ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE
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BANNING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
By including the urgent issue of banning violence against women within
the UN human rights framework, women's organizations have made a
critical contribution to the promotion of human rights generally. For
seeking to understand
violence against women as an issue of basic human rights will no
doubt shed light on the causes of other forms of violence and will
facilitate the discovery of strategies for curbing the disturbing
rise of violence across all levels of our societies.
Violence against women is a yardstick by which one can measure the
violation of all human rights. It can be used to gauge the degree to
which a society is governed by aggressivity, dominated by competition
and ruled by force. Abusive practices against women have frequently
been and are still being justified in the context of cultural norms,
religious beliefs and unfounded "scientific theories" and
assumptions. But whatever its political or religious system, a
society patterned on dominance inevitably gives rise to such
distortions of power as violence against women.
It is becoming increasingly evident, however, that all forms of
violence against women degrade not only the victim but the
perpetrator as well. Those who inflict violence on women are
themselves among the casualties of power-based systems. When
unbridled competition, aggression, and tyranny destroy the fabric of
society, everyone suffers. In the Baha'i view, "the harvest of force
is turmoil and the ruin of the social order" and violence against
women is a grave symptom of this larger disorder.
Our challenge is to search out new strategies and adopt fresh models
that will encourage a healthier, more democratic and more co-operative
society at all levels. We need to move consciously away from patterns of
force and
aggressivity and towards methods of consultation and peace-making.
Because of the rise in crime and pornography, the increase in ethnic
violence and the collapse of the family, more and more individuals,
organizations and governments are seeking alternatives to violence in
managing conflict.
One of the essential ways to encourage more cooperation is through
building bridges between ethnic cultures, and education. Economic
disparity and legal inequality are known to contribute to violence
against women, as is the case in Afghanistan today, which is ruled by
the extremist Taliban, and in several other places around the world.
It is also obvious that violence arises from ignorance -- the failure
to understand such fundamental realities as the oneness of the human
race and the mistaken notion that force is the only honourable way to
resolve conflicts. Education -- moral, material and practical -- is
therefore not only a fundamental right but a practical necessity in
today's world. Any attempt to curb societal violence that does not
educate individuals to overcome gender prejudice will certainly fall
short. At a time when illiteracy is increasing among women in the
developing world and levels of learning are falling for both sexes in
industrial societies, it is vitally important to reemphasize the role
of education everywhere if violence against women is.
Ironically enough, the place where women and girls are most subject
to violence and neglect is within their own homes, at the nerve
centre of the family. If families educate their daughters, and the
community systematically encourages the education of both girl children
and boys, both the family and the community benefit. Mothers are
the first educators of the next generation, and where resources are
limited priority must, therefore, be given to education of girl children.
But the problem of violence cannot truly be resolved unless men are
also educated to value women as equal partners. Any effort to protect
women against male aggression which does not involve the early
training of boys will necessarily be short-lived. Likewise, all
attempts to understand the causes and consequences of violence
against women which do not involve men are bound to fail.
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by Ada Aharoni
In the rush of your
Your white strong
Always remember
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THE BRIDGE, together with IFLAC: PAVE PEACE: The Friends of Culture and Literature for Paving Peace, comprise the Haifa Link. As Israeli and Arab/ Palestinians of The Haifa Link, we work together to promote peace and the status of women, as well as a culture of peace, respect, understanding and cooperation between our peoples. We are opposed to war and the use of violence, and are committed to the promotion of democratic values and norms and believe in conflict resolution through peaceful means. We call on women and men in Israel and in our region and elsewhere, to join us in making our vision of peace a reality.
The Bridge was founded in 1974 after the Yom Kippur War, and it was registered as a non profit organization in 1978. Twenty years later, we are still working hard to cultivate basic grassroots, for the promotion of women and peace in Israel and in the Middle East.
The joint activism of Arab and Israeli women has helped to advance the status of Arab/ Palestinian women, who based their claims for greater freedom and rights in the home and in society, on the example of their Israeli counterparts and women colleagues.
