SPECIAL NEWSLETTER AUGUST-OCTOBER 2014

Y E A R'S E N D I S A G R E A T T I M E TO S U P P O R T CWP
SAVE THE DATE
DECEMBER 14-15, 20141021* INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NON-VIOLENCE
WORKSHOPS, LECTURES AND DISCUSSIONS TEL AVIV-JAFFA

***
THE ATTACK ON GAZA HAS SEVERELY IMPACTED THE PEACE MOVEMENT AND THE
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PALESTINIANS AND JEWS IN ISRAEL.
THE RACISM HAS DEEPENED, THE INCITEMENT CONTINUES. We need your support.
See details at the end of the newsletter

The ongoing Israeli attack on the Palestinian people-Summer of 2014

Photo credit- Guy Butavia

The summer of 2014 was a long, intense, and violent summer. The killing of two Palestinian
teenagers at the Bituniya checkpoint, the disappearance of three Jewish teenagers in the
West Bank who were later found dead, My Brother's Keeper military operation the West
Bank and east Jerusalem, the murder of the 16 years old Muhhamed Abu-Khdeir who was
burnt to death by Jewish men, more than seven weeks of the "protective edge" deadly
attack on the Gaza strip.
This was also a summer of hate, incitement, and violence against anti-war protestors.
During the tree weeks of My brother's keeper military operation, Coalition of women for
peace (CWP) organized a number of protests in various locations in Tel Aviv together with
partners such as Da'am workers party, Socialist Struggle Movement, Ta'ayush, Anarchists
against the Wall and others, denouncing the ongoing escalation of violent collective
punishment against Palestinians and protesting the raids on the homes and the arrest of
over 600 people including juveniles.
In the aftermath of the disappearance of three young settlers, the Israeli Occupation
Forces (IOF) besieged Hebron, raiding homes and businesses and making hundreds of
arrests all over the West Bank. Using excessive violence, the IOF fired live ammunition at
protesters killing two people and injuring several others.
At this point it was already possible to see the violent reaction in the Israeli street
including the attack on four activists at the end of a demonstration on June 21, 2014.
While Israel has tried to present a narrative in which it was dragged into the attack\war
in Gaza, CWP stressed throughout the summer that attacks on Gaza had already started
in the days following the disappearance and murder of the three Jewish teenagers. This
most recent round of violence did not just happen "out of the blue". Upon the discovery of
the bodies of the dead boys, Israeli officials, amongst them the prime minister, called for
revenge. One form of revenge was by taken by right wing extremists people themselves by
chasing Palestinians in the streets of Jerusalem and other cities and attacking them, by
firing Palestinians from workplaces. Another cruel form was of this revenge was by the
decision and declaration of expropriation 4000 hectares in the Bethlehem area, and of
course, the deadly attack on Gaza.

Anti-War Protests during the Attack on Gaza

Israel's official attack on Gaza, Protective Edge military operation, started on July 8,
2014 and lasted 51 days.
More than 2000 people were killed, at least 540 children. Hundreds of thousands' lost
their homes and all of their property.
Military equipment that was used during the last attack on Gaza is now being presented in
various military and security exhibitions and will be sold for tremendous amounts of money
(Read more about it in Hebrew, and here in English).
On July 9th, 2014 the Coalition of Women for Peace (CWP) held a protest vigil in Tel-Aviv
condemning the Israeli assault on the Gaza strip. This protest was followed by six other
demonstrations organized by CWP, a number of which were in cooperation with other
political movements and activists groups.
As the attack continued, it was clear that the protest must go on although there were
numerous attempts to silence the anti-war protestors, both by the state representatives
such as the police and by extreme right wing groups.
The demonstration at Habima Square in Tel-Aviv on the night of July 12, 2014 was
violently attacked by right wing extremists. Protestors were severely beaten, chased in
the streets in front of the eyes of police forces. Later on, some of the leaders of these
anti-war protests (including one of CWP's coordinators) were interrogated by the police,
accused with violent behavior. Many Palestinian activists from Haifa, Nazareth and the
Negev were interrogated, arrested. As it happens many times, the police and Israeli
secret service used political persecution in order to weaken the protest. Nonetheless, it
was clear to us that the physical attacks of the right wing, as well at those by state
representatives, cannot and must not silence the protest.
During the war, the main aims of the CWP were to promote the visibility of the protest
against the war and to advance an alternative non-militaristic discourse in the public and
social media.
There were many protests, vigils, and direct actions across the country, in Haifa,
Jerusalem, Lod, and Nazareth. We are proud to say that CWP activist efforts during the
war helped us to become the leading force in organizing protests in Tel-Aviv. Together we
strengthen the voice of anti-militarism in Israel. See videos from demonstrations
https://www.youtube.com/user/CWPAction
See articles in English and Hebrew www.coalitionofwomen.org - CAMPAIGNS
Changing the discourse: During the Israeli attack against Gaza in July-August 2014 racism
against Israeli Palestinians and the coercive call for national (Jewish) unity became
extreme. For over two months racism and incitement was everywhere - from the Prime
Minister and Knesset members to the wider public. The threat against Palestinian citizens
of Israel was tangible. Criticizing the Israeli policy and the ongoing assault of the
Palestinian people was considered treason. As in the past, the Israeli public justified

everything in the name of security. It was in this volatile atmosphere that CWP was out in
the street protesting week after week. In this political climate we promoted the
importance of a non-compromising message of resistance against the hegemonic militaristic
discourse.
CWP & Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD) protection during the war: During the
attack on Gaza, women demonstrators in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Nazareth, and Palestinian groups
in Northern Israel, CWP provided logistical support for WHRD and sometimes helped
securing legal aid for demonstration participants. Together with our partners from
Anarchists against the Wall and Da'am party, we responded quickly to the violent attacks
during protests in Tel-Aviv, and worked very hard to protect protestors. Despite our
efforts this summer was not safe for demonstrators and most of all it was a dangerous
and deadly summer for the Palestinian people.
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TWEETER UPDATES

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PUBLICATIONS - Now available:

Discrimination of the unrecognized villages in the Negev/Naqab and The Prawer Plan (2014)

Rights of Demonstrators (2014)

The Economy of the Occupation (2014) Women Human Rights Defenders (2014)

Gender sensitivity & Feminist Methodologies (2014)

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. PLEASE DONATE TODAY

There are a few ways in which you can donate:
1. Check Write a check ($, or ) to Coalition of Women for Peace and mail it to:
P.O. Box 29214, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel 6129102.
For a US-tax deduction, we have partnered with the Alliance for Global Justice (AfGJ) our
fiscal sponsor in the U.S. Please make a check to Coalition of Women for Peace/AfGJ and mail to
225 E. 26th St. Suite 1, Tucson, AZ 85713
2. Wire-transfer - Make a wire transfer to our bank account:
Israeli Discount Bank LTD, Hamoshava Branch - #062, 21 Emek Refaim St., Jerusalem, Israel.
Swift Code: IDBLILITXXX, IBAN No. IL420110620000027512403.
3. Online Secured Donation please log on
https://org2.salsalabs.com/o/7315/donate_page/coalition-women-peace
for an easy and secured
online donation process. It is also U.S. tax deductible

Thank you for your solidarity and support