Peace Now (Hebrew: שלום עכשיו - Shalom Akhshav) is a non-governmental organization[1] in Israel with the agenda of "swaying popular opinion and convincing the Israeli government of the need and possibility for achieving a just peace and a historic conciliation with the Palestinian people and neighboring Arab countries; this in exchange for a territorial settlement based on the formula of 'land for peace'".
History
Anwar Sadat's visit to Israel sparked hope for peace through concessions.
Following Anwar Sadat's visit to Israel in 1978, 348 Israeli military reserves officers petitioned Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin urging him to continue with the drive for peace. This petition led to the creation of Peace Now, a grassroots movement dedicated to raising public support for the "peace process."[2][3]
At a rally held in Tel-Aviv's Kikar Malkhei Israel, known today as Rabin Square, demonstrators called on Prime Minister Begin to sign a peace treaty with Egypt in exchange for the return of the Sinai peninsula.[citation needed]
Peace Now opposed the 1982 Invasion of Lebanon, holding a massive rally after the Sabra and Shatila Massacre [2].
On 10 February 1983, at a Peace Now demonstration in Jerusalem, a right-wing militant named Yonah Avrushmi tossed a hand-grenade at demonstrators, killing Peace Now activist Emil Grunzweig and injuring several others.[4][5][6]
Throughout the years of its activity Peace Now has opposed Israeli settlement in the West Bank, which it perceives as being calculated to undermine the possibility of peace with the Palestinians.[citation needed]
The First Intifada was perceived by Peace Now as a political act, therefore the movement called for negotiations to be held with the Palestinians, aimed at putting an end to the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.[citation needed]
The signing of the Oslo accords marked a milestone in the activity of Peace Now, which has since strived to support governments that acted according to the "land for peace" formula, and demonstrate against governments that had different approaches to the peace process.[citation needed]
With the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada (2000 to present), support for the movement has waned, in light of what seems from a present perspective as the collapse of the peace process set into motion at Oslo.[citation needed]
Kibbutz member wearing Peace Now T-shirt.
In 2003, new initiatives aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were set into motion, such as the National Census and the Geneva Initiative, both of which are also based on the "land for peace" formula. Neither initiative is officially affiliated to Peace Now, though many of the same players have been involved in the various peace initiatives. The Geneva Initiative is identified with Yossi Beilin and the Yachad party; the National Census is identified with Ami Ayalon, who has deliberately kept this initiative separate from Peace Now in order not to damage support from the general public.[citation needed]
Peace Now's main activities for 2004 are monitoring Israeli settlement expansions and the establishment of illegal outposts by the Hilltop Youth. Peace Now was one of the main organizers of the Mate ha-Rov ("majority camp") demonstration in 2004, in support of Israel's unilateral disengagement plan of 2004 and withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Support for the withdrawal plan faced contention within the Peace Now camp over its unilateral nature. Ultimately, Peace Now decided it was most important to reduce occupied territory.
In 2005, as a response to a Yesha Council orange ribbon campaign, Peace Now launched a parallel blue ribbon effort in support of disengagement. On March 19, 2005, a pro-disengagement rally attracted 10,000 people. Since Israel's unilateral disengagement from Gaza, Peace Now has not organized any major effort to support any further withdrawals.[citation needed]
Settlement Activity
Peace Now is widely recognized for its Settlement Watch Committee, a group which follows settlement construction in Judea and Samaria and publishes figures reporting the development of these communities. Dror Aktes headed this committee until 2007 when he was replaced by Hagit Ofran. Activities include: • Updates on settlement expansion by means of aerial photography • 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 judge whether Israel adheres to its promise of a settlement freeze) • Submission of cases to the court to evacuate outposts in the West Bank. For example, Peace Now brought a case to the court to evacuate Amona (a settlement in the West Bank), among others.
Similarly, the movement continues activity on the ground in support of evacuation through demonstrations, vigils and other campaign activity. (from שלום עכשיו wikipedia page)
Criticism and controversy
Defeatism and balance
The movement has been criticized by more conservative supporters of Israel who claim that it lacks realism given the alleged absence of a corresponding movement on the Arab side of the conflict.
