Protest against Israel's attack on Gaza in London tomorrow
by Jess McCabe // 2 January 2009, 22:45
If you're in London tomorrow, there's a protest against the Israeli government's attack on Gaza, which has so far led to at least 400 deaths - the UN believes at least 100 of the people killed were civilians, according to the BBC.
Full details of tomorrow's protest, which starts at 12.30pm at Embankment, are available on the Stop the War website.
If you're interested in why this is a feminist issue, you might want to check out the statement released by the Coalition of Women for Peace, which includes Israeli and Palestinian women's and feminist groups, yesterday condemning the continued attacks:
We women’s peace organizations from a broad spectrum of political views demand an end to the bombing and other tools of death, and call for the immediate start of deliberations to talk peace and not make war. The dance of death and destruction must come to an end. We demand that war no longer be an option, nor violence a strategy, nor killing an alternative. The society we want is one in which every individual can lead a life of security - personal, economic, and social.It is clear that the highest price is paid by women and others from the periphery - geographic, economic, ethnic, social, and cultural - who now, as always, are excluded from the public eye and dominant discourse.
The time for women is now. We demand that words and actions be conducted in another language.
Ahoti: For Women in Israel
Anuar: Jewish and Arab Women Leadership
ASWAT- Palestinian Gay Women
Artemis: Economic Society for Women
Bat Shalom
Coalition of Women for Peace
Economic Empowerment for Women
Feminancy: College for Women’s Empowerment
Feminist Activist Group - Jerusalem
Feminist Activist Group - Tel Aviv
International Women’s Commission: Israeli Branch
Isha L’Isha: Haifa Feminist Center
Itach: Women Lawyers for Social Justice
Kol Ha-Isha: Jerusalem Women’s Center
Mahut Center: Information, Training, and Employment for Women
Shin Movement: Equal Representation for Women
Supportive Community: Women's Business Development Center
Tandi - Movement of Democratic Women
Tmura: The Israeli Antidiscrimination Legal Center
University against Harassment - Tel Aviv
Women and their Bodies
Women’s Parliament
Women’s Spirit: Financial Independence for Women Victims of Violence
The coalition was protesting in Haifa tonight, and will hold another protest on the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday. According to Arutz Sheva:
Feminist groups and pundits were the first to come out against the Gaza operation from its outset. In an op-ed for Maariv/NRG Sunday, feminist activist Dorit Rabinovich called upon Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to oppose the war."In a move that is nothing but pure chauvinism and sexism, made up of slogans about invasion, occupation, penetration and a disregard for the will of the public in the country, this is Livni's time to say 'enough' to the government's rape of society," she wrote.
Rabinovich predicted that soon, hundreds of thousands would take to the streets against the war, and the pundits will also come out against it. As a precedent she cited the successful protest by women's groups against the IDF security zone in Lebanon, which was aided by feminist journalists like Shelly Yechimovich (now a Labor MK). That movement is credited with causing then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak's decision to withdraw from Lebanon in 2000.
On Monday, a coalition of Israeli women's groups filed a complaint against Israel to the United Nations Security Council. The groups claimed that Israel is not complying with a law passed in 2005 that requires the participation of women in the Israeli government's decision-making forums.
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LondonProtests // Posted 04 January 2009 at 10:23
Video of the protest in London:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1CyGIbSnvY&fmt=18
Logan // Posted 05 January 2009 at 22:43
When is Genocide is a Genocide? Or War crime is a War crime ?
Isn't it dialogically sickening that even the Human Rights Watch as well as Hague has suddenly lost their voices ?
And why is it 4 Israelis = 400+ Palestinians which includes women and children?
Janice A. Leberman // Posted 07 January 2009 at 03:28
You have to be kidding - right?
Stunbled on this and am floored by either your group's complete ignorance or divisiveness - not sure which?
The Islamist nations including Hamas have an appalling record against women.
Israel is a sovereign democratic, egalitarian country - with borders constantly attacked by terrorists who apparently hate Jews more than they love their own people. Israel has made huge sacrifices for peace and Hamas has made half the country uninhabitable simply because of hatred
Your group is quite ridiculous and cannot be taken seriously by any thinking woman. Go study up on the facts.