Donations are welcome. Please send checks or postal orders, in any
currency to the following account:
THE BRIDGE: Jewish and Arab Women for Peace,
The Bridge's main project this year is:
You are warmly invited to view the details of the forthcoming
International Congress in the following website. There will be
Roundtables, Workshops, and Group Discussions on the "Promotion of
Women", and "Women and Peace" everyday.
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1 March, 1999
Your Excellency Dear Queen Nour, We, women of “The Bridge: Jewish and Arab Women for Peace in the Middle East”, and of “IFLAC: International Friends of Culture and Literature for Paving Peace”, send you our warmest condolences for the passing away of your beloved husband, the great and noble King Hussein. We ask your kind permission for a delegation of The Bridge and of IFLAC, to pay you a visit of condolences toward the end of March. Please let us know if it is possible, and if so, which day and time would be convenient for us to visit you. We have always had great admiration for the continuous efforts of brave and courageous King Hussein for the promotion of Peace in the Middle East, and we would like to dedicate our International Congress on “Conflict Resolution Through Culture and Literature” to his noble memory. We would also like to ask you, dear Queen Nour, close partner of King Hussein’s peace initiatives, to honor us by kindly agreeing to be the Honorary President of this International Congress. Your royal presence would crown our peace efforts. I enclose the material on the Congress, which will take place in the ICC: International Convention Center, in the Galilee, from June 28-30, 1999. It would be our great pleasure and honor to host you in this beautiful and pastoral atmosphere, where Jews and Arabs have always lived in peace and harmony together. We also hope you will kindly agree to deliver the opening address of the Congress, on Monday, June 28, 1999, which we wish to dedicate to the memory of “King Hussein, Champion of Peace in the Middle East”. We are looking forward to your gracious response, and very much hope that we will be able to pay you a visit of condolences in Amman soon, and to welcome you at the International Congress on “Conflict Resolution Through Culture and Literature” in June 1999. With our warmest condolences, and best regards,
Dr. Ada Aharoni, |
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HAGAR IS OUR SISTER TOO
by Ada Aharoni According to Jewish tradition, it is customary to read the story of Hagar and Ishmael on Rosh Hashanah - The New Year Festival. This story has deep meanings and lessons from which we can learn, and all of which call upon our humanity as women and mothers. First, we must always remember that Hagar is to be pitied for having been banished from Abraham's tent, though she did not commit any evil, and for the sufferings she and Ishmael went through in the desert, until God heard her call. We must remember that Ishmael is the brother of Isaac, he exists (the Arab nations exist), and they will always be brothers. God promised Ishmael too, at their father, Abraham's gravesite, that he would make him a great nation. The foremost wish of every mother and every woman and man is that the two brothers be reconciled. Our humanity as mothers and women, calls on us to have pity not only about ourselves, for all we have suffered because of this ongoing quarrel between those two brothers: the wars, the terrible terrorist actions we have been victims of, at the hands of fanatic extremists, our sons falling on the Lebanese borders, etc.etc. and the list is tragically long and cruel - but also to have pity for the innocent sons of the descendants of Hagar, our cousins. We have every right to defend ourselves against criminals and assassins who do not want us in this region. Israel exists, it is strong, and it will go on existing and being strong enough to defend itself. However, we must be careful not to hurt innocent people who have nothing to do with such abominable actions, and who yearn just as much as we do, to see the two brothers fully reconciled. When houses are blown up due to collective punishment, when innocent teenagers are pulled out of their beds for interrogations in the middle of the night by our soldiers - we have to pity them too, for Hagar is our sister too. We have to pity our own soldiers for being required to do things against their conscience and humanity. I have met many Israeli soldiers who have nightmares about those kind of actions they were ordered to carry out, even after many years. Let the new year bring an end to the quarrel. May we mothers and women, help bring those two brothers to each others' arms again in peace very soon. Inshallah! Amen! .
THE BRIDGE:
LENA:
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This moving poem is written by a Palestinian woman,
intimately familiar with the tragedies of her people and the duplicitous
words of help often sent their way.
