Women Against War is a peace and justice group that is dedicated to changing the way that conflicts are settled. We are aware that women, children and other non-combatants are the ones most severely affected by war and violence. We advocate replacing the use of violence and military force with the life affirming tools of negotiation and diplomacy. It takes tremendous courage, patience and dedication to work to resolve conflicts through non-violent means. In situations like the one in Israel, Lebanon, and occupied Palestine, we especially encourage listening to and amplifying the ongoing and emerging voices of women peace activists.
Reconciliation between Israel and Palestine is essential to achieving peace in the Middle East and to ending the tragic deaths, suffering and loss of human potential in the occupied territories.
In such an urgent situation where so much violence is being perpetrated every day, we ask that our government focus on ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land that was taken by military force 40 years ago. We call on the United States government to initiate a US foreign policy that enables Israelis and Palestinians to reach a permanent agreement satisfactory to all and grounded in both parties' fundamental rights to self- determination. Equal respect for the civil, human and national rights of both Israelis and Palestinians must be included in the framework of any peace agreement.
We call upon our government to cease all military aid, intelligence support, and weapons shipments to both sides of this conflict. We further call upon our government to give its full support to those in Israel and Palestine who are working non-violently, honestly and courageously to replace violence and oppression with negotiated solutions to this long-standing conflict. |
