Palestinian/Israeli Women's Public Media Dialogue

June 5, 2002

Dear Bat Shalom Friends and Allies,

This morning Bat Shalom and the Jerusalem Center for Women initiated a "Public Media Correspondence". Each month, one organization will publish a Public Letter in our sister organization's national newspaper. The Public Letter, along with the other organization's response, will be disseminated on both of our listserves. This is our joint attempt to provide an alternative voice in the media that allows women on each side to publicly claim that only mutual recognition and respect of each other's individual and collective rights will pave the way for peace making, as well as to challenge the notion that political partnerships are impossible at this time.

This morning at the Megiddo intersection in the north of Israel there was another bus bombing incident - 16 poeple riding to work, or school, are now dead, and another 32 are wounded. As I sit here and send this email out to you all, I must again wonder when and whether we will ever be heard - and how many of us on both sides, will be left to celebrate? Below please find the Bat Shalom Public Letter published in Arabic in this morning's Al Quds newspaper, and the Jerusalem Center for Women's response.

Terry

A Public Letter to the Palestinian People

This week marks 35 years of Israeli occupation of the Palestinian land. Over the past year, Israeli government policy has made unambiguously clear both its aim and the range of methods it is willing to employ to achieve its goals. Under the slogan of fighting terrorism and bringing security to our people, the Israeli government has intensified its use of brutal and immoral measures in the pursuit of a Greater Israel - that is, the endless domination over your people and your land. The cost in life and property, in emotional and mental suffering, to you as well as to us, is overwhelming. Despite the inequality in power between us, Israel cannot achieve security at the expenses of Palestinian national existence.

Sooner or later Israel will be forced to give up its illegal occupation. In the first place, because you have taught the world the meaning of the word 'sumud', in the face of siege, violence and cruelty. Your determination has challenged the international community to find ways to intervene more actively on both the humanitarian and political levels. And at the same time that the Israeli government has adopted an increasingly violent strategy approaching war, there still remain Israelis who are steadfast in their opposition to our government's methods and goals. We continue to demonstrate in the streets and speak up and out, locally and internationally, for peace, for justice, and for an end to the occupation.

We Israeli women members of Bat Shalom mark this occasion to reaffirm our commitment to continue the struggle to end the occupation of your land. We see the foundation for security for our two peoples in final status negotiations that begin with recognition of the right of Palestinians to a viable sovereign state next to Israel. We call for the removal of Israeli settlements, for Jerusalem to serve as two capitals for two states, and for the acknowledgement by Israel of its part in creating the refugee problem and a mutually agreed upon resolution of the problem grounded in relevant UN resolutions.

We insist that our humanity and commitment to justice not only connect us, Israelis and Palestinians, but also impel us to jointly continue the struggle for a just peace.

The Women of Bat Shalom

June 4, 2002

From the Jerusalem Center for Women:

Dear friends and allies,

Attached you can find a copy of a public letter Bat Shalom has published today in Al-Quds Arabic newspaper. I believe it is a good start and we should give credit to those women who dare to speak out loudly during these times of abyss. The letter addresses Palestinian people on the day that marks 35 years of Israeli military occupation of 22% of historical Palestine on which we, Palestinians, strive to build our independent viable state beside Israel. This letter is very important for a number of reasons:

• The timing and occasion
• The symbolic and political significance
• It is an alternative public voice of political dialogue, incorporating the values of justice and common humanity.

This letter won't be the first, nor the last. Many, from both the Jerusalem Center for Women and Bat Shalom, will follow. Together we aim to create a public atmosphere of dialoguing through speaking/addressing each other by newspapers, radio and if possible TV. We will do that because we believe that we should tell each other that there are people who care about and feel with the other, there are people to speak to and there is a partner on the other side. Also, we want to stress that peace is possible but only between equals, not between oppressed and oppressor. Justice, responsibility, respect for human rights and transparency are crucial elements in this conflict and we dare to speak about them. We also dare to say that without these elements, both our peoples are doomed to a present and future of killing, destruction and humiliation. We believe civil society has a role to play during this time of crises and can contribute to a genuine process of peace building. Women are ready to come forward and we are committed to do our share.

Amneh Badran
Jerusalem Center for Women

5th June 2002