Peace Now
Encyclopedia
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
with the aim of promoting Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Objectives/Positions
- Two states for two nations- Israel and Palestine
- A Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel based on the borders of June, 1967 with land swaps agreed upon by both sides
- Jerusalem - Two capitals for two states. A solution based on demographic breakdowns with a special agreement for the Old City.
- Peace with Syria- A peace agreement based on secure and recognized borders, and the regulation of relations between the two countries is the primary strategic issue for the people of Israel and Syria.
- Beginning negotiations with Syria is a gateway to negotiations with Lebanon and will help create a new international mood in the region.
- Peace Now views the settlements as a threat to the existence of Israel as a democratic and Jewish State.
- Peace Now views the settlements as a main obstacle to any future peace agreement.
- Peace Now views the settlements as an element that harms the State of Israel on many fronts: security, economically, morally culturally. They also harm Israel's standing in the international community.
Origins
Peace Now was formed during the 1978 Israeli-Egyptian peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem BeginMenachem Begin
' was a politician, founder of Likud and the sixth Prime Minister of the State of Israel. Before independence, he was the leader of the Zionist militant group Irgun, the Revisionist breakaway from the larger Jewish paramilitary organization Haganah. He proclaimed a revolt, on 1 February 1944,...
and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat
Anwar Sadat
Muhammad Anwar al-Sadat was the third President of Egypt, serving from 15 October 1970 until his assassination by fundamentalist army officers on 6 October 1981...
at a time when the talks looked close to collapse.
348 reserve officers and soldiers from Israeli army combat units published an open letter to the Prime Minister of Israel in which they called for the Israeli government not to squander the historic opportunity for peace between the two nations. The officers realised that Israel could not retain its Jewish-democratic nature whilst it continued to perpetuate its rule over one million Arabs. They concluded that Israel's security needs could only be met by the attainment of peace between Israel and its neighbours via a negotiated agreement. Subsequently tens of thousands of Israelis petitioned the Israeli government in support of the letter, and as a result the movement known as Peace Now was born.
Early Activism
Peace Now again came to prominence following Israel's1982 Invasion of Lebanon, and in particular the massacre of Palestinian refugees by Christian Lebanese Phalangists at the IsraeliIsraeli
Israeli may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to the country of Israel* Israelis, people from Israel, or of Israeli descent. For more information about the Israeli people, see:**Demographics of Israel**Culture of Israel**Israelites...
controlled Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. On 25 September 1982 Peace Now held a mass protest in Tel Aviv on 25 September 1982 in order to pressure the government to establish a national inquiry commission to investigate the massacres, as well as calling for the resignation of the Defence Minister
Defence minister
A defence minister is a person in a cabinet position in charge of a Ministry of Defence, which regulates the armed forces in some sovereign nations...
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
. Peace Now's 1982 demonstration was attended by 400,000 people, approximately 10% of Israel's population at the time.
Subsequently the Israeli government established the Kahan Commission
Kahan Commission
The Kahan Commission , formally known as the Commission of Inquiry into the Events at the Refugee Camps in Beirut, was established by the Israeli government on 28 September 1982, to investigate the Sabra and Shatila Massacre . The Kahan Commission was chaired by the President of the Supreme Court,...
on 28 September 1982. Four months later the commission found Israel to be indirectly responsible for the massacres, and recommended Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
's resignation.
Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin
Menachem Begin
' was a politician, founder of Likud and the sixth Prime Minister of the State of Israel. Before independence, he was the leader of the Zionist militant group Irgun, the Revisionist breakaway from the larger Jewish paramilitary organization Haganah. He proclaimed a revolt, on 1 February 1944,...
at first refused to adopt the Kahan Commission
Kahan Commission
The Kahan Commission , formally known as the Commission of Inquiry into the Events at the Refugee Camps in Beirut, was established by the Israeli government on 28 September 1982, to investigate the Sabra and Shatila Massacre . The Kahan Commission was chaired by the President of the Supreme Court,...
