Work of the International Women’s Commission (IWC) for a
Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace - 2006
Background:
The International Women’s Commission for a Just and Sustainable Peace between Israel and Palestine (herewith IWC) was established in 2005 following a meeting in Istanbul convened by UNIFEM. The IWC is a tripartite body of Israeli, Palestinian and international prominent women leaders. Its members include members of parliament, present and former ministers, and political party leaders from different political streams, as well as leaders in civil society. The IWC builds on seeds sown by noteworthy initiatives dedicated to the advancement of peace and justice based on international law from a women’s rights perspective, such as the Jerusalem Link. Many IWC members have been engaged in numerous efforts to promote Israeli-Palestinian dialogue for many years. What is unique about the IWC is that it has been formed as an equal partnership involving not only Israelis and Palestinians but also with prominent international women leaders with experience in diplomacy and political negotiation and are capable and committed to leveraging support for the IWC agenda at the highest regional and international levels.
IWC Actions to date:
Adoption of IWC Charter: At the Istanbul meeting in July 2005, after intense deliberations the IWC adopted an IWC Charter that lays out the common political principles that guide the IWC. The Charter stresses the goal of bringing an end to Israeli occupation through immediate final status negotiations, leading to a viable sovereign Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel on the June 4, 1967 borders. The Charter also places emphasis on the need to hold all parties accountable for fulfilling their obligations under Security Council Resolution 1325 to include women in the negotiation process.
Work on the ground in Israel and Palestine: In November 2005 an official launch of the IWC took place in Israel and Palestine. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, supported the resolution 1325 and the work of IWC through an official decree. In Israel, the IWC launch followed the adoption in the Knesset of a law calling for representation of women on national policy shaping teams, including negotiations for an interim agreement or peace agreement.
The IWC has advocated against unilateral actions that leave the root causes of the conflict unresolved and can be detrimental to the goal of achieving peace. Against the background of the outcomes of elections in Israel and Palestine, IWC members faced mounting challenges in promoting their agenda for peace at grassroots and national levels. Escalating violence and increasing restrictions by Israel on the freedom of movement of Palestinians, further aggravated by the so-called “security wall” also placed surmounting logistical challenges for coordination among IWC Palestinian and Israeli members, but also between Palestinian members living in different parts of Palestine. Nevertheless, the IWC has persevered in disseminating its messages in civil society and in political circles. Since all its members see joint meetings as imperative for maintaining IWC identity as a unified body that speaks with one voice, in spite of the difficulties IWC meetings have taken place. UNIFEM Executive Director, Chair of the IWC, has also supported coordination through conference call meetings.
International Advocacy: With support of its international members and facilitation of UNIFEM an IWC delegation visited Brussels in December 2005 to meet with EU officials, including the President of the EU Parliament, Josep Borrell, and the EU Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner. A visit to New York and Washington took place in May 2006, providing the IWC with an opportunity to dialogue and advocate with high level officials in the United Nations and in Washington, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari. The IWC was invited to contribute to a high level West Point Seminar convened by Terje Rød-Larsen, President of the International Peace Academy as well as a panel organized by UNIFEM and International Crisis Group (ICG). IWC messages served as background for the May Quartet meeting. The IWC was also present in New York in September 2006 when President Tarje Halonen of Finland, also in her capacity as President of the EU, convened a breakfast meeting jointly with UNIFEM for the IWC delegation with women leaders present in New York for the opening of the UN General Assembly. IWC also met with other high-ranking officials including the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Mark Malloch Brown, the Foreign Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, as well as with Amr Moussa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. The political analysis offered by the IWC, which draws on the experience and voices from the ground, was widely welcomed by officials and policy makers.
Athens Meeting, July 2006: With the incursion by Israel into Gaza following the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier and the subsequent rapidly deteriorating security situation for the civilian population, IWC found an urgent need to discuss the political developments and to reassess IWC priorities in light of the shifting situation on the ground. The Athens meeting happened to coincide with eruption of hostilities on the Israeli-Lebanese border. On July 13 the IWC issued an urgent appeal for cessation of fighting and for the Quartet to dispatch high-level envoys, including women, to mediate a truce and exchange of prisoners and lead the parties back to political negotiations that address the root causes of the conflict. The press release generated media reaction and IWC members were interviewed on CNN. They were also invited by the President of Socialist International to share their political analysis and recommendations before all world leaders of Socialist Parties that convened for their annual Presidium.
IWC messages conveyed to policymakers over the past months include the following:
Unilateral steps by Israel threaten the realisation of a two-state solution - the only solution that can bring peace to the region.
The political measures imposed by the international community to pressure Hamas to recognize Israel and renounce violence have had a detrimental effect in marginalizing moderates as well as placing them under mounting pressure as the public is dominated by hard-line opinions.
