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Palestinian and Israeli women petition together the Olmert government
January 10, 2009 - 11:11am
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Isha L'Isha's letter to Israeli government
Please forward to all you know:
To: Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Olmert January 1st, 2009
Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms. Tzipi Livni
Defense Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak
We, women of Isha L’Isha , are following with grave concern the violent events in our area and the deadly, irresponsible attacks of the Government of Israel on the residents of Gaza, which leads hundreds of thousands of residents in Israel to a situation of war and economic paralysis.
The attacks of the air-force are perpetrated against high-density population, including our sisters, the women and daughters of Gaza, who are imprisoned, without any option to flee, due to the siege that Israel is imposing. These attacks are taking place after many long months of blockade which has eaten up to the core all infrastructure the Gaza residents need in order to find shelter, protect their children and the civilian populations , supply medicines and food to the injured, etc.
We strongly oppose the view that these attacks are defending us in any way, and view them as deepening of the bloodshed and war and as a threat to the hope for peace and quite in our area.
We view the Government of Israel as the primary responsible party for this violence, as the strong side, and the Hammas as a secondary responsible party, as the less strong side in this war.
We share the restlessness widespread among many people in Israeli society regarding this warring policy and share their realization that the use of disproportionate force does not lead to security but to insecurity, as indeed happened in the attacks in Jenin and in Lebanon. Deepening of violence acts to undermine the very basis of democracy as it throws society to the management of military persons. It acts to deepen societal gaps as economic life in the periphery is brought to a halt. Moreover, it causes devastating damage to the freedom struggle of women in Gaza, in Israel and everywhere violence claims governance.
Additionally, we oppose every attempt to undermine the legitimacy of Jews and Arabs to contest this war operation. understanding that our fate is a shared one, and that we can only hope for a future if we base our present on collaboration. We strongly resist all attempts to separate between Arabs and Jews in Israeli society.
In our name, and in the name of the next generations for which we are responsible as part of our responsibility as citizens, we call upon the Government of Israel to bring about the end of the cruel siege on Gaza, to stop immediately its attacks, to free the residents of the south from their role as hostages in the hands of politics without future, and to fulfill the role for which it was elected – to bring about prosperity and economic security, peace and security, today and for generations to come, for all women and men in Israeli society, while creating true alliances with all the residents of the area.
Women of Isha L’Isha
To: Prime Minister, Mr. Ehud Olmert January 1st, 2009
Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms. Tzipi Livni
Defense Minister, Mr. Ehud Barak
We, women of Isha L’Isha , are following with grave concern the violent events in our area and the deadly, irresponsible attacks of the Government of Israel on the residents of Gaza, which leads hundreds of thousands of residents in Israel to a situation of war and economic paralysis.
The attacks of the air-force are perpetrated against high-density population, including our sisters, the women and daughters of Gaza, who are imprisoned, without any option to flee, due to the siege that Israel is imposing. These attacks are taking place after many long months of blockade which has eaten up to the core all infrastructure the Gaza residents need in order to find shelter, protect their children and the civilian populations , supply medicines and food to the injured, etc.
We strongly oppose the view that these attacks are defending us in any way, and view them as deepening of the bloodshed and war and as a threat to the hope for peace and quite in our area.
We view the Government of Israel as the primary responsible party for this violence, as the strong side, and the Hammas as a secondary responsible party, as the less strong side in this war.
We share the restlessness widespread among many people in Israeli society regarding this warring policy and share their realization that the use of disproportionate force does not lead to security but to insecurity, as indeed happened in the attacks in Jenin and in Lebanon. Deepening of violence acts to undermine the very basis of democracy as it throws society to the management of military persons. It acts to deepen societal gaps as economic life in the periphery is brought to a halt. Moreover, it causes devastating damage to the freedom struggle of women in Gaza, in Israel and everywhere violence claims governance.
Additionally, we oppose every attempt to undermine the legitimacy of Jews and Arabs to contest this war operation. understanding that our fate is a shared one, and that we can only hope for a future if we base our present on collaboration. We strongly resist all attempts to separate between Arabs and Jews in Israeli society.
In our name, and in the name of the next generations for which we are responsible as part of our responsibility as citizens, we call upon the Government of Israel to bring about the end of the cruel siege on Gaza, to stop immediately its attacks, to free the residents of the south from their role as hostages in the hands of politics without future, and to fulfill the role for which it was elected – to bring about prosperity and economic security, peace and security, today and for generations to come, for all women and men in Israeli society, while creating true alliances with all the residents of the area.