's recommendations. Consequently Peace Now decided to hold a demonstration on 10 February 1983 that marched from Zion Square towards the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem in order to pressure the government to do so.
Emil Grunzweig
In the wake of the Sabra and Shatila massacres, Peace Now led a march from Zion Square and moved towards the Prime Ministers' Office in Jerusalem on February 10 1983. During the march Peace Now demonstrators encountered a group of right-wing activists. In the ensuing confrontation, Yona Avrushmi tossed a hand-grenade into the crowd, killing Emil GrunzweigEmil Grunzweig
Emil Grunzweig was an Israeli teacher and peace activist affiliated with the Peace Now movement. He became an icon of the Israeli left after he was killed by a grenade thrown at a peace rally in Jerusalem in 1983.-Biography:Emil Grunzweig was born in Cluj in Transylvania, Romania...
, a prominent Peace Now activist, and injuring several others.
Yona Avrushmi was duly arrested, convicted of murder and given a mandatory life sentence, which was commuted to 27 years by President Ezer Weizman
Ezer Weizman
' was the seventh President of Israel, first elected in 1993 and re-elected in 1998. Before the presidency, Weizman was commander of the Israeli Air Force and Minister of Defense.-Biography:...
in 1995.Yona Avrushmi was released on 26th January 2011.
As a result of mounting public pressure on Menachem Begin
Menachem Begin
' was a politician, founder of Likud and the sixth Prime Minister of the State of Israel. Before independence, he was the leader of the Zionist militant group Irgun, the Revisionist breakaway from the larger Jewish paramilitary organization Haganah. He proclaimed a revolt, on 1 February 1944,...
to adopt the Kahan Commission
Kahan Commission
The Kahan Commission , formally known as the Commission of Inquiry into the Events at the Refugee Camps in Beirut, was established by the Israeli government on 28 September 1982, to investigate the Sabra and Shatila Massacre . The Kahan Commission was chaired by the President of the Supreme Court,...
's recommendations, largely due to popular outrage caused by the assassination of Emil Grunzweig
Emil Grunzweig
Emil Grunzweig was an Israeli teacher and peace activist affiliated with the Peace Now movement. He became an icon of the Israeli left after he was killed by a grenade thrown at a peace rally in Jerusalem in 1983.-Biography:Emil Grunzweig was born in Cluj in Transylvania, Romania...
, Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
agreed to step down as Defence Minister. However, he remained in the government as a minister without portfolio.
Peace Now and the First IntifadaFirst IntifadaThe First Intifada was a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. The uprising began in the Jabalia refugee camp and quickly spread throughout Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem....
(1987-1993)
In 1988 Yasser ArafatYasser Arafat
Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini , popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar , was a Palestinian leader and a Laureate of the Nobel Prize. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization , President of the Palestinian National Authority...
(Chairman of the [PLO]] publicly accepted United Nations Security Council Resolution 242
United Nations Security Council Resolution 242
United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 was adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council on November 22, 1967, in the aftermath of the Six Day War. It was adopted under Chapter VIof the United Nations Charter...
at the PNC
PNC
PNC may refer to:* Colombian National Police, in Spanish: Policía Nacional de Colombia* Palestinian National Council, the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organization...
in Algiers. For the first time, Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat
Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini , popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar , was a Palestinian leader and a Laureate of the Nobel Prize. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization , President of the Palestinian National Authority...
accepted Israel's existence according to its borders set out in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181, and rejected and condemned the use of terrorism in all its forms. In reaction Peace Now led a demonstration of more than 100,000 people, calling for immediate Israeli-Palestinian negotiations for the purposes of attaining peace between the two parties. Following this, Peace Now led the Hands Around Jerusalem event, in which 25,000 Israelis and Palestinians linked hands to encircle the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem in a chain of peace.
In part due to the Israeli-Palestinian discourse engendered by Peace Now and its activists, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin and Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat
Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini , popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar , was a Palestinian leader and a Laureate of the Nobel Prize. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization , President of the Palestinian National Authority...
succeeded in signing the Declaration of Principles/Oslo Accords
Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords, officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements or Declaration of Principles , was an attempt to resolve the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict...
on the lawn of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
on September 13th 1993. Peace Now was the first Israeli organisation to meet with the PLO, ata time when such an undertaking was deemed illegal by the Israeli government.
