(Excerpted from Haaretz)
From a celebration at the Dead Sea, to a march through the streets of Jerusalem, to a demonstration outside the Prime Minister’s residence, thousands of Israeli and Palestinian women Wednesday marked the conclusion of the March of Hope.
The march was organized and sponsored by Women Wage Peace, a non-partisan women’s group founded in 2014 in the aftermath of Operation Protective Edge in Gaza, which, according to its flyers, calls for an agreement that will be respectful, non-violent and accepted by both sides. “We will not stop until a political agreement, which will bring us, our children and grandchildren a safe future, is reached,” says their website.
The cross-country March of Hope began on October 5, when some 2,500 women walked the first 5-kilometer segment from Rosh Hanikra on the Lebanese border to Achziv Beach, north of Nahariya. Every day since then, women have participated in 5 to 10 kilometer walks in different locales throughout the country, including one group that walked and biked in segments from Eilat to the area abutting the Gaza Strip.
Wednesday’s events began at Qasr al-Yahud, the site where Jesus is believed to have been baptized by John the Baptist. Some 2,500 Jewish and Arab Israeli women arrived on buses from all over the country, from as far away as the Sea of Galilee and the Negev and Arava deserts. They were joined by more than 1,000 Palestinian women from the West Bank.
The atmosphere was celebratory — almost heady — despite the searing heat as a women’s drumming group set the rhythm. When the Palestinian women came off the buses, many were embraced by Israeli women; others formed impromptu dance circles. “Today I have Israeli Jewish sisters,” said Maryam, a 35 year old teacher from “near Jenin.” Enthusiastically, she clapped along as others danced. Maryam acknowledged that she didn’t want to give her full name because “not everyone in my family agrees. Especially not the men, who don’t want women to express themselves.” She added, “I came here, even though I had to take off a day from work, because I do not want anyone to be killed — not by soldiers, not by terrorists. We women want peace and security for everyone. And I know that most people in Palestine think like me.”
Fadwa Shear from Ramallah added, “We cannot count on men to create peace. We will have to do it by ourselves.”
Leymah Gbowee, the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leader of the women’s activism that brought an end to Liberia’s bloody civil war, was Women Wage Peace’s guest of honor. “Men try to demean women’s activism as if it isn’t important, as if it isn’t ‘the real stuff,'” she said in a brief interview with Haaretz. “But guns and bombs are not aimed only at men. Women suffer real pain — and we have real things to say. And women have the ability to come together and bridge our divides — and that is very real, very political and very powerful.”
Later, speaking from the podium, Gbowee energized the crowd despite the oppressive heat. “If you cannot see hope, if you cannot see peace, then you are blind,” she said forcefully, as the crowd rose to its feet, cheering and applauding. “You must reject the narrative that war is the destiny of our children. War is easy, making peace is hard. But sisters, today you’ve made history! No one will be able to ignore your call for peace any more.”
Many of the women returned to Jerusalem, where, joined by others, they formed a crowd of 5,000 that marched from the city entrance to the square near the Prime Minister’s residence for the concluding demonstration. Over the next few days, the organization will set up a “peace tent” on this spot.
Since its inception, Women Wage Peace has maintained a non-partisan stance, calling for a peaceful political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict without siding with any particular option. “The world does not need another peace plan. There are already many excellent plans,” Gouri explained to Haaretz. “What we need is true intent to make peace. And that is what we women are demanding from our leaders: determination and courage to engage in peace negotiations.”
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