In 1989, a meeting was
convened in Brussels between prominent Israeli
and Palestinian women peace activists. The
meeting initiated an on-going dialogue that
in 1994 resulted in the establishment of
The Jerusalem Link
comprising two women's organizations Bat
Shalom on the Israeli side, and the
Jerusalem Center
for Women on the Palestinian side.
The two organizations share a set of political
principles, which serve as the foundation
for a cooperative model of co-existence
between our respective peoples.
Bat Shalom
is an Israeli national feminist grassroots
organization of Jewish and Palestinian Israeli
women working together for a genuine peace
grounded in a just resolution of the Israel-Palestine
conflict, respect for human rights, and
an equal voice for Jewish and Arab women
within Israeli society.
Bat Shalom North
was formed in 1993, by Jewish and Palestinian
women from the kibbutzim, moshavim, villages
and towns in the region of northern Israel
known as Megiddo, Nazareth and the Valleys.
The group identified the need to work together
toward full equality of rights between Jewish
and Arab citizens of Israel.
We, the Jewish and Palestinian Israeli women
of Bat Shalom, call
upon all women to join our active
struggle for peace and equality.
We refuse to silently bear witness to the
destruction of the hope and future of a
peaceful reconciliation.
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