WATCH ME BLEED
by L. M. Hashim (Um Ahmad) 7/7/97 |
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You speak of peace so easily -
You want us to put our weapons down,
It might make you feel good to speak out
You set up your conferences to
You say you are with us
And you with the peace signs,
You must face reality.
Two fingers up does not stop a bullet
You ask lots of questions,
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The following was received from Gush Shalom Information:
info@gush-shalom.org
This is a report by Gila Svirsky of Bat-Shalom:
batshalo@netvision.net.il.
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Friends, Yesterday was a day I won't ever forget. Neither will Salim and Arabiyeh Shawamreh or their six children. We had planned a joint Israeli-Palestinian protest against home demolitions. The idea was to set up a tent on the site of a demolition, a tent that would serve several purposes: protest, solidarity, documentation, and compassionate listening to the family members. We planned to move this tent from site to site, wherever the Israeli army used its bulldozers. Yesterday's inauguration of the tent was planned for opposite the so-called "civil administration" headquarters -- the nerve center of Israel's control of the occupied territories -- those who actually do the dirty work of demolishing people's homes and other acts of oppression. Our bus from Jerusalem held activists from several peace movements -- Bat Shalom, Rabbis for Human Rights, Gush Shalom, and Peace Now. We are all partners in a coalition called the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions, and our demonstration was to be held jointly with the Palestinian Land Defense General Committee. Through the bus microphone, I listened to Meir Margalit explain the action and sketch one chilling scenario. "If the soldiers try to prevent us from holding the demonstration, proceed in an orderly manner to the planned alternative site. There must not be violence on our side, but if the army engages in violence, do not separate from the Palestinians. The army will be more brutal to the Palestinians if the soldiers manage to separate us." It was a sobering thought as we drove across the Green Line and toward the protest tent. Suddenly a call came across a mobile phone and Meir took the mike again. "We have just had word that a demolition is taking place at this very moment not far from here." It's a rare occurrence to catch a demolition in progress, no less with a group of peace activists; most demolitions take place with virtually no warning, and hence no time to protest. With no further discussion, we turned toward Anata on the edge of Jerusalem, a town composed almost entirely of Palestinian refugees who had lived in the Old City of Jerusalem and fled in 1967. They thought they had found refuge in Anata. After driving the narrow unpaved streets of Anata for what seemed an interminable time, we finally located the area and the bus parked as close as possible. We still had to walk 10 minutes down narrow, zig-zagging dirt roads between crowded homes until we came to the outskirts of Anata. There we practically ran toward the edge of the hill and looked below -- a beautiful home set into the pastoral valley with one of its walls now crumpled into rubble by a roaring bulldozer; a family and neighbors sobbing nearby; and a unit of Israeli soldiers preventing anyone else from approaching the scene. The scene was horrific. We surged down the hill in our small group until the soldiers blocked our progress with their guns and bodies. There were scuffles trying to get past them, but more soldiers joined the barricade. M.K. Naomi Chazan who was with us demanded to see the order proclaiming this a "closed military zone", as the soldiers claimed, and after several long minutes the officer complied. Who knows if the order was genuine or invented at the last minute. But the guns were real. So there we stood on the side of the hill and watched with an unbearable sense of helplessness as the "civil" administration's bulldozer took the house apart wall by wall. He drove through the front garden with a profusion of flowers and a lemon tree and slammed the front door as if he were God Almighty. Backing away, he slammed again until the entire front was shattered and dangling from metal rods. Then he came from every side, slamming and crashing his shovel against the walls. Finally he lifted off the roof, barely suspended, and sent it crashing below. When that was done, he went around the back of the house and crashed through all the fruit trees, including a small olive stand. He saw a water tank on a platform and knocked that over, the tank tumbling down and a cascade of water drenching the trees now uprooted and broken. He saw two more tanks nearby and knocked those over as well. I have never seen anyone in the Middle East deliberately waste so much water. Then he noticed a shack in the corner of the yard and he churned over to that, his cleated treads grinding and squealing over the rubble he had to climb over. The shack was an easy swipe for his shovel, and