CONVOCATION 4 JANUARY 2009: FACING THE BOMBARDMENT OF GAZA By the Government of Israel

Women in Black against the war - Madrid
invite you to a vigil
in black and in silence
Sunday 4th January 2009, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
IN THE PUERTA DEL SOL (Madrid) next to the horse statue

FACING THE BOMBARDMENT OF GAZA
By the Government of Israel

Women in Black Against War (Madrid) cry out:

To the government of Israel,
♀ that they stop the war in Gaza
♀ that they draw a halt to the policy of war in Gaza and the Occupied Territories
♀ that they comply with the resolutions and treaties of the UN, Rome and Geneva.

To Hamas,
♀ that they cease firing rockets and concern themselves with the interests of their citizens.

To the government of Spain and the European Union,
♀ that they stop the war in Gaza
♀ that they not permit the Government of Israel to perpetrate more violence with impunity
♀ that they cease the sale of weapons.

Let us expel war and violence
from history
and from our lives

C/ San Cosme y San Damián, Nº 24, 2º
28012 – Madrid

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COMMUNIQUE FROM WOMEN IN BLACK REGARDING THE SITUATION IN GAZA

We view with horror and profound grief the violence Gaza is currently experiencing.

We denounce the continued siege that the government of Israel has imposed on the people of Gaza, as well as the permanent violation of the Human Rights of the people of Palestine in general which is imposed by the State of Israel.

Likewise we denounce Hamas’s launching of rockets on Israeli territory, which also causes destruction and fear and death to the populace along the border. The government of Israel brandishes these attacks as justification for their military response on Gaza, an absolutely inordinate response, which is producing devastating effects on the civil population. The death of innocents, general destruction and the lack of help available for the wounded all unleash terror and hatred, which makes even more difficult the normalization of harmonious living in the zone and increases support for the radical wing of Hamas.

With their warlike response on Gaza, the government of Israel defiles the principles contained in the Treaties and Resolutions regarding International Law. For this reason, institutions that represent the International Community should cause them to appear before the responsible tribunals, who should pass judgment and adjudicate regarding the penal and economic responsibilities incurred by making war on the civil population.

We ask of the Government of Spain and the European Union:
- Determination in their will to put an end to the spiral of the policy of violence in Gaza and Trans-Jordan (wall, siege, usurpation of territory and resources, etc….)
- Establish economic, cultural and all types of relations with the Government of Israel in a manner and with a commitment to peace which is both objective and possible to evaluate.
- Cease the sale of arms. The weapons that Spain and other European countries sell to Israel are being used against the civil population of Gaza, which causes us to be responsible for this aggression and the continuous aggression suffered by the people of Palestine. We will remain culpable as long as the sale of weapons continues.
- We consider that economic and humanitarian help to the Palestinian society is necessary, but we do not want it to serve as a way of clearing one’s conscience, and everything continues as usual. We are anxious that there be a commitment that envisions a real process for peace.

We call on:

♀ To the government of Israel to draw a halt to the current wave of violence and the death siege of Gaza, as well as the policy of violence in the Occupied Territories; and that they comply with the resolutions and treaties of the United Nations, Rome and Geneva.

♀ To Hamas, that they stop launching rockets and concern themselves with the interests and the lives of their citizens

♀ To the government of Spain and the European Union that they not permit any further violence with impunity on the part of the government of Israel, and that they cease selling weapons.

We declare our support and solidarity with the long-suffering Palestinian civil society, the majority of which resists in a nonviolent manner, and also for the Palestinian social organizations that work tirelessly for Peace.
We declare our nearness and support for the Women in Black of Israel and all the groups of the Israeli civil society that work for peace and overtures towards the Palestinian civil society and who oppose the policy of permanent war of the Israeli government.
We subscribe to and support the declaration of the Organizations of Israeli Women.
With each day that passes, peace in the Orient is more essential than ever.
The implementation of Human Rights must be universal in order to obtain peace and harmonious living among all peoples of the world.

Women in Black of Palma de Mallorca, Cantabria and Madrid
04 january 2009

Translation: Trisha Novak, USA

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Statement By Israeli Women's Organizations

We women’s 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
Artemis- Economic Society for Women
Aswat- Palestinian Gay 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 for Israel
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

Israel 31st December 2008