Peacebuilding for Israel and Palestinian Territories

This page provides links to selected organizations and services involved in peacebuilding in Israel and Palestinian Territories. There is also information about research resources including news sources and resource websites on Israel and Palestinian Territories. In keeping with a broad definition of "peacebuilding," this set of links includes both government and civil society organizations, agencies and individuals working in areas of conflict resolution, violence prevention, human rights, legal development and governance. Readers are invited to contribute information that will enhance the purposes and completeness of Israel and Palestinian Territories Peacebuilding Links. Peacemakers Trust has created these links for research purposes only, and cannot take responsibility for content of third party websites. Inclusion of a link to a site does not imply endorsement of or association with Peacemakers Trust.

Conflict Resolution, Peacemaking, and Non-Violence
Development and Humanitarian Relief
Governance
Humanitarian Relief and Development
Human Rights
Interreligious Dialogue
International Humanitarian Law
International Organizations, INGOs and Foreign NGOs
Laws including International Treaties
News and Information Sources
Primers and Other Resource Websites
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Conflict Resolution, Peacemaking and Nonviolence

All for Peace Radio, a joint Israeli-Palestinian radio outlet broadcasting twenty-four hours a day in Arabic, Hebrew and English.

American Friends Service Committee. Israel-Palestine Peacebuilding.

Christian Peacemaker Teams. CPT Palestine Projects.

Coalition Of Women For Peace. A Coalition of Israeli and Palestinian women's organizations working together for a just peace. The coalition includes Bat Shalom, Women in Black, The Fifth Mother Movement, Women Engendering Peace, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, TANDI, Noga, NELED, Machsom-Watch. See their principles.

Fellowship of Reconciliation. Pages on Israel, Lebanon and Palestine.

INCORE guide to Internet sources on conflict in Israel/Palestine.

Israel-Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI) IPCRI was launched in 1988 to promote dialogue at various levels between Israeli and Palestinian civil societies. IPCRI was founded on the principle that it should be a joint partnership between Israeli and Palestinian intellectuals, academics, professionals, politicians, and others, reflecting a conviction that peace-making and peace-building must similarly be joint and bi-partisan efforts (assisted by the international community).

Interns for Peace has projects in Israel, Palestine and elsewhere aimed at bringing together Israeli and Palestinian youth and women for joint community development projects and training in peace work.

J Street This US-based organization was founded "to change the dynamics of American politics and policy on Israel and the Middle East." J Street believes "the security and future of Israel as the democratic home of the Jewish people depend on rapidly achieving a two-state solution and regional comprehensive peace."

Mennonite Central Committee (use search engine on thie page to locate pages on Palestine). Palestine. MCC has worked in this region since 1949 and supports a number of Palestinian and Israeli peace-building initiatives including conflict resolution, dialogue. MCC also supports agricultural research and development.

Middle East Advanced Coexistence Program. Opened in 1999, the Center provides workshops, presentations, seminars, sports, music and art activities and festivals to follow-up the youth activities of Seeds of Peace (see entry under "Seeds of Peace" below).

Middle East Peace Dialogue Network (MEPDN) supports dialogue activities throughout the Middle East.

Operation Dove has had a presence in Israel and Palestine since February 2002.

Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center is a grassroots organization in Bethlehem working to build democracy and justice by addressing injustices through the Palestinian traditional mediation method of Sulha. The Center also works on human rights and gender issues.

The Parents' Circle - The Families Forum is a group of Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost immediate family members as a result of the Israeli-Arab conflict. The Families Forum works to prevent further bereavement by promoting an end to occupation, termination of hostility, and mutually agreed political settlement. They see political settlement together with mutual consideration and respect of each others' national and legitimate aspirations as a means of reconciliation between the two peoples. Members of the Forum have talked with leaders on both sides of the conflict as well as other Israeli and world leaders and statesmen. Members of the Forum are involved in joint Israeli-Palestinian seminars and educational activities in high schools.

Peace Now is Israel's oldest peace movement, founded in 1978 during the Israeli-Egyptian peace talks. The basic principles of the movement from the outset were the right of Israel to live within secure borders and the right of our neighbors to do the same, including the right of Palestinians to self-determination.

Remember These Children lists each of the deaths of children under eighteen who have been victims of the violence in Israel and the Palestian territories since September 29, 2000 when the current Palestinian intifada erupted. The children are listed chronologically by date of death. Each entry includes the child's name and home town, how the child was killed, and the location of the fatal injury (if available.) See the list of children's deaths in 2003.

Sabeel is an ecumenical movement among Palestinian Christians seeking to deepen the faith of Palestinian Christians, to promote unity among them toward social action. Sabeel strives "to develop a spirituality based on love, justice, peace, nonviolence, liberation and reconciliation for the different national and faith communities."