The withdrawal of funds from Palestinian public institutions has disrupted basic services and severely damaged public institutions, undermining central authority in Palestine and severely affecting civilians, particularly women and children.
Contrary to the claim of Israel that there is no partner with whom it can negotiate, Hamas has confirmed its recognition of the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and responsible for peace negotiations, and President Abbas is accepted as a legitimate negotiating partner.
In early 2006, opinion polls, both in Israel and Palestine showed that a majority of the public on both sides wants peace, and a two-state solution has gained widespread support in the international community. However, against the background of continued aggression, growing poverty and despair, support among both the Israeli and Palestinian public threatens to evaporate unless political measures and actions are taken to instill trust and hope that peace is attainable.
With the eruption of war between Israel and Lebanon in July 2006, the IWC issued an urgent call for immediate international intervention to mediate a truce. Exchange of prisoners is a standard practice that has precedent in Israel and that the international community must prevail upon the Israeli government to reconsider its refusal to negotiate a prisoner exchange in return for the release of the captured Israeli soldiers. The elected Palestinian officials who were arrested must be released.
There is a critical link between the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Middle East and global peace and security agenda. The devastation and losses incurred during the war, which culminated in acceptance by all sides of the need for international intervention based on international law, has exposed the limitations of the military solutions and points to the need for resumption of political dialogue.
Negotiations based on the existence of two states, Israel and Palestine, side by side in security and internationally recognised borders, must be resumed without further delay. The IWC sees the Arab League Initiative as useful and supports the convening of an international conference as a mechanism for restarting the negotiation process.
The war in Lebanon points to the threat of the Israel-Palestine conflict escalating into a wider regional conflict with global consequences. The continuing aggression is primarily disempowering those who support political negotiations and a settlement that can bring about a just and sustainable peace between Israel and Palestine.
Women should be included in conflict resolution efforts in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1325. There were no women among the envoys that were first sent to the region by the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations.
As a body comprised of women leaders from Palestine, Israel and the international community, the IWC has incisive analysis and expert advice to offer. The IWC must be supported and be called upon to contribute as a resource in the negotiation process.
IWC Political Plan of Action: Barely a year since its establishment, the IWC in 2006 is emerging as a unique body that has succeeded in joining women living different realities and experiences on both sides of the conflict, and those living outside the region, to speak out on the most difficult political issues in one voice.
The work of the IWC is only beginning. The IWC is committed to further its work and develop itself as a reputable Commission, regarded as a credible resource that can be drawn upon in shedding light on the political situation and advising on feasible solutions that draw on voices of citizens, particularly women, on all sides of the conflict. Under the guidance of its Charter of political principles, there will be focusing on principal objectives:
1. Achieving a breakthrough to bring about the restarting of negotiations
2. Ensuring that women are part of the negotiation process
3. Offering policymakers with stake in resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict, fresh, incisive political analysis and innovative proposals for actions and strategies that can serve to advance the peace process, drawing on insights and experiences of citizens living the reality on the ground, women in particular, on both sides of the conflict.
IWC plans to apply the following strategies towards achieving the above objectives:
1. Systematic issuing of IWC critical statements and position papers - IWC statements and press releases have already generated considerable attention. Many high level officials have expressed interest in receiving IWC analysis on a more regular basis. The IWC therefore intends to produce position papers more regularly going deeper into analysis of specific problems and possible solutions.
2. Advocacy in Israel and Palestine - As the IWC focuses on advancing its political and policy advocacy objectives, it is equally committed through its members based in Israel and Palestine, to engage in advocacy at local and national levels, with the aim of building greater public awareness and support for the IWC agenda, working in close partnership with women’s civil society groups and their constituencies.
3. Partnership with UNIFEM and the United Nations – UNIFEM has played a pivotal role in facilitating the IWC in coalescing into a unified body where Israeli, Palestinian and international members work in a spirit of cooperation to advance a common agenda.
4. Advocacy with World Leaders - IWC will continue to seek meetings with world leaders, particularly from members of the Quartet, to present its analysis and advocate for support for the IWC agenda. It furthermore is asking that as a matter of course, any visiting official delegation related to the peace process between Israel and Palestine include a meeting with the IWC on its agenda.
5. The IWC plans to advocate with all members of the Quartet and regards the European Union an important ally given the EU’s commitment to the cause of peace in the Middle East as well as its strong commitment to the advancement of gender equality and the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325.
With the rapidly deteriorating situation and the growing threat of further regionalisation of the conflict, the IWC feels now is the time for daring action that brings new life to the agenda for a just and sustainable peace between Israel and Palestine.