Women's Empowerment and Leadership Development for Democratisation
- العربية
- English
- Français
- Bahasa Indonesia
- اردو
share this
Palestine/Israel: Bat Shalom and the Jerusalem Center for Women - joint declaration
Palestinian and Israeli women demand an immediate end to Occupation.
Israel has launched a war against defenseless Palestinian communities.
The terrorization of innocent civilians, the unlawful killings and arrests, the
siege imposed upon President Arafat, and the destruction of property,
infrastructures and institutions, can only lead to further escalation,
prolonging the sufferings of both nations and destroying any prospects for
peace.
The terrorization of innocent civilians, the unlawful killings and arrests, the
siege imposed upon President Arafat, and the destruction of property,
infrastructures and institutions, can only lead to further escalation,
prolonging the sufferings of both nations and destroying any prospects for
peace.
The climate of fear and the obsession with reprisals that grips our
two peoples obscure the true cause of this cycle of violence - the continued and
unlawful Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people and their land.
It
is our role, women on both sides, to speak out loudly against the humanitarian
crimes committed in order to permanently subjugate an entire nation. Right
now, in the face of uncontrolled military turmoil, we jointly ask the
international community of states to accept its duty and mandate by
international humanitarian law to prevent abuses of an occupying power, by
officially intervening to protect the Palestinian people.
Beyond the
immediate crisis, we know that there is one future for us both. The deliberate
harming of innocent civilians, Palestinian or Israeli, must not be
condoned. By working together we improve our chances for a better future.
We believe that women can develop an alternative voice promoting effective peace
initiatives and sound approaches. We undertake to work for this goal
together.
Women have already begun to give substance to the recognition
that a just peace is a peace between equals. When we call for a Palestinian
state (on the territories occupied on 4th of June 1967) alongside the state of
Israel, we envision true sovereignty for each state, including control over land
and natural resources. We envision a settlement based on international
law, which would endorse sharing the whole city of Jerusalem, the dismantling of
the settlements, and a just solution to the question of refugees according to
relevant UN resolutions. In continuing our joint work together, we want
not only to achieve an end to the occupation; we want to help create the
conditions for a life of security and dignity for both peoples.
We call
upon all women and men, young and old, to join us in our sincere quest to
preserve life, human dignity and freedom in our region. Dehumanization,
hatred, revenge, and oppression contribute nothing to the resolution of a
century of conflict. Mutual recognition and respect of each other's
individual and collective rights will pave the way for peace
making.
April 2002
The Jerusalem Center for Women and Bat
Shalom
Bat
Shalom is a feminist peace organization working toward a just peace between
Israel and its Arab neighbors. Bat Shalom, together with The Jerusalem
Center for Women, a Palestinian women's peace organization, comprise The
Jerusalem Link.
two peoples obscure the true cause of this cycle of violence - the continued and
unlawful Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people and their land.
It
is our role, women on both sides, to speak out loudly against the humanitarian
crimes committed in order to permanently subjugate an entire nation. Right
now, in the face of uncontrolled military turmoil, we jointly ask the
international community of states to accept its duty and mandate by
international humanitarian law to prevent abuses of an occupying power, by
officially intervening to protect the Palestinian people.
Beyond the
immediate crisis, we know that there is one future for us both. The deliberate
harming of innocent civilians, Palestinian or Israeli, must not be
condoned. By working together we improve our chances for a better future.
We believe that women can develop an alternative voice promoting effective peace
initiatives and sound approaches. We undertake to work for this goal
together.
Women have already begun to give substance to the recognition
that a just peace is a peace between equals. When we call for a Palestinian
state (on the territories occupied on 4th of June 1967) alongside the state of
Israel, we envision true sovereignty for each state, including control over land
and natural resources. We envision a settlement based on international
law, which would endorse sharing the whole city of Jerusalem, the dismantling of
the settlements, and a just solution to the question of refugees according to
relevant UN resolutions. In continuing our joint work together, we want
not only to achieve an end to the occupation; we want to help create the
conditions for a life of security and dignity for both peoples.
We call
upon all women and men, young and old, to join us in our sincere quest to
preserve life, human dignity and freedom in our region. Dehumanization,
hatred, revenge, and oppression contribute nothing to the resolution of a
century of conflict. Mutual recognition and respect of each other's
individual and collective rights will pave the way for peace
making.
April 2002
The Jerusalem Center for Women and Bat
Shalom
Bat
Shalom is a feminist peace organization working toward a just peace between
Israel and its Arab neighbors. Bat Shalom, together with The Jerusalem
Center for Women, a Palestinian women's peace organization, comprise The
Jerusalem Link.