The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

status issues, and on questions related to daily life. This process has
been based on discussions in joint Palestinian-Israeli meetings (usually
attended by at least one international member) and the subsequent circulation
of drafts by e-mail until consensus is achieved. The IWC has issued
position papers on the January 2006 Palestinian elections, the
deteriorating situation in Gaza, the Second Lebanon War, the Mecca
Agreement on the establishment of a Palestinian National Unity Government,
the Arab League Initiative, in the wake of the Annapolis Conference
in November 2007, and on the necessity of launching inclusive
negotiations on a permanent settlement. Position papers and press releases
were issued in the wake of the Israeli intervention in Gaza in December
2009 and around the tragic episode of the flotilla to Gaza. These
papers have then been disseminated widely, transmitted to decisionmakers,
and used as the basis for discussion both internally and internationally.
The second area of activity has focused on lobbying decision-makers
and advocacy. In Israel, the local branch was launched in the Knesset in
November 2005, and since then meetings have been held with then For -
eign Minister Tzipi Livni, parliamentarians, and key members of the
press. Then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sent a letter promising to include
women in negotiating teams. The Palestinian members of the IWC
received a presidential decree issued by President Mahmoud Abbas in
support of their work, and actively lobbied the negotiating team and
prom inent politicians.
The advocacy work internationally has been extensive. An IWC delegation
visited Brussels several times and met with European Union officials,
including the president of the European Parliament, and the EU
Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Meetings
were held in Washington with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and
members of Congress, and in New York with senior UN officials, includ -
ing the Secretary General. IWC delegations have participated in various
international meetings, including and met with foreign ministers and numerous
delegations visiting the region. The political analysis offered by
the IWC has been welcomed by officials, and its members now have
access to the main actors involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
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