The Coalition of Women for Peace brings together independent women and 10 feminist peace organizations 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.

The Coalition is committed to the struggle to end the occupation; to the full involvement of women in peace negotiations; to an end to the excessive militarization of Israeli society; to equality, inclusion, and justice for Palestinian citizens of Israel; to equality and social justice for all inhabitants of Israel.

In addition to supporting the work of its member organizations, the Coalition carries out its own activities – mass rallies, campaigns and educational activity. It runs outreach and advocacy programs within Israeli society, and activities which involve solidarity and cooperation with Palestinian women in the occupied territories.

The Coalition has a broad international reach. It is networked with peace organizations in over 200 cities around the world, and members of the Coalition frequently represent the Israeli peace movement in international forums. On several occasions, demonstrations held in Israel have been supported by (or inspired) solidarity actions in over 150 locations worldwide, many of which were covered extensively in the media.

Recent Political Campaigns: Highlights

 "Women Against War": During the Second Lebanon war in July 2006, women activists were the first to mobilize against the war, holding daily demonstrations in Haifa and other places, organizing national protests, publishing op-eds and being interviewed in the mainstream media.

 "Stop the Siege on Gaza": In November 2006 we led a coalition of 17 Israeli organizations and more than 100 groups around the world to protest against the economic and military siege on the Gaza strip. The one month campaign included demonstrations, public events, car convoys, an on-line petition and more.

 "40 Years of Occupation is Enough!": In May and June 2007 the Coalition was central in organizing activities to protest 40 years of Israeli occupation, including the demonstration in Tel Aviv on June 9th - the international protest day "The world says no to Israeli occupation"

Long-term projects:

Re-framing Security In Israel, the concept of "security" is a powerful one. It is used to justify all military activity and the occupation of Palestinian territories. "National Security" is a phrase invoked not just to increase military budgets, but also to silence criticism and prevent transparency. The "Re-framing Security" Project explores this term from the broadest feminist-civil perspective, thus challenging the narrow militaristic understanding of security. Security in its civil forms includes aspects such as economic security (having a job, a roof over one's head, access to health care), security in the family and the community (safety from gender-related violence, protection from crime, having one's children safe in schools), environmental security (clean tap water, clean air), etc. The project generates critical discourse through lecture series, workshops and tours for groups of formal and informal educators, young leaders, social activists and other actors for change.

Since 2006 we have organized an annual conference entitled "Security – for whom?" which challenges national priorities. In 2007, triggered by sexual violence charges against the Israeli president and against the Minister of Justice, we ran a campaign together with 12 women’s organizations in Israel on the subject of security for women from government officials who are sexual offenders.

The occupation industry research project: “Who profits from the occupation?” 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, which comprises 20% of the entire population, 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 the Coalition has been leading social and political change in the Russian-speaking population and the Israeli society. They aim to promote a feminist vision which interlinks peace with socio-economic justice and gender related security .The activists run women's political empowerment groups throughout Israel, intensive weekend seminars, a social theatre group, 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 .

Supporting member organizations

Educating for Peace and Democracy project - The Coalition of Women for Peace is committed to capacity-building of its member organizations. In this project, we actively assist four organizations in raising and managing the funds for the projects they operate: (1) Political empowerment for young women (by Bat Shalom); (2) A program to eradicate racism between Jewish and Arab teenage girls in Israel (by Noga); (3) A Center for Legal and Social Counseling and workshops for young Palestinian-Israeli women (by TANDI); and (4) Empowerment workshops centered on peace for Mizrahi, Ethiopian and Bedouin women (by Achoti, not a member organization of the Coalition).

Machsom-Watch – was founded in 2001 in response to repeated reports of brutality against Palestinians at military checkpoints. The group documents human rights violations, works to end the policies that limit the freedom of movement of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, and seeks to bring the occupation to an end. www.machsomwatch.org

Women in Black – organizes weekly vigils in which women dressed in black stand at busy intersections holding signs with the slogan "End the Occupation". The group was founded just after the outbreak of the first Intifada. Today hundreds of Women in Black groups exist around the world. The vigils take place every Friday, 1-2 p.m., in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, and other central locations in Israel. www.womeninblack.org

Bat Shalom - is the Israeli partner of "The Jerusalem Link", an Israeli-Palestinian partnership of women for peace. Since 1989, Bat Shalom has worked for a genuine peace, grounded in a just resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict and for full equality for all citizens of Israel. Bat Shalom holds dialogue groups, public education events, and protest actions. www.batshalom.org

Bat Tzafon for Peace and Equality – an organization of Jewish and Arabic women citizens of Israel, which works to promote social justice, peace and equality; an end to the occupation; self determination of the Palestinian people. The group organizes two central annual events: "Sukkat Shalom" in Megiddo junction and a political seminar "Women, Land and the Land day".

TANDI - Movement of Democratic Women in Israel was founded in 1948 and has been working ever since for a just peace and equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel. Through conferences and courses, TANDI raises awareness about equality for women in the family, the work place, in politics and more. www.mdwii.com

New Profile – has worked since 1998 to change Israel’s profile as a militarized, war-driven society to a peacemaking community that promotes equality for all its citizens. Through lectures, youth groups, exhibitions, and other events, New Profile works to de-militarize the Israeli education system and Israeli society. New Profile supports the right of men and women to reject military service, including conscientious objection. The movement has a national support network for young draft resisters. www.newprofile.org

The Fifth Mother – is the re-grouped "Four Mothers" Movement, which was instrumental in ending the Israeli occupation of Lebanon. With the slogan "War Is Not My Language," The Fifth Mother brings the unique voice of women, with insights from language and conflict resolution, to provide an alternative to the militant language now defining the political conflict. www.the-5th-mom.org

WILPF - Women's International League for Peace and Freedom is a well respected international organization with sections in 37 countries, including Israel. WILPF works toward world peace, global disarmament, the abolition of violence in the settlement of conflict, and replacing war with negotiation and reconciliation. It also seeks to democratize the UN system and to support environmentally sustainable development. www.wilpf.int.ch

Noga Feminist Journal - began publishing in 1980 to provide news and analysis from a feminist perspective about issues in Israel and abroad. Noga has provided an important outlet for the voices of women, and over the years has become an influential journal. www.noga-magazine.org

NELED - Women for Coexistence was founded to bridge the gaps between Jewish and Palestinian women citizens of Israel. The group meets monthly and conducts solidarity meetings with Palestinian women in the Occupied Territories.