PRESS RELEASE

 “A MONTH OF PEACE 2022”

HUNDREDS OF WOMEN FROM THE ISRAELI MOVEMENT “WOMEN WAGE PEACE” AND THE PALESTINIAN MOVEMENT “WOMEN OF THE SUN” EMBARK ON A MONTH’S JOURNEY TOGETHER FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH CALLING ON THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH SIDES:

BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS TO  PROMOTE A  COMPREHENSIVE, SUSTAINABLE AND JUST  POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE LONG AND PAINFUL CONFLICT

Hundreds of members from the Israeli movement “Women Wage Peace” and the Palestinian movement “Women of the Sun” will for the first time embark on a journey together, from the North to the South, calling on the leadership in Israel and in the Palestinian Authority: Sit down at the negotiation table to bring about an end to the conflict. The journey, “Journey to Peace 2022” will pass through Akko, Modi’in, Jerusalem, Beit Jalla, Tekoa, Meisar, and the Gaza border region and will take place over a month, from mid- September to mid -October.

“Women of the Sun” is a movement which was founded in July, 2021 by a courageous group of Palestinian women. Since then, thousands of Palestinian women joined the movement. Members come from many different cities such as: Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron, East Jerusalem and Gaza. This initiative received formal acknowledgment from all relevant Palestinian authorities.

From its onset “Women of the Sun” has initiated along with “Women Wage Peace” a series of actions demanding that leaders listen to the Mothers’ Call, begin negotiations immediately in order to reach a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace and to end the long and painful conflict. Both movements are not affiliated with any political party and strive to enlist broad public support from diverse communities.

During the Journey women from both movements will march together along the walls of Akko, in Jisr a Zarka, Beit Jalla, the Gaza border region and other places. Throughout the month, once every few days, women will come to different places in the country – bringing with them a call for peace to as many people as possible. Conferences which are open to the public will be held in each of these places.

The month of peace will conclude in Ramallah and in Jerusalem calling on both Presidents: work towards a just and comprehensive peace for both nations.

Recently, both movements, the Palestinian “Women of the Sun” and the Israeli “Women Wage Peace” formulated a joint platform, “The Mothers’ Call”, which is sensitive to the diverse communities on both sides and which respects the needs, challenges and capabilities of each movement. In this pact, in an effort to protect the lives of children on both sides, both movements proclaim: “We believe that the majority of the people of our nations share our mutual desire. Therefore, we demand that our leaders listen to our call and promptly begin peace talks and negotiations, with resolute commitment to achieving a political solution to the long and painful conflict, within a limited time-frame. We are calling on the peoples of both nations – Palestinian and Israeli, and peoples of the region to join our call and demonstrate their support for the resolution of the conflict. We are calling on our leaders to show courage and vision in order to bring about this historic change, to which we all aspire. We join hands, as partners, to bring back hope to our peoples. “

Reem Hajajri, one of the leaders of “Women of the Sun”:

“The journey to peace is long and full of challenges. We maintain our strength and determination as more and more women join the movement. We started out as a movement with a few lone women and now we are thousands from the West Bank and Gaza.  We no longer take the back seat and are determined to act persistently to achieve freedom and a just, honorable life for Palestinian and Israeli children. “

Yael Admi, one of the founders and leaders of “Women Wage Peace”:

“This is a historical partnership of two women’s movements who will not cease to voice their demands that the leadership of both sides promote a peace agreement and ensure a future of peace, security and freedom for both nations. Since the founding of this partnership and the formulation of the “The Mothers’ Call”, more and more young and mature women have joined us, have decided to stop being silent and are trying to create a new path.  It is time for courageous leaders to generate hope for a better future for our children”.

Updates:

*Full schedule of events in the graphic below “Updates”

Schedule of “Along the walls of Akko” event