Israeli & Palestinian Women Call for End to Military Action & for Peace

Dear friends–
Beacuse women expreience the pain of conflict, The International Women’s Commission (IWC) which is an entity dedicated to bring together Palestinian, Israeli and international women  to an end of the Israeli occupation and a just peace based on international law [including relevant UN resolutions], human rights and equality issued the following statement.

“The IWC is a coalition of Palestinian, Israeli and international women who recognize the urgent need to achieve a meaningful peace between Israelis and Palestinians and feel a shared commitment to accomplish this goal. Participation in the IWC is grounded in mutual respect for diversity and the rights and dignity of all parties. ”

Peace,
Elahe

http://www.iwc-peace.org

December 29, 2008

Israeli and Palestinian Women Call for Immediate End to Israeli Military Aggression in Gaza

The International Women’s Commission (IWC) for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian–Israeli Peace demands an immediate cessation of the aggression by the Israeli military forces in Gaza, which has already cost hundreds of lives. This slaughter can only further fuel the conflict and quash any remaining hope for peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people. The IWC calls on the international community, and specifically the Quartet, to immediately deploy an international force to bring an end to this madness, to protect innocent civilians and to alleviate the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The IWC further appeals to the Quartet, and in particular to the incoming US Administration, to press for immediate resumption of peace negotiations based on the Arab Peace Initiative as the only way of bringing an end to the occupation and achieving sustainable peace between Israel and Palestine, and in the region. On behalf of IWC Members: Palestinian Steering Committee
Wafa‘ Abdel-Rahman
Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas
Samia Bamieh
Lama Hourani Israeli Steering Committee
Naomi Chazan
Galia Golan
Anat Saragusti
Aida Touma-Sliman International Steering Committee
Sylvia Borren
Luisa Morgantini
Jessica Neuwirth
Simone Susskind The International Women’s Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian–Israeli Peace (IWC) <http://www.iwc-peace.org/>  comprises Palestinian, Israeli and international women leaders. It was established in 2005 under the auspices of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) as part of efforts to implement UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. For more information:

• UNIFEM IWC International Coordinator: iwc.int@iwc-peace.org. Tel: +32 2 213-1444. Fax: +32 2 213-1449.
• IWC Israeli Coordinator: iwc.il@iwc-peace.org Tel: +972 54 225-6633. Fax: +972 2 563-7633.
• IWC Palestinian Coordinator:iwc.pl@iwc-peace.org.Telefax: +972 2 297-4650.
  

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<http://www.unifem.org/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/what_is_dada_mail/>  GAZA-ISRAEL VIOLENCE – WOMEN’S EXPERIENCE OF PAIN OF CONFLICT

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/12/28/world/20081228MIDEAST2_3.html