Israel, Statement of Coalition of Women for Peace

We were sorry to hear about the participation of the Minister Tzipi Livni at the 
conference will be held today, 10/31/13, and will discuss the plan of action to implement 
UN Resolution 1325 which deals with the representation of women, protection from violence, 
abuse and violence against women. ---- Some of us participated in various meetings of the 
process that led to the formulation of the document that will be launched at the 
conference. We did this in order to speak out firmly against the occupation and against 
Israeli militarism that affects every woman in Israel and the Occupied Territories, in 
various levels and shapes. We participated in the process also to continue to remind all 
about the violence used by the system of oppression and the ongoing occupation, on the 
lives of Palestinian women.

We appreciate the Itach-Ma'aki ["with you" In Hebrew and Arabic] and respect many of the 
organizations who are partners to the process, including many of the speakers at the 
conference itself. But this honor is undermined as even today, after so many years of 
occupation and military operations and the killing and arrest of women activists, some 
women can still talk about peace without talking about the daily violence and crimes that 
Israel is committing against women under occupation - without opposing them vigorously.

Tzipi Livni's invitation as a speaker at the conference, is inconsistent with our feminist 
values, nor with the struggle for a society free from oppression and militarism.

As we know, Livni tooke active and even leading part in the attack on Gaza in 2008/9 that 
killed over a thousand people, including hundreds of women and children. Under this attack 
and following it, women and families were faced with unprecedented devastation.

We call for conference participants and partner organizations to give due weight to issues 
arising from the political reality of these days, and put the focus of the conference on 
the following questions:

Is every woman can represent us because she is a woman, regardless of her actions and her 
political worldview ?

What is the significance of women's participation in decision-making, as long as the 
"peace process" and "negotiation" are unfortunately only fig leaf used to cover the 
maintaining of the occupation and the oppression of the Palestinian people?

Whether and how feminist women should lead processes in cooperation with state and 
military institutions, while these are still limiting the freedom of protest and the 
political activity of women both within Israel and in the occupied territories?

In particular, do not we, feminist groups, have a key role in the struggle to end the 
occupation and for the liberation of women from all parts of the population from the 
nationalist, military and social oppression?

Organizations who want to add their names to this call - are invited to write to us on 
Facebook or email
cwp@coalitionpofwomen.org

Coalition of Women for Peace
Groups Boycott Boycott from Within

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About

CWP is a feminist movement working to end the occupation of Palestine and for a just 
peace. CWP works to end the occupation, resist militarism and empower and mobilize women 
in grassroots struggles for social justice and equality.
Mission
CWP is committed to the struggle to end the occupation; to empower Palestinian and Jewish 
women as key actors in social and political change; to an end to the militarization of 
society; to equality, inclusion, and justice for Palestinian citizens of Israel; to ensure 
the Right of Return for the Palestinian refugees; to equality and social justice for all 
inhabitants of Israel.

CWP initiates and leads mass rallies, advocacy campaigns and public education.
Company Overview
Coalition of Women for Peace brings together women who work relentlessly for peace and 
justice. Founded in November 2000, after the outbreak of the Second Intifada, the 
Coalition today is a leading voice in the peace movement.

?Who Profits from the Occupation?? - The occupation industry research project

In addition to various political, religious and national interests, the occupation is also 
fueled by corporate interests. Civilian companies and transnational corporations are 
increasingly involved in real estate deals, the development of settlements, the 
construction of fences and walls on Palestinian land, the paving of a separate road system 
for settlers, and the sale of equipment used for human rights violations and the 
repression of the civilian population. This project began in 2006 and involves systematic 
research about Israeli and international companies which directly profit from investments 
in the occupied Palestinian Territories and the Golan Heights.

After rigorous research, the results are posted on a website which provides the public in 
Israel and internationally with accurate information about business interests invested in 
maintaining the occupation. The project also serves as an information center for queries 
about business and corporate involvement in the occupation.

We hope this information will stimulate a candid public debate about the economic 
interests that constitute an inseparable part of the occupation, and influence political 
decisions and policies. We are also cooperating with groups abroad and in Israel who are 
working for corporate accountability and labor justice.

The projects` web site: www.whoprofits.org

FORA ? Feminist Organizing of Russian-speaking Activists

The Russian-immigrant public in Israel, the second largest minority, is traditionally 
considered to be dominated by conservative views on many issues, from gender roles to the 
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This prejudiced assumption ignores the complex reality of 
immigration. Since 2004, a group of Russian-speaking women activists in CWP has been 
leading social and political change in the Russian-speaking population and the Israeli 
society. We aim to promote a feminist vision which interlinks ending the occupation with 
socio-economic justice, gender equality and LGBT rights. The activists run women's 
political empowerment groups throughout Israel, intensive weekend seminars, media-training 
for women and more. Striving to change the Russian-language media, FORA organizes 
gender-mainstreaming seminars for journalists and operates the alternative web-based 
information center in Russian: www.perspektiva.co.il .
Contact Info
Website http://www.coalitionofwomen.org