A voice for the region’s concerned mothers
by Naama Barak Wolfman
Since 7 October 2023, our lives have been marked by fear, grief and pain. Recent days have seen anger and frustration added to this unfortunate list. But, at Women Wage Peace, we refuse to let despair shape the future. We do not represent governments; we are mothers, citizens and activists who seek not mere survival, but security, dignity and hope for all.
We envision a future where the cycles of violence, plaguing the region for decades, are finally broken; a future grounded in mutual recognition and the knowledge that, throughout history, bloody conflicts worldwide have been resolved. At the heart of our vision lies the conviction that mothers on both sides of the conflict share a common desire to protect and defend their children and to see them thrive. It is from this fundamental maternal instinct that Women Wage Peace was born.
In 2014, in the aftermath of yet another military escalation in Gaza, Women Wage Peace was established by Israeli women who recognised that true security requires a solution to the conflict, one which addresses its root causes. From the beginning, our message was clear: we cannot wait for others to make peace. We must build it – together. Since then, we have grown into the largest grassroots peace movement in Israel, uniting tens of thousands of women – Jewish and Arab, religious and secular – from the width and breadth of Israeli society. What brings us together is the belief that this conflict must end through diplomacy, not force. We strive for a future where both people can exercise their right to self-determination and security, and where the land can be shared in a way that honours the deep connections of both nations with it.
We work to advance a negotiated agreement that will help end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; one that ensures freedom, security and equality for both peoples. We demand an earnest and inclusive negotiation process that aims for a just, mutually agreed-upon and sustainable political agreement. We are a broad, nonpartisan movement and we do not endorse or promote a specific blueprint. We are here to be part of the conversation, to influence it, and to ensure that the voices of women and civil society are heard and lead. We offer a view of peace which places people at its centre: not just where the borders go, but how people will live, coexist and thrive.
Women are not only advocates for peace – we are drivers of peace. Women tend to offer practical, complex and empathetic solutions rooted in empathy and listening. Our unique perspectives are born of care, resilience and deep familiarity with the consequences of war. We listen, we connect and we take responsibility. This is not only a strategic truth – it is an international obligation. Adopted in October 2000, UN security council resolution 1325 calls on all member states to ensure women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peace and security decision-making. Women’s voices must be central to any sustainable peace process; not just as participants, but as leaders who understand what is truly at stake: the futures of our children. We are not here to calm the room, we are here to lead it.
Over the past four years, we have built a viable partnership with Women of the Sun, a Palestinian movement of women from the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Together, we launched The Mothers’ Call, a joint initiative calling on our leaders to end the war, release all hostages and return to negotiations. We demonstrate that partnership is not only possible, it is inevitable. Throughout the continuing conflict, cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians remains possible. Our joint vigils, marches and training provide concrete examples of what collaboration might look like and help sustain communication during challenging periods. This partnership is not merely symbolic, it is a statement: we aren’t enemies, we are the mothers of this wounded region – and we refuse to accept war as our destiny.
Our educational and advocacy efforts focus on promoting an understanding of diplomatic solutions and changing both the public and leadership discourse in Israel. We work to counter narratives that suggest military solutions are the only option, instead highlighting successful examples of conflict-resolution through negotiation and compromise. We demonstrate how meaningful security is based on political agreements, on binding accords such as our peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt, on the end of the conflict, mutual recognition, and a commitment to human rights. Military security is essential, but it is no substitute for a political horizon.
We are currently assembling a strategy based on interviews with over 130 Israeli, Palestinian, and international civil society experts. The roadmap outlines multiple real-world pathways to peace through diplomacy, civil society, economy, environment, religion, education, and more. These are not theoretical ideas or blueprints of geopolitical solutions, rather they are civil society initiatives already underway or ready to launch. The tools exist. The partners exist. What’s needed is the will to act.
The international dimension of peacebuilding cannot be underestimated. Continued advocacy for diplomatic solutions and for the inclusion of women’s voices in any peace process is crucial. We caution against unilateral steps by either side that bypass negotiations. Whether through declarations, annexations, or uncoordinated withdrawals, these actions might deepen mistrust and undermine the prospect of peace. We are not opposed to the goals of such actions but to their unilateral implementation. Sustainable peace can only emerge from dialogue, agreement and mutual recognition, not imposition.
We call on our friends and allies in the UK and around the world: support diplomacy. Support women’s leadership. Support efforts that bring Israelis and Palestinians together not in fear, but in cooperation. Your solidarity with both sides makes a difference.
Our work is grounded in a simple but radical truth: peace is security. Security means the ability to live without fear. It means freedom of movement, protection from violence, access to healthcare and education. It means the ability to raise our children in safety, with hopes for their future. The weight of the reality of the past 19 months has strengthened our resolve. To us, a political agreement is the highest form of security for all residents of the region.
Naama Barak Wolfman is currently serving as director on the board of Women Wage Peace. This article is part of LFI’s Voices for Change series.