we were surprised to see two doves fly out, one white and one black, frightened out of their wits. They flapped their wings briefly and landed not far from their former home. All the while, a crowd of Palestinian neighbors and young men were gathering behind us on the mountain crest, cat-calling and jeering. From our Israeli group, many engaged the soldiers in challenges: "How can you sleep at night?"; "Is this what is meant by defending Israel?"; "Don't you understand the immorality of this action?", and the like. Every single soldier, from the high commander to the lowest GI responded the same way: "This is legal; we're only following orders." One woman tried to yell at the bulldozer driver everytime there was a lull in the din. But nothing we could think to say stopped the roar of devastation. By then I had managed to move down past the soldiers and was with the family outside their former home. One woman was sobbing and I put my arms around her. When I began to cry too, she put her arms around me. A weeping girl joined us and we both encircled her with our arms. I later learned that this was 14-year-old Lena and this house had once been hers. Then suddenly, gunshots rang out. Some of the young Palestinian men had begun throwing stones -- from a very great distance, I note -- and Israeli soldiers retaliated by opening fire and running up the hill after them. The soldiers were shooting as they ran, setting off their guns like the wild west. I saw the commander and told him that this was illegal, a clear violation of the "open fire regulations" of the Israeli army, which stipulate that a soldier's life be in danger before he opens fire. I demanded repeatedly that he tell the soldiers to stop. The commander shrugged and didn't bother answering. After 10 minutes or so, the shooting stopped. Amazingly, no "stray" bullets had hit any of our group, although the Palestinians, as usual, were not as lucky. A man approached the crowd of neighbors, said a few words, and instantly two women let out piercing shrieks and tore up the hill, running at top speed. The son of one of them had been hit by a bullet. I don't know his condition. Already in the hospital was Arabiyeh, the mother of the family, who had been violently struck by soldiers when she tried to prevent them from destroying her home. By then there was nothing to do but sift through the rubble. I picked through the rocks and talked to Jeff Halper, who is organizing the program to "adopt" Palestinian families whose homes are slated for demolition. Jeff had sat in the living room of this home last week, now a pile of jagged concrete slabs, hearing Salim and Arabiyeh talk about the problem of Palestinians not being issued construction permits. "Just last night," Salim had told Jeff during the demolition, "friends and family had sat in this home watching the World Cup soccer game". Now there are 6 children without tv, toys, books, diapers, bottles, or a place to lay their heads. Instead, they remain with the trauma of the Israeli bulldozer turning their home and security into a bottomless pit of hatred for this occupation and the people who carry it out. A lot of us picked up olive branches from the yard as we walked back to the buses. Most of the branches, like mine, were crushed by the treads of power run amuck. For the first time, I also noticed the scenery around us. On a nearby mountain -- not a distant one, mind you -- were the classrooms and amphitheater of the Mount Scopus campus of Hebrew University. Had they looked out their classroom window, the students studying ethics and justice could have had a clear view of the scene of brute power and the trampling of this family's lives. And surrounding everything, on mountains and hilltops to our left, right, and center, were the bright orange rooftops of the settler homes in the Occupied Territories. The settlers have no problem whatsoever in getting construction permits. And no one would dare uproot their olive trees, waste their water, harm their homes, or turn their children out into the streets. Well, it's almost over, this long, sad story, but it must not end here. Our group, the same people and more I hope, will be going back next Friday to begin rebuilding this home. This is a new tradition of non-violent resistance that began a few weeks ago, and is gaining momentum. The Palestinians rebuild, the Israeli army demolishes, and they rebuild again. As one of the neighbors said, "We'll see who lasts longer." If you cannot come to our rebuilding effort -- and even if you can -- please, please, please use your power to get this to stop. The messages you have sent are incredibly effective -- foreign political leaders have begun to raise the issue of home demolitions with Israeli leaders. Write a brief message to several people on the list below. Tell them that the Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes must be stopped. Say it in the subject line, so they get the point quickly. And circulate this letter to more people. That's all. Thank you for listening.
Gila Svirsky
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