The signing of the Oslo accords
Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords, officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements or Declaration of Principles , was an attempt to resolve the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict...
marked a milestone in Israeli-Palestinian relations, as for the first time both peoples recognised their counterparts right to exist. Furthermore, the Oslo Peace Process was initiated; this process was a framework for future negotiations which aimed to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict within a five-year period according to the logic of the 'two state solution', as set-out in the UN General Assembly Resolution 181.
Peace Now wholeheartedly supported the Oslo Accords
Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords, officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements or Declaration of Principles , was an attempt to resolve the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict...
, and since then it has called upon all Israeli administrations to date to adhere to the terms of interim agreements which were agreed upon as part of the Oslo Peace Process.
Peace Now and the Second Intifada (2000-?)
Since the outbreak of the Second Intifada in December 2000, Peace Now has arguably lost a certain degree of the Israeli public's support due to the violent nature of the Second Intifada.Whilst the First IntifadaFirst Intifada
The First Intifada was a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. The uprising began in the Jabalia refugee camp and quickly spread throughout Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem....
was largely a popular movement on part of the Palestinian public, the Second Intifada consisted of far more violent confrontations between Palestinian militants and the IDF
IDF
-Military:*Iceland Defense Force*Irish Defence Forces*Israel Defense Forces*AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo, a light fighter aircraft created for the Republic of China Air Force under its Indigenous Defence Fighter program*Identify, Insured Deposit Fund-Non-military:...
, Israeli settlers within the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
and the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
) and Israeli civilians. According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 132 Israeli individuals were killed by Palestininan milintant bomb/suicide attacks within Israel proper between 2000 and 2004.
The decline in public support for Peace Now was illustrated in an IMRA
Imra
Imra was the chief pre-Islamic god of the Hindukush Kafir people. He was worshipped as the god of creation. By his breath, Imra created other gods of Kafir pantheon. Frequent sacrifiices were made to Imra, sometimes for recovery from sickness, seasonable weather, or other material benefits,...
commissioned poll in August 2009 which found that 41% of adult Israeli-Jewish asked agreed with the statement that "Peace Now has caused great damage to the State of Israel", while 19% disagreed. The results are not so stark when one takes into account the political party affiliation of those asked; whilst 98% of Likud voters within the research group (of 506) agreed with the above statement, 33% of Kadima and 48% of Labor voters disagreed.
Despite the arguable decline in the Israeli public's support for the Oslo Peace Process, Peace Now succeeded in leading a demonstration of 100,000 people for the purposes of pressuring the government to withdraw from all Palestinian territories. Shortly after the outbreak of the Second Intifada, Peace Now was instrumental in creating the Israeli Peace Coalition, which later evolved into the Israeli-Palestine Peace Coalition. It mains objective is to is to end the Israeli occupation in Palestinian lands, and to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace based on a two-state solution.
Israel's unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip
Peace Now was a key advocate of Israel's 2004 Disengagement Plan. Peace Now led the the 'Mate ha-Rov' ("majority camp") demonstration on May 14th 2004 in Tel Aviv, in order to pressure the Israeli government to adopt the Disengagement Plan. However support for the Disengagement Plan faced contention within the Peace Now camp over its unilateral nature. Peace Now decided it was most important for Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, regardless of the manner in which this withdrawal was to take place.Settlement Activity
One of the most important activities of Peace Now is its ongoing Settlement Watch project which monitors and protests against the building of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Dror Aktes headed this committee until 2007 when he was replaced by Hagit Ofran. The project focuses on the following issues with regards to the settlements:-- Physical development – Where and why are there construction and expansion activities connected to the settlements or their residents? And what are the short- and long-term implications of these activities?
- Economy – How much do the settlements cost and who is paying for them?
