What can Israeli women do to promote peace?

Many Israeli women want to live in peace and coexistence, but they are confronted daily with the hard-line messages of politicians and the military.

In this countrywide project, the Coalition of Women for Peace helps women from disparate backgrounds explore the complex nature of the conflict and find ways to think through the issues that divide us and promote peace within their own groups and communities.

This project draws upon the expertise of three Coalition member organizations – Bat Shalom, Noga, and TANDI – and one women’s organization that is not a member – Achoti, for the empowerment of Mizrahi women [Jewish women whose family roots are in northern Africa and Asia].

Each of these organizations uses its own strategy:

• Joint Jewish and Arab activity to eradicate racism – implemented by Bat Shalom;
• A progressive publication to foster women’s leadership – implemented by Noga;
• Empowerment workshops for young Arab women – implemented by TANDI; and
• Public programs and workshops to explore the voices for peace of Mizrahi women – implemented by Achoti.

These strategies address four different socio-economic groups:

• Jewish and Arab women in the northern region of Israel (Bat Shalom);
• Jewish women opinion leaders in the urban centers (Noga);
• Young Arab women (aged 20-30) in disadvantaged areas (TANDI); and
• Disadvantaged Jewish women of Mizrahi origin (Achoti).

This project enables us to reach a wide spectrum of Israeli women – young, middle-aged, urban, rural, Jewish, Arab, privileged, disadvantaged – and gives these women an opportunity to promote peace in ways that best suit them.

For further information, contact Reem Mazzawi , Project Liaison,

• With gratitude to the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung for making this possible