Women of Isha L’Isha
"Isha l'Isha" is an Israeli feminist organization. Its title is Hebrew, meaning "Woman to Woman". I'm not sure if the thread title is accurate here - it makes it sounds as if some special alliance has been made to write this letter. There are Arab women members I'm sure, given the anti-divisive policy of the group, but it's an Israeli organization.
Having said that, it's an excellent letter and initiative - yet another sign of the resistance within Israel, operating under difficult conditions.
Here is a joint statement from their website:
Unionist, the list of signatories - thanks for looking it up! - includes Palestinian women's organizations and the text makes a point of Jewish-Arab solidarity:
"(...)we oppose every attempt to undermine the legitimacy of Jews and Arabs to contest this war operation, understanding that our fate is a shared one, and that we can only hope for a future if we base our present on collaboration. We strongly resist all attempts to separate between Arabs and Jews in Israeli society.(...)"
See you at the big demo at 1 in downtown Montreal. (I'll be carrying the "I wasn't circumsized for THIS!" placard.)
Martin, sadly I can't be there - I'm in Trois-Rivières today - please shout double-loud for me. And don't let anyone demand proof of your placard!
Dear all,
I saw this morning pictures from what was called by the sender 'Gaza Concentration Camp'. This horror, this cruelty is done in my name, a Jewish Israeli woman living in West Jerusalem. Israel's crime against humanity in Gaza is done in my name, a feminist peace activist. These killings are done in the name of my loved ones. This suffering is caused in the name of my community.
This crime against Palestinian children and people in Gaza is done in my name.
I feel deep shame.
I feel pain.
I mourn.
I feel rage.
I feel helplessness.
I am part of an activist community.
My community is active everyday to stop this bloodshed.
My community is active against the occupation for long years
My community is active for a just solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict
My community is in solidarity with the Palestinian people
My community acknowledges that Palestinian people aspire to live in peace
My community is aware of the violent results of the occupation and the poverty and despair it brings.
My community is active against racism
My community is active against poverty and for social justice within Israel
My community is creating peaceful grassroots economic and ecological cooperations with Palestinians from the 67 occupied territories
My community is Jewish - Palestinian
My community is old and young
My community is active for human rights of the Palestinians
My community is active for their economic, social, civil and political rights
My community acknowledges that our own security and well being is connected to the well being of Palestinians and their security and prosperity
My community is active against violence and war.
My community refuses to take part in war and the occupation
My community is active for justice, prosperity, ecological awareness and peace
My community is part of a feminist peace political global network that links between war and violence against women as a base of patriarchy.
My community is active to stop bloodshed and cruelty in the service of superpowers that combine militaristic, fundamental, capitalist and nationalist structures
My community is made of many close and far circles of activism and knowledge
My community is rich in its colors and diversity
My community is of women, men and multi gendered
My community is hetero, lesbian, gay, bi and queer and transgender
My community is local
My community is global
My community is a world wide women's feminist peace movement
I am a Woman in Black in Israel
The Israeli government is committing crimes against humanity in Gaza.
I feel shame.
I feel rage.
I feel helplessness
We did not stop the evil,
We continue protest in the streets, to appeal to decision makers, to widespread the information, to sign petitions, to send humanitarian aid, to do direct actions
Our voices are not heard
Our clear and loud voices are silenced
Our voices do not reach our sisters and brothers in Palestine
Our voices do not stop the fire and destruction
We will continue to act and hope.
We will continue to cross imposed patriarchal walls, borders and ghettos
We will continue to hear the cry of Gaza
We will continue to hear the cry of the West Bank
We will also listen to the cry of women and children in Congo, North Uganda, South Sudan, Columbia and elsewhere
The suffering is connected and part of the same patriarchal political culture
We are saying out loud NOT IN OUR NAME
We refuse to be enemies
In the south of Israel where they suffer from rockets there are also voices for peace
We will continue to oppose war and militarism
We will continue to create a culture of non violence, justice and peace
We will continue to serve humanity
May we learn and teach that all is one
May we learn and teach that one is all
May we find transformation, justice and healing
May we all live in peace
May we all live in Joy.
________________________________________________________
From the womeninblack mailing list
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this is the international WiB mailing-out list, for the INTERACTIVE WiB e-list,
go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/interactiveWiB