- Demography – How many settlers and how many Palestinians live in the territories? What are the demographic trends that can be pointed out today?
- Proper management – How are decisions regarding construction and development made? What elements are responsible for planning and for the enforcement of the construction laws and regulations in the territories?
- Environmental implications – What are the environmental implications of the settlements and the continued construction that is being undertaken there?
Peace Now's Settlement Watch project has resulted in the following developments:-
- AmonaAmonaAmona is an Israeli settlement in the central West Bank, on a hill overlooking Ofra. Located within the municipal boundaries of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, the village was founded in 1997 on a hilltop of privately owned Palestinian land and inhabited by young settlers from Ofra.By late...
(2005) - Peace Now motioned to the Supreme Court demanding the evacuation of the settlement in Amona. Their motion was accepted and the settlement was evacuated by security forces several months later.
- Removal of all illegal West BankWest BankThe West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
settlements (March 2011) - Following a petition submitted by Peace Now to the Israeli Supreme Court, Benyamin Netanyahu's government ordered that the state dismantle all illegal West Bank outposts built on private Palestinian land by the end of 2011.
- MigronMigronMigron may refer to:* Migron, Charente-Maritime - commune in France.* Migron - Israeli settlement....
(ongoing)- Following a petition to the Israeli Supreme Court by Peace Now, the state was ordered to dismantle Migron, the largest illegal settlement outpost in the West Bank, by April 2012. This was key as this was the first time the Supreme Court had ordered the Israeli state to dismantle an outpost in the West Bank.
Similarly, the movement continues activity on the ground in support of evacuation through demonstrations, vigils and other campaign activity. Activities include:-
- Updates on settlement expansion by means of aerial photography/ground surveys
- Publication of figures to the public and decision makers in Israel as well as around the world (American government officials often rely on data presented by Peace Now to assess the nature of Israel's various settlement programs)
- Submission of cases to the court to evacuate outposts in the West Bank.
- Formulation and dissemination of maps/media reports (in English and Hebrew) on a tri-annual basis showing contemporaneous settlement activity in the West Bank
Wikileaks
According to leakedNews leak
A news leak is a disclosure of embargoed information in advance of its official release, or the unsanctioned release of confidential information.-Types of news leaks:...
documents released by WikiLeaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
in April 2011, Peace Now has regularly updated both the U.S. government and the Israeli Defense Ministry on ongoing settlement construction in the West Bank. The documents indicate that the Defense Ministry used Peace Now's services to monitor West Bank settlement construction. In 2006, Peace Now director Yariv Oppenheimer reportedly urged the U.S. to pressure Israel into evacuating West Bank outposts, according to a leaked U.S. diplomatic cable. Oppenheimer was quoted as saying that Israel might "evacuate a few outposts to show the U.S. that it is doing something, but in exchange it is trying to co-opt the settlers by retroactively approving some outposts and giving them a freer hand in building in the West Bank."
Disputed information about settlements
In a report, Peace Now said that "a large proportion of the settlements built on the West Bank are built on privately owned Palestinian land," including 86.4 percent of Ma'ale Adumim's land and 35.1 percent of ArielAriel (city)
Ariel is an Israeli settlement and a city in the West Bank. Ariel was established in 1978. Its population at the end of 2009 was 17,600, including 7,000 immigrants who came to Israel after 1990. It is the fourth largest Jewish settlement city in the West Bank., after Modi'in Illit, Beitar Illit,...
's. Overall, the report said, "Palestinians privately own nearly 40% of the land on which settlements have been built.". This is disputed by the government, who argue it cannot have been privately owned, as it was "not under the legitimate sovereignty of any state". On the specific issue of Ma'ale Adumim, Peace Now faced criticism for downgrading their estimate of the proportion built on privately owned Palestinian land from 86%, to 0.5%. The group's revision was based on government information which had newly been released to them.
