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Coalition of Women for a Just Peace
Address: POB 8083, Jerusalem 91080, Israel
Tel: (+972-2) 672-5293
Fax: (+972-2) 672-5293
email: gsvirsky@netvision.net.il
The Coalition of Women for a Just Peace is a mix of Jewish and Palestinian
women (all citizens of Israel) who call upon Israel to end the occupation
and negotiate a just solution.
Ever since November 8, 2000 when it was formed, the Coalition has been
engaged in protest and advocacy inside Israel and the occupied territories.
The first mass action was a vigil and march in Jerusalem, with 2,000 Israeli
and Palestinian women calling for an end to the occupation and negotiation
of a just peace. Subsequently, a series of demonstrations was held to
demand an end to the military "closure" of Palestinian towns and villages.
In the first action, where women blocked the entrance to the Ministry of
Defense in Tel-Aviv in order to illustrate the problems of closure, 17
demonstrators were arrested.
Subsequent actions, sometimes in cooperation with mixed-gender peace
organizations, included nonviolent resistance to closure. These have
involved the removal of blockades and filling in of trenches, both intended
to physically prevent Palestinians from entering or leaving their villages.
In other actions, individual women - young women, in particular - have
pushed resistance one step further by lying down in front of army bulldozers
or chaining themselves to olive trees, in an effort to prevent further
destruction of Palestinian homes and property. Most of these actions ended
in arrests.
On June 8, 2001 the Coalition organized an international "Women in Black",
mobilizing 150 vigils around the world to protest the Israeli occupation,
and held a vigil of 3,000 Women in Black in Jerusalem.
Member Organizations:
Bat Shalom
Women in Black
Women and Mothers for Peace
Women Engendering Peace.
New Profile: Movement for the Civil-ization of Israeli Society
WILPF - Israeli chapter
TANDI :Movement of Democratic Women for Israel
Noga Feminist Magazine
NELED: Women for Coexistence
Machsom-Watch
PRINCIPLES OF THE COALITION
§ An end to the occupation.
§ The full involvement of women in negotiations for peace.
§ Establishment of the state of Palestinian side by side with the state of
Israel based on the 1967 borders.
§ The recognition of Jerusalem as the shared capital of two states.
§ Israel must recognize its share of responsibility for the results of the
1948 war and cooperate in finding a just solution for the Palestinian
refugees.
§ Equality, inclusion and justice for Palestinian citizens of Israel.
§ Opposition to the militarism that permeates Israeli society.
§ Equal rights for women and all residents of Israel.
§ Social and economic justice for Israel's citizens and integration in the
region.
"The army that will defeat terrorism doesn't wear uniforms, or drive
Humvees, or calls in air-strikes. It doesn't have a high command, or
high security, or a high budget. The army that can defeat terrorism
does battle quietly, clearing minefields and vaccinating children. It
undermines military dictatorships and military lobbyists. It subverts
sweatshops and special interests.Where people feel powerless, it
helps them organize for change, and where people are powerful, it
reminds them of their responsibility." ~~~~ Author Unknown ~~~~
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