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Jerusalem Link Joint Board Meeting

On the 10th of June, 2006, a joint board meeting took place between the Board of Trustees of the Jerusalem Link (the Palestinian, Jerusalem Center for Women and the Israeli organization, Bat-Shalom) along with members from the JCW’s General Assembly.

About 25 women representing the two organizations attended this meeting which took place at the JCW office and lasted for 3 whole hours.

Among the main issues discussed were; the current political situation (mainly the Gaza beach blast), the impact the political situation has on the Jerusalem Link, and the unique position of women from both sides who are able to talk about peace and politics

This led to tackling the agenda of the Jerusalem Link and the strategic planning of the Jerusalem Link’s second session.

At the end of the meeting there were suggestions of concrete actions that should be taken including, calling for the end of the occupation and the resumption of negotiations.

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The Jerusalem Center for Women Joint Board meeting

On the 17th of May 2003, a joint meeting was held in the Notre Dame Hotel for the Board of Directors of both JWC and Bat Shalom (Jerusalem Link).

Among the prominent speakers and participants were: Dr. Hanan Ashrawi , Zahira Kamal, and Salwa Hdieb- Qannam from the Palestinian side and Dr. Naomi Ghazan and Galia Golan from Israeli side.

After three years absence of official meeting, the Jerusalem Link Board Members finally decided to gather in May despite the difficulties and tensions of the current political situation. The goal of the meeting was to set a future agenda for joint peace activities and projects in light of new political realties.

Among the main issues discussed were the following:
Political Development and the road map.
The Domestic Situation: Difficulties within Israeli society and the Palestinian society
Locating the Jerusalem Link: evaluation of current status, location, and achievements. Discussion of future development and vision for the partnership.

At the end of the meeting a number of decisions were made:
1. Build a concrete media strategy to make women's voices more visible.
2. Widen the circle of members; include supporters and friends at the local and international levels.
3. Include young woman.
4. Open channels of communication and build partnerships in North America.
5. Establish 3 committees:
     JL local initiative sub-committee.
     JL international initiative sub-committee.
     JL political sub-committee.

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The Jerusalem Center for Women Joint Demonstration at Qalandia Check point

On the 4th June 2003, a joint demonstration took place at Qalandia checkpoint, organized by the Jerusalem Center for Women and Bat Shalom. They protested together under the slogan 'Women against Occupation.'

Due to the security measure which restrict Israeli citizens from accessing the West Bank and Gaza strip, Israeli women were not allowed to pass through the checkpoint, thus only Palestinian Jerusalemite women were able to protest on the other side of the checkpoint. Thus, the women were split into two groups in order to demonstrate on both sides of the checkpoint.

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Vigil

Beginning in the summer of 2003, JCW and Bat Shalom held a number of vigils as part of an ongoing initiative called “Women for Ending Occupation.” The first, a silent vigil held at the New Gate, was attended by 35 Palestinian and Israeli women holding signs with slogans, including “Apartheid-Ghetto System Will Not Bring Security,” “ No Peace Without Release of Prisoners,” “Occupation = Terror,” “Back to the ’67 Borders,” and “International Protection for the Palestinian People.” On June 4, a joint demonstration took place at Qalandia checkpoint, attended by approximately 50 Israeli and Palestinian women. Due to security measures which restrict Israeli citizens from accessing the West Bank and Gaza strip, Israeli women were not allowed to pass through the checkpoint; thus, the demonstration took place on both sides of the checkpoint and attracted media attention. The purpose of these vigils was to raise a strong united voice against the occupation. This alliance provides a public model for cooperation, demonstrating the possibility of reaching an understanding between Israelis and Palestinians that can lead to a just and lasting peace.

The Jerusalem Center Women’s Vigil for Peace

The Jerusalem Center for Women (JCW) and Bat Shalom gathered together for a silent vigil against the occupation at the New Gate in Jerusalem. Together, JCW and Bat-Shalom comprise the Jerusalem link, a Palestinian-Israeli women's joint venture for peace. About 50 Palestinian and Israeli women participated in holding signs with slogans including:” Apartheid - Ghetto system will not bring security",” No peace without the release of prisoners",” Occupation = Terror", Back to the 67 Borders", International protection for the Palestinian people". The purpose of the vigil was to raise a joint call from Palestinian and Israeli woman. The hope is that if joined in unison, Israeli and Palestinian women can raise a strong voice against the occupation. This alliance provides a model for cooperation, demonstrating the possibility to reach an understanding between Israelis and Palestinians that can will lead to a just and lasting peace.
The silent vigil is part of an ongoing initiative called" Woman for Ending Occupation" and will take place in the same location every week: Tuesday at 5:00 pm at The New Gate in Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Center for Woman and Bat Shalom invite all women, including representatives of international groups, along with friends and allies to join them in this silent vigil.

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The Jerusalem Link declaration on International Women’s Day 2006

On the occasion of the international women’s day, we, Palestinian and Israeli women of the Jerusalem Link, reaffirm our commitment for the realization of our common vision for a just peace between our two people.

As women and mothers, we affirm that the continuation of the Israeli occupation and all its manifestations is the perpetrator of human rights violations, and serves as the engine behind the further fueling of the conflict between the two people. Time has come for a political settlement based on the ending of occupation and the recognition of Israel to the legitimate national and human rights of the Palestinian people. Such a settlement will pave the path for the two independent and viable states, which will guarantee the security of both peoples.

Therefore, the fundamental elements of any comprehensive and political settlement are:
1) The end of the Israeli occupation, a full withdrawal to the 4th of June 1967 borders and dismantlement of all Israeli settlements on the occupied territories, as a step towards the establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel.
2) Acknowledgement of the city of Jerusalem as shared capitals for two states. Halting of various unilateral actions on the ground to create a defacto new reality and to isolate East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank, illegal house demolitions, identity confiscation, land confiscation, and settlement building (ethnic cleansing to maintain a Jewish majority of 70% to 30% in the eastern part of the city).
3) The structure of occupation and all its manifestation must be ended: collective punishment, checkpoints "humiliation zones", closures, the separation wall, house demolitions and land confiscation, and all other attempts to the defragmentation and bantustanization of the West Bank and the continuation of separation between West Bank from Gaza Strip.
4) Any political settlement must be based on negotiations between equals which can guarantee a sustainable peace opposed to unilateralism which will preempt such a political settlement.
5) Compliance with the international law and conventions (UN Security Council resolutions) and especially 4th Geneva Convention, and the need for international action to compel Israel to act in accordance with universal human rights.

In view of the current policies, we follow with deep concern the threat and actual use of superior power of the occupier in the pursuit of illegitimate aims. Specifically, we reject the Israeli policy of halting the financial revenue entitled to the Palestinian authority following the recent elections for the Palestinian legislative council.

As feminist peace activists, struggling for equal rights for all segments of the society, for democracy based on values of freedom, solidarity and non-violence, we believe that our equal and active participation in negotiation for peace is essential, and in accordance with the U.N. resolution 1325.

We call upon women and men in the region and elsewhere to join us in making our vision of peace a reality.


Jerusalem, March 8, 2006

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