Israel Student Campus Project
Peace Now seeks to educate the Israeli youth on the nature of, and solution to, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In order to achieve this the organisation:-- Leads a series of open debates and 6-week 'peace courses' on campuses throughout Israel
- Distributes brochures, maps and other such literature to students on campuses
- Conducts monthly tours for students across the West Bank and Easy Jerusalem
- Sponsors and directs annual 'Dialogue Workshops' with Palestinian students.
Internet Campaigns
Peace Now seeks to promote its various causes via an active presence on such social networking sites as FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. Against the background of the 'Boycott Laws' which were being passed through the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
(July 2011), the popular Israeli internet site – 'Horim B’reshet' made a survey of the most popular Israeli protest Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
pages, of which Peace Now's page ranked 5th.
Conducting tours in the West Bank for opinion-makers
Peace Now aims to the educate leading decision makers on the counter-productive effects the settlements have on the attainment of the 'two-state solution'.One such tour was conducted by Peace Now in August 2009, and attended by such figures as
MK
Mk
mk is the build tool replacing make in Version 10 Unix, Plan 9 from Bell Labs, and Inferno. It improves upon its predecessor by introducing a completely new syntax that is both easier to read and more powerful...
s Ophir Pines-Paz
Ophir Pines-Paz
Ophir Pines-Paz is an Israeli former politician who served as Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Science, Culture & Sport and as a member of the Knesset for the Labor Party from 1996 until 2010.-Biography:...
(Labor), Daniel Ben-Simon (Labor) and Chaim Oron (Meretz Chairman). .
Demonstrations/Rallies
Peace Now organises demonstrations and rallies in support of peace and human rights:-- Rally Against Racism (26 February 2011 - Peace Now joined 1,500 other activists at Zion Square, Jerusalem, to protest against the spate of government policies dealing with the nature of the citizenship of Arab-Israelis living within the Israeli state; especially those forwarded by Israel's outspoken Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu).
- In support of a Palestinian state in the West BankWest BankThe West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
and the Gaza StripGaza Stripthumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
(4 June 2011) - Peace Now joined 5000 other activists in a march in Tel AvivTel AvivTel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, to support the Palestinian bid for UN memership as an independent state. - Against the 'Boycott Law' (July 10 2011) - Peace Now held a protest in Jerusalem in response to proposed KnessetKnessetThe Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
legislation stating that any boycott against Israel or any group located within its territory (including Judea and Samaria/ the West BankWest BankThe West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
), would be labeled a civil offense. This law made boycotters subject to litigation and so financial penalties.Following the passing of the boycott legislation into law, Peace Now led a campaign calling for the boycott of settlement produce. - 'Glenn BeckGlenn BeckGlenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
go home' (24 August 2011) - In response to Glenn BeckGlenn BeckGlenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
's (an American conservative radio host) 'Restoring Courage' - tour in Israel, Peace Now activists protested outside the Jerusalem rally held by the broadcaster, claiming that his ultra-Conservative values inflamed the already tense situation with regards to the Israel and Palestine situation. - Yitzchak Rabin Memorial Rally - Every year since former Israel Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin's assassination (November 4, 1995), Peace Now activists take part in an annual rally in Kikar Rabin (Tel Aviv) to commemorate the statesman's life, and to issue calls in support for the re-invigoration of the Middle East Peace Process.
- In support of 'Freedom of Speech' (22 November 2011) - In response to a proposed government amendment to Israel's 'Defamation Law', which would increase the maximum compensation paid for libel violations sixfold to NIS 300,000 (roughly $80,500), regardless of proof of damages, Peace Now led a 2000 strong rally in Tel Aviv.
'Price-Tag' Attacks Against Peace Now Activists
Due to Peace Now's continued opposition to the development and construction of Jewish settlements in the West BankWest Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
/East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem or Eastern Jerusalem refer to the parts of Jerusalem captured and annexed by Jordan in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and then captured and annexed by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War...
, the organisation and several of its leading activists have been subject to 'price-tag' attacks and death-threats.
A 'price-tag' attack is defined as violent acts committed against Palestinians, Israeli security forces and/or anti-settlement organisations by pro-settlement advocates in retaliation for terrorist attacks on Israeli targets, government demolition of structures in West Bank settlements or curbs on Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank.
