Tal Dor a member of the panel is an Israeli peace activist with ‘Zochrot’ whose activism was influenced by South Africa’s struggle to overcome apartheid. The second panellist Mira Rizek, General Secretary YWCA of Palestine was unable to attend the event. Edith Ballentyne­, former President of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) presented on her behalf. The presentation reflected on the daily experiences of life under occupation, which is characterised by unemployment, poverty, limited access to health care and restrictions on movement.

Dor, a Jewish Israeli and a dedicated worker in developing a critical consciousness in Israel on the holistic history of the region, expressed her belief in the possibility of Israelis and Palestinians living in peace. But to achieve that, political awareness and activism has to spread with an equal civic partnership between both parties. “I don’t think we can speak about peace in a situation of occupation. I believe we have to speak about justice, equality and ending occupation,” she said.

Many Israelis are unaware of the impact of the Israeli War of Independence and the current reality of occupation on Palestinians. Dor pointed out that “We have to speak so people take action, take action because it is their responsibility and not because they want to do a humane action”.

The Palestinian Nakba and Israeli War of Independence in 1948 marked the forceful removal of about a million Palestinians from their land and the birth of the state of Israel. This has continued to have a catastrophic effect on Palestinians. Today, after over 40 years under occupation, 70% of Palestinians are displaced. Homes are demolished and land confiscated for Israeli expansion and building of the Separation Wall.

In June 2002, Israel began construction of the Separation Wall, which covers about 703 km as a temporary structure to prevent attacks on Israeli citizens. The imposition of the wall has restricted Palestinian freedom to live as equals and enjoy basic rights. Access to health care is severely limited and school attendance, especially among girls, has declined.

Rizek in her presentation, referred to the deteriorating social and economic conditions, incidences of various forms of violence against women and its implication on their lives amidst humanitarian crisis. The number of women heading households is on the increase and many of their families have no source of income. “Significant number of Palestinian women work outside the formal labour force, engaged in low paid domestic work or work within the informal sectors” said Rizek.

Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda General Secretary World YWCA chaired the event. In her remarks, she expressed the need for organising a collective global reflection on occupation and its impact on women and children. Gumbonzvanda, pointed out that it is necessary to inculcate the United Nations Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security into discussions around occupation “so that 1325 is not just used to mainstream women into peace solutions but also to question issues around occupation” she concluded.

The discussion acknowledged the importance of engaging the Human Rights Council (HRC) by presenting the outcome of the discussion to the chair of the HRC and the High Commissioner on Human Rights so that the recommendations are embedded into the substantive negotiations of the HRC.

The event was co-sponsored by WILPF, General Arab Women Foundation, BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights and International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations (ISMUN).

Related links:

• United Nations Human Rights Council: World YWCA focuses on women and peace in the Middle East
• Israeli restriction put women and children in Gaza at risk