Jerusalem
Tel: (02) 672-5293; Fax: (02) 671-5778
Responses may also be directed to cwp@coalitionofwomen.org