In response to the demolition of three homes in the Migron settlement (as a result of a petition submitted to the Israeli Supreme Court by Peace Now in 2006), right-wing demonstrators spray-painted 'Price Tag Migron', 'Revenge' and 'Death to Traitors' on the entrance to the building of the head of Peace Now's 'Settlement Watch' project (Hagit Ofran)in early October 2011.Following the incident, a police investigation was opened. Approximately two months later another 'price tag' attack was carried out again at Hagit Ofran's residence.
At the 2011 Rabin commemoration rally in Tel Aviv, Hagit Ofran stated in reference to the recent 'price tag attacks':
"The graffiti was sprayed in my home, but the taunts are in all of our stairwells. The tag may have marked me, but we all pay the price. We must not fear. We are here, and we are many. We have a voice and we must raise it. And today we say to Benjamin Netanyahu: We are not afraid."
On 6 November 2011, Peace Now's Jerusalem office received a bomb-threat. Police were called to the scene and the building was evacuated. The threat was later found to be a hoax. Following a brief investigation, Jerusalem District Police arrested a 21 year old male resident of a settlement near Jerusalem who was suspected of vandalizing Peace Now offices in Jerusalem. Police also tried to ascertain whether the suspect was involved in the 'price-tag' attacks on Hagit Ofran's residence;. A gag order was initially placed on the publication of his name and picture due to the “ongoing investigation” into the attacks. Once the investigation had been complete the gag order remained despite the suspect not being a minor. The order also applied to details of the suspect's parents due to the politically sensitive nature of their occupation.
Despite the suspect being arrested two months previously for issuing death threats against Peace Now's Director General Yariv Oppenhimer and a bomb hoax at the organisation's Jerusalem office he was released shortly afterwards.
Following court proceedings against the suspect, he was released to house arrest and forced to wear an electronic bracelet, yet his 'price-tag' activities continued. On 27 November 2011 it was reported that the un-named individual issued death-threats (via email) against all of Peace Now's core team from his Jerusalem house. The gag order remained.
Financing by foreign governments
Peace Now has received funding from foreign states and international organisations for such projects as those which measure the expansion of disputed Israeli settlements in the West BankWest Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
.
In 2008, the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
passed a law requiring Israeli organizations to publicize any foreign funding they receive. This law was aimed specifically at Peace Now.
In 2011, the Knesset passed a law which required organizations to report each quarter on any foreign funding they receive.
In November 2011, Benyamin Netanyahu's governement began proceedings to introduce legislation which would place a ILS
ILS
Ils may refer to:*Ils , an electronic music producer and DJ*Them , a French horror filmILS may refer to:In Organizations:...
20,000 (approx $5000) limit that NGOs could receive from foreign governments, government-supported foundations and/or groups of governments (e.g.the EU and UN. Another bill (forwarded by Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party) proposed a 45 per cent tax on foreign government donations to organisations that do not receive Israeli state funding.
Individuals such as Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and MK
Mk
mk is the build tool replacing make in Version 10 Unix, Plan 9 from Bell Labs, and Inferno. It improves upon its predecessor by introducing a completely new syntax that is both easier to read and more powerful...
s Tzipi Hotovely
Tzipi Hotovely
Tzipi Hotovely is an Israeli politician, lawyer, and a doctorate student at the Faculty of Law in Tel Aviv University. She practises Orthodox Judaism and is a member of the Knesset as a self-described "religious rightwinger" for the Likud party. When first elected at the age of 30, she was the...
, Ofir Akunis
Ofir Akunis
Ofir Akunis is an Israeli politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset on behalf of the Likud party, and as Deputy Speaker of the House.-Early Life:...
and Fania Kirshenbaum have supported the proposed legislation. They argue that the legislation prevents foreign governments and organisations from unduly influencing Israel's domestic affairs.
However, the legislation has encountered notable resistance from within Israel itself and abroad. Governments such as Great Britain and the Unitesd States have already warned Benyamin Netanyahu that the adoption of such measures would harm Israel's standing in the West as a democratic country.