Jess McCabe // Posted 07 January 2009 at 14:19
Janice - I've got absolutely no desire to rehash the tired arguments about Israel/Palestine. But it sounds to me like it's you who doesn't have a grasp of the facts.
Have another look over the list of some of the most respected women's rights organisations in Israel and Palestine who've signed up to the statement.
obasi // Posted 09 January 2009 at 13:44
AFTER I READ THE BOOK " IT IS TIME WE TRULY KNOW WHY JESUS WEPT" ( AT THE GRAVE OF LAZARUS).BY N.K DAVID. IT IS TRULY TIME BECAUSE I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW THAT THIS WORLD BELONGS TO PERSONS,LEADERS OR NATIONS.AND THEY WOULD BE NO GOD FOR ALL MORTAL,IF HE IS A GOD OF ANY NATIONS OR PERSONS.THEREFORE, JUSTICE MUST NOT RESPECT ANYONE OR PERSONS.IF THE UN THINKS THAT ISRAEL SHOULD STOP HER ATTACKS ON THEIR NEIGBOURS. THEN UN MUST SHOW IT. THE WORLD LEADERS STOOD AGAINST RUSSIAN ATTACKS ON GEORGIA.NOW THE LEADERS HAVE FAILED TO COME OUT AND SPEAK, AS THEY DID AT THAT TIME.I DO NOT REMEMBER OF EVER HEARING OF ANY SANCTIONS ON ISRAEL, ANY TIME THEY FAILED TO FOLLOW UN INSTRUCTION.IF UN CANNOT PROTECT AND GIVE EQUITY TO ALL NATION. THEN WHY MUST THEY STOP NATIONS FROM SEEKING WAYS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. JUST AS THEY WANT TO STOP IRAN'S UNCLEAR EFFORTS.UN MUST NOT BE BIASED IN THEIR WAYS, IF THE SEEK TRUE PEACE.IT IS WRONG FOR ANY GROUP TO ATTACK ISRAEL AND IT IS WRONG FOR ISRAEL TO CONTINUE,WITHOUT RESPECT, TO BUILD MORE SETTLEMENT. WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND WE ALL MUST SEEK WAYS TO PROTECT OURSELVES ,IF OUR LEADERS FAIL.UN MUST PROVE IN REALITY NOT TO BE RESPECTERS OF PERSONS. ELSE EACH NATION MUST LEARN HOW TO PROTECT HIS OR HER CITIZENS AGAINST SUCH ACTS, WHICH USUALLY, MAKES UN USELESS IN THEIR METHOD OF JUDGMENT.
obasi // Posted 09 January 2009 at 18:07
After I read the book " IT IS TIME WE TRULY KNOW WHY JESUS WEPT" ( AT THE
GARVE OF LAZARUS). It is truly time beacuse I want the world to know that
this world belongs to no persons,leaders or nations.And there would be no
God for all mortals,if he is a God of any Nations or Persons
.Therefore,justice must not respect anyone or nation.If The UN think that
Israel stop their attacks on palestine.Then UN must mean it and show
it.The world leaders stood against Russian attacks on Georgia.Now some of
The same leaders have failed to speak and stand against israel,.I could not
remember hearing of any sanctions against Israel, any time they failed to
followed UN instruction.If UN cannot protect and give equity to all
nations.Then why must they stand against nations that seek to arm and
protect themselves?Just in the case of Iran.UN must not be biased in their
ways,if they seel true peace.It is wrong to attack Israel and Hamas has no
right to attack any nation.And it is wrong for Israel to attack any nation,
without fear and respect.Israel have no right to continue building
settlement,when the talk for their peace co-exisatance is still going on.
It shows they have no respect for the so called world Leader.And it is now
clear that israel is free to commit any act, without being questioned or
condemned,just as Hamas was condemned.Both sides must respect each other.If
UN fail to protect nation the each nation has the right to seek any means
to protect her citizens.Therefore, it is very important for UN to prove
that all nations,tribes and religion can depend on her for true
justice.only then would all nation sleep with their eyes closed without
thinking of any nuclear weapon