Jerusalem Women Speak Alumni Issue Joint Call for Peace with Justice
05 January 2006
Jerusalem Women Speak Alumni Issue Joint Call for Peace with Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On December 26, a day after Christmas, a gathering of Palestinian and Israeli women issued a joint call for peace with justice in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel. The statement (see below) features the names of 13 Palestinian and Israeli women- Muslim, Christian and Jewish- and reiterates that “peace is possible but only if it is peace with justice.” Such a joint statement of purpose between Palestinians and Israelis is rare in the violent atmosphere of occupation and conflict haunting the region.
The 13 women who signed the statement came together on December 26 in Beit Jala, in the Bethlehem region of the occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank. Each has toured the United States as part of the “Jerusalem Women Speak: Three Women, Three Faiths, One Shared Vision” speaking tour sponsored by the Washington DC based Partners for Peace. The women were brought together by Partners for Peace during the Christmas season- a time when the world is focused on Bethlehem. Their statement reflects the deep currents of solidarity and hope that run through the purveyors of peace in both the Israeli and Palestinian societies.
Partners for Peace is proud to have facilitated this gathering and the statement of purpose these 13 women have signed. Partners for Peace works to educate the American public about key issues in the pursuit of peace and justice among Palestinians and Israelis. The 13 signers of the joint statement are representatives of the 11 “Jerusalem Women Speak” tours Partners for Peace has organized since 1998.
Partners for Peace Program Coordinator Jacob Pace explains: “This statement reflects the courageous work of the countless Palestinian and Israeli women (and men) who are working tirelessly to end the occupation and conflict that plagues their societies. This statement is the voice of the majority of Palestinians and Israelis who are so often silenced in the US media, which focuses on the political rhetoric and gruesome violence while ignoring the daily work of peacemakers on both sides.”
For more information contact:
Jacob Pace, Program Coordinator, Partners for Peace
202-863-2951 (office)
202-689-9790 (cell)
jake@partnersforpeace.org
PHOTO AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
The full text of the statement follows:
December 2005
Beit Jala, Palestine
Dear Partners,
At this time when three faiths celebrate their festivals; Hanuka, Christmas and Eid el Adha, we send you greetings from Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and good wishes for the festive seasons and the coming New Year.
This is a time of great flux in our region, upcoming election in both the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, political changes that may offer windows of opportunity or a front for the continuation of occupation policies under another name.
Please continue to support Partners for Peace in our efforts to spread the message that peace is possible but only if it is peace with justice.
Best Regards,
Jerusalem Women Speak delegates:
Sherene Abdulhadi, Palestinian Muslim (Jerusalem Women Speak 2005 tour)
Marianne Albina, Palestinian Christian (Jerusalem Women Speak 2004 tour)
Nahla Assali, Palestinian Muslim(Jerusalem Women Speak 1998, 1999, and 2004 tours)
Adi Dagan, Israeli Jew (Jerusalem Women Speak 2002 tour)
Roni Hammermann, Israeli Jew (Jerusalem Women Speak 2005 tour)
Amira Hilal, Palestinian Christian (Jerusalem Women Speak 2005 tour)
Diana Kattan, Palestinian Christian (Jerusalem Women Speak 2005 tour)
Yehudit Keshet, Israeli Jew (Jerusalem Women Speak 2003 tour)
Nuha Khoury, Palestinian Christian (Jerusalem Women Speak 2004 Tour)
Rana Khoury, Palestinian Christian (Jerusalem Women Speak 2005 tour)
Nina Mayorek, Israeli Jew (Jerusalem Women Speak 2005 tour)
Aitemad Muhanna, Palestinian Muslim (Jerusalem Women Speak 2005 tour)
Michal Sagi, Israeli Jew (Jerusalem Women Speak 2004 and 2005 tours)
