Coalition of Women for Peace
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 | |
| Founded | 2000[1] |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit NGO |
| Focus | "bringing together women from a wide variety of identities and groups."[1] |
Area served | Israel and the Palestinian territories[1] |
| Method | "public campaigns and education and outreach programs, working to develop and integrate a feminist discourse on all levels of society."[1] |
| Website | Official site (English) |
The Coalition of Women for Peace is an umbrella organization of women's groups in Israel, established in November 2000. It describes itself as "a feminist organization against the occupation of Palestine and for a just peace."[1]. CWP says that it is "committed to ending the occupation and creating a more just society, while enhancing women’s inclusion and participation in the public discourse".[1]
The Coalition came to an agreement on their principles for a solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a conference in Nazareth in November 2000. According to their website, they are as follows:
- the struggle to end the occupation on the basis of two states for two peoples
- Jerusalem as two capitals for two states
- a just solution to the refugee problem based on UN resolutions
- involvement of women in peace negotiations
- reducing Israel’s militarism
- social and economic justice for all
- equal citizenship of the Palestinian citizens and integration of Israel into the Middle East
The groups that founded the Coalition of Women for Peace are Machsom Watch, Noga Feminist Journal, Women in Black, The Fifth Mother, TANDI, Bat Shalom, New Profile and NELED.[2]
It was originally called the Coalition of Women for a Just Peace, but since has been legally changed.
Controversy
CWP was one of several non-profits being funded by the New Israel Fund, causing great controversy, since CWP supports some aspects of both the deligitimization of Israel and the BDS - boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel, according to some.[3] The funding by the NIF caused a row in Australia where the NIF was opening a new branch.[4] It was at this time, in May 2011, that the NIF decided to abruptly halt all funding to CWP, despite statements to the contrary.[5] CWP posted on its website scathing letters to the NIF, saying "It seems particularly unfortunate that the exact timing of cutting off the relations of NIF and CWP has been dictated by NGO Monitor." and "The public attitude of NIF in relation to CWP is a rather disgraceful example of following and accepting the right-wing discourse and its strategies."[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "About CWP". Coalition of Women for Peace. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- ^ CWP History
- ^ New Israel Fund opening in Australia
- ^ Dear Robin, Dear Jason
- ^ CWP responds to NIF
- ^ CWP full response to NIF
External links
- Coalition of Women for a Just Peace - official site
- Statement from Coalition of Women for a Just Peace. Source for the nine-point statement of principles. Accessed 19 Jan 2006.
- Katz, Sue, What's Left of the Left in Israel, Z Magazine, December 2004, 16-19.
- Coalition for Women for a Just Peace - The groups making up the coalition, their principles, vision for peace, and activities
- Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land: Media & the Israel-Palestine Conflict, Directed by Sut Jhally and Bathsheba Ratzkoff (2003) quotes Gila Svirsky of Coalition of Women for a Just Peace