The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

group of thirty activists and staff of Bat Shalom met for an intensive sem -
inar, to design the next programme for the organization. Many argued
that it was time to move from the phase of protest and street action to
that of peace building, to widen the activities beyond the direct political
work, and to build a culture of peace.
In the spring of 1996, in the midst of the election campaign in Israel,
another set of suicide attacks by Hamas caused the Labour Party to lose
the elections, and brought Benjamin Netanyahu into power, an opponent
of the Oslo process.
Despite his opposition to the Oslo peace process, Israel and the PNA
signed an interim agreement on Hebron in January 1997. Israeli forces
withdrew from most of Hebron, leaving an enclave of Jewish settlers
in the middle of this Arab city. The settlers were distressed, and acted
aggressively.
Bat Shalom women decided to organize a peace rally of Israeli and Palestinian
women on the streets of Hebron, to counter the provocations
made by the settlers. A small group of women travelled to Hebron, to
plan and coordinate the rally. The Israeli military conveyed friendly messages
to us, asking and “advising” us to cancel the rally. The rally was
perceived as a provocation, an act which may cause clashes with the
settlers, etc. The organization of such an action became an extra sensitive
issue. Every sign and slogan was negotiated; the route of the rally
was planned carefully, so that it would not pass by the settlers’ homes.
We agreed to not invite men to the rally, and to conduct it strictly peaceful.
In May 1999, Ehud Barak of the Labour Party became Prime Minister.
Bat Shalom became active in the pre-election period, convincing women
to vote for peace. Slogans, stickers and leaflets were issued and distributed
to women in supermarkets, parks, and streets. Barak vowed to
actively pursue peace negotiations, though simultaneously proceeding
with the settlement expansion programme.
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