The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

In the context of the global political transformation of 1989, the collapse
of the Soviet Union and the First Gulf War, the Madrid Peace Conference
was convened in 1991 and ultimately led to the Oslo Accords of 1993 to
1995. Hopes for the development of peace were, however, not fulfilled.
A further round of negotiations – Camp David II – failed. Militant action
and suicide attacks by the Palestinian side, and intensive settlement construction
and provocations from the Israeli side ultimately led to the Sec -
ond Intifada, which was considerably more violent than the first, primarily
due to the suicide bombings against the Israeli civilian population and the
fact that autonomy had given the Palestinians, who had previously fought
with stones, access to firearms. In addition, primitive missiles were fired
upon Israeli territory from southern Lebanon; after the Gaza Strip was evacuated
by Israel, that too served as a “launching pad”.
The reports by Lama Hourani about Palestine, Gahda Al-Jabda about
Gaza and Molly Malekar about Israel tell very different, even contradictory
stories. There are stories which might have taken place on different
planets – and yet they are similar: they are stories of flight and
expulsion, misery, violence and extermination.
In her very personal report, Lama Hourani expresses her rage over the
continual humiliation, and the constant pressure and threats imposed
on the Palestinian people. Gahda Al-Jabda, Director of the UNWRA Health
Service in Gaza, reports of that organization’s many projects to provide
children and young people with civil education and women with sociocultural
and economic projects, in spite of the catastrophic situation
that exists in Gaza. Finally, Molly Malekar recounts attempts at peacebuilding
and cooperation within the peace movement, but also the disillusionment
of Israeli peace activists in view of the hopelessness of
the situation.
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