Nahost­konflikt: Sechs Friedensaktivistinnen erzählen | Berner Zeitung

Key Figures and Organizations

The article centers on two women's organizations, Women Wage Peace (WWP) in Israel and Women of the Sun (WOS) in Palestine, and their efforts towards peace. WWP boasts 50,000 members while WOS has around 3,000, primarily residing in the West Bank and Gaza.

• Reem Al-Hajajreh (WOS): A Palestinian activist highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by Palestinians, including the 'right of return' and threats for her pro-Israel stance.
• Regula Alon (WWP): An Israeli activist who moved to Israel from Switzerland, emphasizing the need for both sides to move past the past.
• M. H. (WOS): A Palestinian activist focusing on economic empowerment of women as key to peace.
• Raefa Hakroush (WWP): A Palestinian-Israeli activist sharing experiences of her family's history and ongoing coexistence challenges in Haifa.
• Yasmin (WOS): A Palestinian activist sharing the struggles of protecting her sons from radical influences.
• Anabel Lifszyc (WWP): An Israeli activist highlighting the need for peace before her son joined the army.

Challenges and Obstacles

Personal meetings between the organizations are currently impossible due to security concerns. Activists face threats and criticism from both sides for their collaborative efforts.

Core Arguments

The activists believe that women have a unique role to play in peace negotiations, negotiating more sustainably and consensually than their male counterparts. They stress the need for economic empowerment of women, addressing the root causes of conflict, moving past historical grievances, and challenging the perpetuation of violence for profit.

Call to Action

The women's ultimate goal is to bring both sides to the negotiating table, advocating for basic rights like safety, education, and economic opportunities for their children and their people. They urge global action and pressure on respective governments to prioritize peace over continued conflict.