Seeds of Peace brings together Arab and Israeli teenagers in a summer camp in Maine, USA for an intensive, month-long program that combines recreational sports and arts activities with daily conflict-resolution sessions led by professional American, Arab and Israeli facilitators.

World Vision. See World Vision's Resources on Justice and Development: Peacebuilding and Conflict including its 2003 publication Who Will Wipe Away Their Tears? (pdf file)

Humanitarian Relief and Development

Relief Web: Documents on Israel including the Palestinian Territories. Published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, ReliefWeb is an electronic clearinghouse for information on humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters designed specifically to help the humanitarian community improve its response to emergencies.

The Sphere Project has developed a Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response on relief agencies' standards of independence, effectiveness and impact.

Interreligious Dialogue

This section to be developed. Suggestions welcome.

International Human Rights

Amnesty International. This page contains Amnesty International's reports about Israel and Occupied Territories. See also the pages on the areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority. AI Israel YouTube channel

Center for Economic and Social Rights. CESR is located in Brooklyn, New York. This page contains information about CESR's research in Gaza and the West Bank.

Human Rights Watch (HRW). This page hosted by Human Rights Watch contains HRW reports about Israel, the Occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, and Palestinian Authority Territories.

B'Tselem Israeli Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B'Tselem). B'Tselem was established in 1989 by a group of academics, attorneys, journalists, and Knesset members to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights issues in the Occupied Territories. It works toward Israeli policy that complies with its obligations under international law and toward protection of the human rights of residents in the Occupied Territories. This site says "B'Tselem in Hebrew means 'in the image of' and is also used as a synonym for human dignity. The word is taken from Genesis 1:27 'And God created humans in his image. In the image of God did He create him.' It is in this spirit that the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that 'All human beings are born equal in dignity and rights. B'Tselem YouTube channel

MachsomWatch. Established in 2001, MachsomWatch is an organisation of peace activist Israeli women against the Israeli Occupation of the territories and the systematic repression of the Palestinian nation. MachsomWatch YouTube channel

NGO Monitor. NGO Monitor generates and publicizes critical statements about NGOs that it finds using the language of international human rights to "promote politically and ideologically motivated anti-Israel agendas." A number of the organizations listed on this page are criticized by the NGO Monitor.

The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights & the Environment (LAW). This Jerusalem-based human rights organisation was founded in 1990 by a group of Palestinian lawyers to promote human rights, further the rule of law, and defend Palestinian rights in accordance with international human rights law and UN declarations. LAW is an affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), The World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) and is a member of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network.

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), 29 Omar al-Mukhtar St, PO Box 1328. Gaza City, Gaza Strip, via Israel. Telefax: 972 8 282 4776; 972 8 282 5893; 972 8 282 3725; E-mail:pchr@trendline.co.il PCHR is a member of the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) and has UN Special Consultative Status.

Physicians for Human Rights - Israel. Established in 1988, PHP-Israel is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization for promotion and protection of the right to health care in Israel and Israel-controlled territories.

Rabbis For Human Rights, was founded in 1988. It is an Israeli rabbinic organization based in Jerusalem. It comprises Reform, Orthodox, Conservative and Reconstructionist rabbis and students and conducts research, education and advocacy based on the Jewish tradition of human rights.

UN Watch. UN Watch is a Geneva-based non-governmental organization with a stated mandate "to monitor the performance of the United Nations by the yardstick of its own Charter" with a focus on "the disproportionate attention and unfair treatment applied by the UN toward Israel."

International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The ICRC has been permanently present in Israel and the Occupied and Autonomous Territories since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. ICRC promotes respect for international humanitarian law by parties to conflict. See the International Committee of the Red Cross page on International humanitarian law (IHL) in brief including a pdf brochure entitled "International humanitarian law : answers to your questions" which can be downloaded for distribution.

Laws and Policies (English)

Constitution, Government & Legislation: Palestinian Authority. See also the pages on Israel. Compiled by Jurist Legal Education Network, School of Law, University of Pittsburgh.

International Constitutional Law Project: Israel Index including material on Gaza and West Bank., by Axel Tschentscher, Institut für Öffentliches Recht-Aktuell, Bern.

International Labour Organization (ILO). This page provides information on Israel's ratifications of ILO Conventions with links through to the text of the relevant conventions. This page also provides information on Israel's constitution and laws as well as other resources.

Israel Bar. Established in 1961, the Israel Bar is an autonomous entity with leadership elected by Israel's lawyers. It supervises standards and ethics of the legal profession.

Law Library of Congress: State of Israel and Occupied Territories, West Bank, and Gaza (Including Areas Subject to the Jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority.

