In conflict, the feminine voice is one of influence and power but in our societies of gendered politics and asymmetric gender power, women’s voices are often ignored and marginalized. Women in conflict are not only victims but also powerful agents of important change, who with their courage, commitment and determination and with their tolerance, compassion, forgiveness and practical solutions are very capable of taking action and demanding to see a change. Musalaha offers Israeli and Palestinian women a forum for meeting and reconciling with each other and empowers the women through training to take an active role as leaders of reconciliation in their local communities. Hundreds of Palestinian and Israeli women meet frequently in small, organized groups on national, regional and local levels.
National Groups
Groups of 10 Israeli and 10 Palestinian women meet to tackle difficult issues affecting both sides and receive leadership training. The groups meet four times a year. Currently Musalaha has six national groups and a new group is established each year.
Regional and Local Groups
Groups of 50 women in Israel and the Palestinian Authority meet monthly for training in reconciliation and issues relating to their region or local community. We also train these women in taking an active role in local social involvement through facilitating social and reconciliation activities such as summer camps, handicap day, and outreach to the needy. Musalaha currently runs three regional groups and five local groups.
Third side group
This is a group of women who are not Jewish or Palestinian but are long-term residents or citizens in Israel or the PA either through marriage to locals or long-term work positions. As long-term residents these women are also greatly affected by the conflict and have a unique potential to be bridges between the two sides. These women meet three times a year and meet with the national groups twice a year.
Muslim-Christian Committee
In 2009, we broadened our women’s ministry to facilitate dialogue between women of other faiths to promote a better understanding and reconciliation among these communities. With this project we aim at empowering women to initiate joint reconciliation activities within their communities. A group of 7 Muslim and 7 Christian Palestinian women from Bethlehem meet monthly to engage in dialogue and cooperate for the benefit of their communities. In 2011 we will include Jewish women into the dialogue.
Community Development Project
The women’s department is starting a new community development project in Bethlehem that aims at empowering the less privileged women of all faiths through educational programs, women’s rights workshops, and social outreach initiatives.