Certificate of Merit for Support to IDFIDF-Military:*Iceland Defense Force*Irish Defence Forces*Israel Defense Forces*AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo, a light fighter aircraft created for the Republic of China Air Force under its Indigenous Defence Fighter program*Identify, Insured Deposit Fund-Non-military:...
Reservists
Peace Now received a certificate of merit from the Israeli government and IDFIDF
-Military:*Iceland Defense Force*Irish Defence Forces*Israel Defense Forces*AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo, a light fighter aircraft created for the Republic of China Air Force under its Indigenous Defence Fighter program*Identify, Insured Deposit Fund-Non-military:...
for support given to IDF
IDF
-Military:*Iceland Defense Force*Irish Defence Forces*Israel Defense Forces*AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo, a light fighter aircraft created for the Republic of China Air Force under its Indigenous Defence Fighter program*Identify, Insured Deposit Fund-Non-military:...
reserve soldiers.
The certificate was issued as part of a competition which honours organizations, businesses and companies whose workers serve as reservists and are supported by their workplace. The certificate was personally signed by Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak
Ehud Barak is an Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister from 1999 until 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party until January 2011 and holds the posts of Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister in Binyamin Netanyahu's government....
and Chief Reserve Officer Brigadier General Shuki Ben-Anat. It read:
'For your activity and care for employees serving in reserve duty. Your activity is commendable and greatly contributes to the IDF's fortitude and the State of Israel's security."
Notable Supporters
Notable individuals such as American actor Leonard NimoyLeonard Nimoy
Leonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series , multiple films, television and video game sequels....
, American authors David Chabod and Ayelet Waldman
Ayelet Waldman
Ayelet Waldman is a novelist and essayist who was formerly a lawyer. She is noted for her self-revelatory essays, and for her writing about the changing expectations of motherhood...
, Israeli author/philosopher David Grossman
David Grossman
David Grossman is an Israeli author. His books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and have won numerous prizes.He is also a noted activist and critic of Israeli policy toward Palestinians. The Yellow Wind, his non-fiction study of the life of Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied...
and Israeli author Amos Oz
Amos Oz
Amos Oz is an Israeli writer, novelist, and journalist. He is also a professor of literature at Ben-Gurion University in Be'er Sheva....
support Peace Now's objectives.
Logo
Peace Now's logo was designed by IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i graphic designer
Graphic designer
A graphic designer is a professional within the graphic design and graphic arts industry who assembles together images, typography or motion graphics to create a piece of design. A graphic designer creates the graphics primarily for published, printed or electronic media, such as brochures and...
David Tartakover
David Tartakover
David Tartakover is an Israeli graphic designer, political activist, artist and design educator.He studied at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem, and is a graduate of the London College of Printing...
in 1978. The logo emerged from a poster created by Tartakover for a mass rally, held in what is now Rabin Square
Rabin Square
Rabin Square , formerly Kings of Israel Square , is the largest open public city square in central Tel Aviv, Israel. Over the years it has been the site of numerous political rallies, parades, and other public events...
in Tel Aviv on April 1, 1978, titled "Peace Now." It became the name of the organization, the first political bumper sticker in Israel and it is still one of Israel's most popular stickers. Tartakover, commenting in 2006, said "The movement activists liked the logo, [b]ut they thought there should also be a symbol. I told them it wasn't needed - this is the symbol. It took time until they understood that this was the first political sticker in Israel."
Affliated Organisations
- Americans for Peace NowAmericans for Peace NowAmericans for Peace Now , the United States partner of Israel’s Shalom Achshav organization, is an American coalition working to help Israel achieve a secure peace with the Arab states and the Palestinian people...
- Peace Now UK
- Canadian Friends of Peace Now
- Argentinos Amigos de Paz Ahora (Argentina)
- Les Amis Belges de Shalom Archav (Belgium)
- Amigos Brasileiros do Paz Agora (Brazil)
- La Paix Maintenant (France)