Bayefsky.com valuable pages on Israel's treaty signatures, ratifications, reservations, reports and other documents pertaining to Israel. Search the site for documents mentioning the Palestinian Territories.

Governance

Israel Government Gateway. (English language).

Palestinian National Authority. Not an official PNA website; information by Worldstatemen.org

Programme on Governance in the Arab Region: Occupied Palestinian Territories, summarizes administrative divisions, Negotiations for Self-Government, governance structures, membership in international organizations and associational life. See also the essays on participation, rule of law, transparency and accountability.

International Organizations, ICRC, International NGOs, and foreign humanitarian and development NGOs working in Israel and Palestinian Territories

Global IDP Database. This is the Palestinian Territories Information Menu page of this global data base on internal displacement around the world supported by various governmantal and non-governmental aid agencies. See also the Israel Information Menu.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). ICRC has had a permanent presence in Israel and the Palalestinian Territories since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It works towards ensuring respect for international humanitarian law (IHL).

UNICEF. UNICEF's page on Occupied Palestinian Territories and its page on Israel.

World Health Organization. See WHOs pages on Israel and their documents on the Palestinian Territories.

World Vision Jerusalem. World Vision International is increasingly focusing attention on conflict resolution and peacebuilding in various places in the world.

Primers and Other Resources

The Origin of the Palestine-Israel Conflict, 3rd edition. Berkeley, CA: Jews for Justice in the Middle East, 2000.

Question of Palestine: History 1917-1947. Published by the NGO Network On The Question Of Palestine, Division for Palestinian Rights, DPA/UN.

Palestine, Israel and the Arab-Israeli Conflict: A Primer, Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP).

News and Information Sources

All for Peace Radio, a joint Israeli-Palestinian radio outlet broadcasting twenty-four hours a day in Arabic, Hebrew and English.

Relief Web updates on Israel and the Palestinian Territories, daily . See also Relief Web's links to various country profiles on Israel and on the Palestinian Territories.

BBC World News: Middle East. See BBC's very brief Country profile.

Checkpoint Jerusalem, a blog by the Jerusalem bureau chief for McClatchy Newspapers.

ElectronicIntifada.net. An electronic news portal on the Palestinian Territories. EI takes a Palestinian perspective. See note about the term intifada

Google news. Google search of news about Israeli-Palestinian issues from sources around the world.

Haaretz Daily. Haaretz describes itself as "an independent daily newspaper with a broadly liberal outlook both on domestic issues and on international affairs."

NGO Monitor. NGO Monitor generates and publicizes critical statements about NGOs that it finds using the language of international human rights to "promote politically and ideologically motivated anti-Israel agendas."

IRINnews.org: Middle East Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) is part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). IRIN reporting focuses on increasing access to non-partisan information so as to enhance the capacity of the humanitarian community to understand, respond to and avert emergencies. IRIN supports efforts at conflict resolution and reconciliation by countering misinformation and propaganda. See also OCHA's Relief Web documents on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. ReliefWeb is an electronic clearinghouse for information on humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters designed specifically to help the humanitarian community improve its response to emergencies. Check daily for updates.

McLatchy News, a US news service. See the Middle East Diary, a blog by McClatchy Newspapers correspondent based in Cairo.

Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA). Monthly news of the Middle East.

UNWire. The UN Foundation's Independent News Briefing About the UN contains stories throughout the world. Scroll down to the sample page for the up to date news page.

Resource Websites

International Crisis Group: Middle East/North Africa. ICG is an independent, non-profit, multinational organisation doing field-based analysis and advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict.

Middle East Report, Quarterly Journal, published by MERIP, Washington, DC.

Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA). Academic journal published by MERIA.

NGO Monitor. NGO Monitor generates and publicizes critical statements about NGOs that use the language of international human rights to "promote politically and ideologically motivated anti-Israel agendas."

UN Watch. UN Watch is a Geneva-based non-governmental organization with a stated mandate "to monitor the performance of the United Nations by the yardstick of its own Charter" with a focus on "the disproportionate attention and unfair treatment applied by the UN toward Israel."

About the term intifada. The term intifada is the Arabic term meaning "shaking off or shivering because of fear or illness". It also means an "abrupt and sudden waking up from sleep or unconcerned status." Other sources translate it as "uprising." The term has become well known since 1987, when the seven year Palestinian uprising began against Israeli occupation. The intifada ended in the signing of the interim peace accords between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel in 1994, first in Oslo and then formally at the White House. The Oslo Accords resulted in the creation of the Palestinian Authorities. The so-called "second intifada" emerged in 2000 after continued disputes about Israeli settlers in Occupied Terrorities. The term intifada does not necessarily denote armed conflict. The intifada methods have included both violent and nonviolent strategies.

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