Fatima Shehada Ja’fari
Political activist, women’s organizer, and former political detainee
No institution has given Palestinian women anything. Women have to grab their rights from men. I was the only woman invited to the anniversary celebration of the Fatah movement. I asked the men, “Was the revolution launched by men only? No, it was launched by men and women. Women have always struggled. Have any of you brought your wives, sisters, or mothers to the struggle? You only get us involved when you want us involved. Then you put us aside. You vote for women because you have to, not because you choose to.” [...]
Michal Cafrey
Lawyer and Senior Advisor to Ministers in the Knesset
I am Israeli, a right-winger, and a feminist. I am not for the building of the Wall, I think Jews and Arabs should co-exist. I don’t see an end or solution right now, but I know my policies. Menachem Begin, a right-wing president, brokered the first peace treaty with an Arab country, Egypt, and it continues to this day. Maybe it’s a cold peace, but it’s a peace for 30 years. [...]
Barbara: Sunday
Despite rising early, I barely made the 7:43 train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. No high speed train, this. The ride is notoriously long and winding through the beautiful Judean hills up to the coastal plain. I came prepared with my breakfast, (whole wheat toast, yogurt and a tangerine), two daily papers, a special issue [...]
Barbara: Saturday
It’s Saturday night in Jerusalem. For 25 hours, from Friday night until Saturday after sunset, I don’t watch TV or turn on a computer, but tonight I’ve already watched the news on three different channels to glean whatever I can about the horrendous act of savagery in Mumbai, particularly at the Chabad House, the Jewish [...]
Anya Antopolski
Director of Meeting Point in Nokdim
I’ll tell you a story. About a year ago I was going through the checkpoint on my way home when I saw a very pretty Palestinian girl with a beautiful scarf covering her hair. She was standing next to the checkpoint holding a Palestinian flag and demonstrating against the security fence. I wanted to stand next to her holding an Israeli flag, because I’m also against the fence. If she’s against the fence, and I’m against the fence, then who is for it, really? That’s what I want to say. [...]
Noa Epstein
Coordinator for Peace Now
Politically, I’ve always been motivated, active, and opinionated. Whenever women have an opinion, they are considered to be opinionated. At least in Hebrew, it has a negative connotation. I have tried to translate words into action—happiness, compassion, care, and love. [...]
Molly Malekar
Director of Bat Shalom of The Jerusalem Link
As a peace activist, you have chances every day to feel angry. You deal with peace, but you deal with violations of peace and human rights. I’ve tried to build an internal discipline not to be angry. One thing that relieves me is—maybe it’s age—knowing that peace will not be achieved within my lifetime. We have a long way to go and will not necessarily see the fruits of our work. It’s a marathon—and anger destroys energy.
Jumana Odeh
Founder-Director of Happy Child Center
I argue with Israeli soldiers at the checkpoints. I say “I am human,” but they don’t want to see me as human. They are in denial. They are there to defend and protect their country. When they pass by hundreds of Palestinians, they don’t want to see the suffering children.
Barbara Sofer
Journalist and Director of Public Relations for Hadassah
I’ve been in rooms where people are taking care of terror victims while everybody around the table had to worry that day about being blown up as well—and at the same time, a terrorist would be taken care of. When people come into these hospitals, they move a switch inside and elicit their best selves. We’ll never have a future unless we switch off the static of all the anger and conflicts to move ahead to peace.
Suad Amiry
Author, architect, and architectural conservator
I feel that our conflict with the Israelis can be reduced to one word: land. I cannot trust an Israeli who is always trying to confiscate my piece of land.
Nothing can change the reality that my father’s house is in Jaffa. If Israelis want peace, they must apologize for what they [...]
