The role of Gender in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Palestinian Women between Occupation and Patriarchy

Myths of Women and Conflict  women, unlike men, are inherently peaceful and would make better leaders for that reason  Sisterhood and the universality of struggle. Women in Afghanistan as a feminist war against terror!!!

Women in conflicts  What role to play in the context of the conflict?  What impact does conflict have on them?  What value/ symbolic is given to their struggle?  What form of struggle? Conflicts are gendered

Palestinian Israeli Conflict  Women as cultural bearers and producers of the nation  Men are liberators and protectors of the nation

Set your priority!!  Women’s rights vs. national struggle for liberation………… which comes first!!!  complex situation and a struggle at three fronts:  Patriarchy  Occupation  Western stereotypes, myths and prejudice

Occupation  Curfews  The wall  Medical attention  Poverty  Oppression  Violence against women and children

Patriarchy  Laws/ Sharia and other religious Laws 1967 adopted Jordanian and Egyptian- issued laws  Honor Crimes- Jordanian Laws  Role in Conflict and Struggle:  mothers of martyrs  Martyrs/ Suicide Bombers

Women and Peace  The Palestinian Intifada a turning point  gender issues/ conflict issues  Dialogue/ peace conferences  Initiatives and solidarity

Mobilization vs. identity  " the Palestinian women's movement has shaken up the Jewish feminist movement in Israel and abroad. Jewish feminists' silence, complicity and indifference to the struggle of Palestinians against the, racist Israeli state is being broken down."‘  "the politicization of some Jewish feminists circles in Israel (e.g., Women in Black and Women for Palestinian Women Political Prisoners) is the product of the Palestinian women's uprising."

Peace Initiatives  Bat Shalom – The Israeli side of The Jerusalem Link – A Women’s Joint Venture for Peace (est. 1993)  Women in Black – holding weekly vigils throughout Israel (est. 1988). Women and Mothers for Peace – Former activists of the Four Mothers Movement – instrumental in promoting the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.  Women Engendering Peace – Promoting a culture of peace in Israel.  New Profile - Movement for the Civil-ization of Israeli Society – Addresses issues of militarism and gives support to conscientious objectors in Israel (since 1998) web site: www/newprofile.org  WILPF –Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom - Israeli chapter.  Noga Feminist Magazine  NELED – An acronym for “Women for Coexistence”.  Machsom-Watch – a group of women who monitor and prevent human rights violations at checkpoints.