Jerusalem Post has decried that Peace Now's "emphasis is exclusively on what Israelis should concede, as if our collective craving for peace alone can supernaturally overcome Palestinian intransigence, incitement, internal upheaval and the culture of violence." It claims the organization, though it denies it, wants to push Israel back to the indefensible 1949 Armistice Lines, since it opposes any construction over the Green Line, including the retention of major settlement blocs such as Gush Etzion, Ma'aleh Adumim and Ariel." It also notes that Peace Now "stands squarely outside the consensus" by favoring "joint sovereignty" over Jerusalem's Old City, and that it opposes only the "implementation" of the Palestinian "right of return," but not necessarily its affirmation.[7]
Alleged disregard of security
Ami Ayalon, former head of the Shin Bet and co-initiator of the National Census peace proposal (with professor Sari Nusseibeh), has criticized Peace Now for what he claims is demonizing the Jewish settlers, thus encouraging hate towards settlers, and providing the general public reasons to dislike the peace camp.
Ayalon scorns Peace Now for failing to rally the masses in support of the Israeli Peace movement. Ayalon also claims that this is because Peace Now and the left wing have shown alienation and a patronizing attitude towards the general Israeli public, and that this attitude combined with increased terrorist activity over the past four years are to blame for Peace Now's current poor standing within the Israeli public, which feels the peace camp is not committed (enough) to stop Palestinian terrorism and protect Israel's interests.
Ayalon concluded that many settlements should indeed be disbanded, but the transferred settlers should be embraced and receive support - both financial and moral - from the state and the public, and not being treated as enemies.[8]
Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon offered his view of Peace Now when asked about plans to dismantle the Bnei Adam outpost."We again are dealing with the issue of the virus, Peace Now - the elitists, if you may - who have incurred great damage." The remark was subjected to much criticism, and Prime Minister Netanyahu distanced himself from it. Ya'alon, however, stood by his words.[9] A poll sponsored by IMRA found that forty-one percent of Israelis agreed with Ya'alon that Peace Now had caused great damage to Israel, while 19% disagreed.[10]
On July 19, 2006, Amos Oz wrote in the Los Angeles Times:
The Israeli peace movement objects to the occupation and colonization of the West Bank. It objected to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982 because the invasion was aimed at distracting world attention from the Palestinian problem. This time, Israel is not invading Lebanon. It is defending itself from daily harassment and bombardment of dozens of our towns and villages by attempting to smash Hezbollah wherever it lurks. The Israeli peace movement should support Israel's attempt at self-defense, pure and simple, as long as this operation targets mostly Hezbollah and spares, as much as possible, the lives of Lebanese civilians (not an easy task, as Hezbollah missile launchers are too often using Lebanese civilians as human sandbags).[11]
Financing by foreign governments
The European Union is involved in Israeli partisan politics by funding Peace Now.
Peace Now has also been criticized by some groups within Israel for receiving funding from sources such as the European Union for activities aimed at converting nationalists to the concept of peace embodied by Peace Now.[12] In 2006, the European Union funds amounted to $1.2 million. In January 2008, Israel's Knesset passed a law requiring organizations to publicize financial contributions from foreign governments. This law was aimed specifically at Peace Now. David Bedein notes that the biggest donors have opposed Israeli presence in the territories, and the money they give Peace Now essentially serves those governments' foreign policy interests. Since Peace Now watch Israeli communities and IDF military installations in Judea and Samaria, he concluded that the organization is thus "in effect spying on Israel for foreign governments."[13]
A lack of transparency marks its financial dealings. It is funded through an educational NGO called Sha'al, which, according to its general secretary Yariv Oppenheimer, receives "most" of its funds from American Jews. The annual budget, however, is secret, and no information is given about the amount of cash coming from foreign foundations who might be interested in co-opting the Peace Now brand.[7] Finding that Sha'al misrepresented its aims, the Registrar of Nonprofit Organizations has decided to withdraw the certificate of proper administration from it.[14]
Likewise, there is a lack of administrative accountability. Critics have found it appalling that "Israelis are asked to believe that a finely-tuned machine capable of running airborne surveillance over every nook and cranny of the West Bank operates quite informally, by consensus, under the auspices of university students and aging hippies."[7]
Disinformation about settlements
In a report, Peace Now claimed that 86.4% of Ma'ale Adumim was built on privately owned Palestinian land. Later, it admitted that it was no more than 0,54%
In a report, Peace Now claimed that “a large proportion of the settlements built on the West Bank are built on privately owned Palestinian land,” including 86.4% of Ma'ale Adumim's land and 35.1% of Ariel’s. Overall, the report claims, “Palestinians privately own nearly 40% of the land on which settlements have been built.”[15] This is contradicted by the government, which insists that no settlements are built on private Palestine land.[16] CAMERA rebutted the Peace Now allegations.[17][18] Though Peace Now never addressed the objections, it eventually did admit that no more than 0.54% of Ma’ale Adumim’s land was privately owned by Palestinians according to officially released data.[19][20]
The report also stated that 71.15% of the land in Revava was built on private Palestinian land. After complaints, they reduced the figure to 22%, but without explicitly admitting any error and refusing to issue an apology. Sued by The Fund for Redeeming the Land, who formally owns Revava’s land for libel in Jerusalem Magistrates Court, Peace Now was convicted of libel and ordered to pay the Fund 20,000 NIS and to make a public apology which they must publish in the newspapers Haaretz and Maariv.[21][22]
Infiltration of Knesset
General secretary Yariv Oppenheimer has been barred from entering the Knesset building by its speaker after he sent Peace Now activists to pose as students and try to trap right-wing MKs to make statements that would be used to portray Israel's political Right negatively in a documentary. Oppenheimer claimed that the decision was an attack on free speech and Peace Now called it an "attempt to punish the movement in the place which is supposed to guard freedom of movement for all of society".[23]
See also
References
- ^ Peace Now in Hebron: Expel settlers from city - Israel News, Ynetnews
- ^ a b Peace Now : About > About Us
- ^ Peace Now : About > About Us
- ^ "Thousands attend Israeli's funeral". The New York Times. 1983-02-12. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0A1FF63F5F0C718DDDAB0894DB484D81. Retrieved 2007-08-25.
