Israeli peace movement revives

In the euphoria created in Israel by the September 13 handshake on the White House lawn, most of the peace groups in Israel “demobilised”. Peace Now, Yesh Gvul (“There is a limit” -- soldiers refusing operations in the occupied territories) and Women in Black in Jerusalem could find few enthusiasts for further action.

Gush Shalom (Peace Bloc) and Women in Black in Tel Aviv were exceptions. Gush Shalom is working with the PLO in initiatives on the ground. The first demonstration officially called jointly by the PLO and an Israeli movement was held on October 7 at the Jneid Prison in Nablus. It urged the release of the more than 12,000 prisoners in Israeli jails.

On October 30, the PLO-Gush Shalom Coordinating Committee called a demonstration in protest against the planned building of another Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem (the accord has brought no end to these). Hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians gathered on the proposed site of the settlement with placards reading “New settlement is killing peace” and “Jerusalem -- capital of two states”.

Rising settler violence and the certain prospect of failure to meet the December 13 deadline for agreement on Israeli withdrawal from Jericho and Gaza revived the Israeli peace movement.

On December 10 Women in Black in Jerusalem held a vigil after an absence of two months. Peace Now drew 2000 to demonstration in central Jerusalem on December 11 against the violence of both the Jewish settlers and Hamas. The political differences were evident in the varied slogans: one group called, “Rabin, we support you”; others cried, “Rabin, get moving! Get out of Ramallah!”

On December 15, students at all universities held rallies under the slogan, “When the extremists are shooting, we must not remain silent”. The demonstrations were organised by Peace Now, and supported by a variety of groups including Meretz Students and the Arab Student Committee.
[This article draws heavily on The Other Israel, a progressive Israeli publication. Annual subscriptions are US$30 from PO Box 2542, Holon 58125, Israel.]

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