Bat Shalom

Bat Shalom (Daughter of Peace), the Jerusalem Women's Action Center, is a grassroots Israeli feminist peace organization dedicated to social justice, equality, [Page 133]and sustainable peace. Bat Shalom was founded as part of the Jerusalem Link and functions within Israeli society to foster fundamental societal changes.

Israeli and Palestinian women actively participated in a process of sociopolitical change within the context of peace, which brought about a transformation of the power structure regarding gender roles. These significant changes led to organizational efforts that culminated in dialogue at the first International Women's Peace Conference, held in Brussels in 1989. Out of this conference evolved the concept for the Jerusalem Link, which was registered as a nongovernmental organization in 1993 and launched in 1994.

The Jerusalem Link is composed of two women's organizations, Bat Shalom on the Israeli side, and the Jerusalem Center for Women (JCW) on the Palestinian side. Bat Shalom is located in West Jerusalem, and the JCW in East Jerusalem. Bat Shalom also has a branch in the northern city of Afula. The Jerusalem Link is a centralized organization established as a peace link between Israeli and Palestinian women and not as a protest movement.

As part of the Jerusalem Link, the organizations share a set of political principles and work together to carry out joint programs geared toward just and sustainable peace and human rights in the region, as well as the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Jerusalem Link serves as a base for cooperation, coordination, and mutual support, while independently, each center maintains its organizational and executive integrity. Each center strives for the advancement of women within their respective societies.

The Jerusalem Link was established at a time when peace activism was connected to governmental policies and the women's movement had already become part of national agenda. This phenomenon was a result of the efforts led by Women in Black and the Coalition of Women for Peace.

Bat Shalom is composed of a wide gamut of women, ranging from activists to Knesset members, and works in coalition with more than 100 women's peace and antioccupation initiatives around the world.

Initially, all of Bat Shalom's projects dealt with creating connections between Israeli and Palestinian women, promoting coexistence and equality. Recently, however, Bat Shalom has opposed Jewish settlements and called for their dismantling, has launched several appeals for international intervention, advocated a two-state solution, and together with the JCW, presented various joint declarations.