- ^ Shipler, David K. (1983-02-16). "A crude shrine rises at spot where bomb halted protest". The New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50711FD3E5F0C758DDDAB0894DB484D81. Retrieved 2007-08-25.
- ^ Shipler, David K. (1984-01-29). "Israel begins to note Jewish terrorism". http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40715F63D5F0C7A8EDDA80894DC484D81. Retrieved 2007-08-25.
- ^ a b c Peace Now at 30 Jerusalem Post editorial, April 7, 2008.
- ^ [1](Hebrew)
- ^ Attila Somfalvi: Netanyahu: Ya'alon remarks unacceptable Ynetnews.com, August 19, 2009.
- ^ Dr. Aaron Lerner: Poll: Peace Now has caused great damage to the State of Israel 41%:19% IMRA, August 26, 2009.
- ^ Caught in the crossfire Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2006.
- ^ [2] (Hebrew)
- ^ Hillel Fendel: 'Peace Now' Will Have to Publicize EU Contributions Israel National News, January 17, 2008.
- ^ Dan Izenberg: Peace Now loses registrar's approval Jerusalem Post, 11 February 2008.
- ^ Dror Etkes & Hagit Ofran: Breaking the law in the West Bank - One violation leads to another: Israeli Settlement Building on Private Palestinian Property Peace Now, October 2006.
- ^ Israeli Settlements and International Law Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, May 20, 2001.
- ^ Alex Safian: Peace Now’s Report on Settlement Land CAMERA, November 22, 2006.
- ^ Alex Safian: UPDATE: Peace Now Map Based Only on Palestinian Claims CAMERA, December 2, 2006.
- ^ Shragai, Nadav (2007-03-14). "Peace Now: 32% of land held for settlements is private Palestinian property". Haaretz. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/837695.html. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ Alex Safian: Peace Now’s Blunder: Erred on Ma'ale Adumim Land by 15,900 Percent CAMERA March 16, 2007.
- ^ "שלום עכשיו יפצו מתנחלים ב-20 אלף ש' [Peace Now to compensate settlers w/ 20 thousand sheqel]" (in Hebrew). nrg Maariv. 2008-12-14. http://sports.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/825/141.html. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ Alex Safian: Israeli Court: Peace Now Lied, Must Pay Now CAMERA December 23, 2008.
- ^ Oppenheimer banned from Knesset Jerusalem Post, October 26, 2009.
External links
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Olof Palme Prize laureates |
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Cyril Ramaphosa (1987) • UN Peace Keeping Operation (1988) • Václav Havel (1989) • Harlem Désir, SOS Racisme (1990) • Amnesty International (1991) • Arzu Abdullayeva, Anahit Bayandour (1992) • Students for Sarayevo (1993) • Wei Jingsheng (1994) • Fatah Youth, Israeli Labor Young Leadership, Peace Now (1995) • Casa Alianza, Bruce Harris (1996) • Salima Ghezali (1997) • Veran Matić, Senad Pecanin, Victor Ivancic (1998) • Kurdo Baksi, Björn Fries, Klippan Parent Group (1999) • Bryan Stevenson (2000) • Fazle Hasan Abed (2001) • Hanan Ashrawi (2002) • Hans Blix (2003) • Ludmila Alekseyeva, Sergei Kovalev, Anna Politkovskaya (2004) • Aung San Suu Kyi (2005) • Kofi Annan, Mossaad Mohamed Ali (2006) • Parvin Ardalan (2007) • Denis Mukwege (2008)
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