Coalition of Women for Peace
An Israeli feminist peace coalition opposing the occupation of Palestine and advocating a just, rights-based peace.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Coalition of Women for Peace is an Israeli feminist peace organization founded in November 2000 as an umbrella coalition of women's groups active in the Israeli peace and social-justice movements. It emerged during the Second Intifada, when participating organizations sought to coordinate opposition to the occupation and articulate a common political framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The coalition describes its work as opposing the occupation of Palestine, promoting a just peace, reducing militarism in Israeli society, and increasing women's participation in public and political decision-making. The founding coalition included Machsom Watch, Noga Feminist Journal, Women in Black, The Fifth Mother, TANDI, Bat Shalom, New Profile, and NELED. At a conference in Nazareth in November 2000, the participating groups agreed on a set of principles for a political settlement. These principles included ending the occupation through a two-state framework, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of both states, reaching a just solution to the refugee question in accordance with United Nations resolutions, and ensuring women's involvement in peace negotiations. The program also called for less militarism, social and economic justice, equal citizenship for Palestinian citizens of Israel, and Israel's integration into the wider Middle East. The coalition's platform was not static. In 2009, it organized ideological and political discussions intended to reassess its principles in light of the positions held by its activists and changing political circumstances. The revised approach placed greater emphasis on historical justice and international law and treated a two-state agreement as one possible outcome rather than the only acceptable model. It also supported the right of return for Palestinian refugees. This evolution reflected the coalition's effort to combine feminist politics with a broader rights-based analysis of the conflict. In September 2011, during the Palestinian bid for recognition of statehood at the United Nations, the coalition argued that a declaration of statehood alone could not end the occupation, resolve the refugee issue, or establish civil equality for Jews and Palestinians in Israel. Its position emphasized a negotiated and just end to occupation while affirming Palestinian individual and collective rights, including the right of return, and supporting nonviolent and other forms of resistance regarded by the organization as legitimate under international norms. The Coalition of Women for Peace has also been associated with campaigns and debates concerning economic pressure on Israel, including aspects of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. Its positions generated controversy among organizations and donors supporting Israeli civil-society groups. In 2011, the New Israel Fund ended its funding relationship with the coalition amid public and political controversy, including criticism connected to the coalition's views on BDS. The dispute became particularly visible in Australia during the establishment of a New Israel Fund branch there. The coalition publicly criticized the fund's decision and alleged that the timing reflected pressure from NGO Monitor and right-wing political discourse. Because the available reference material does not provide a current leadership roster, detailed operational information, or independently verified evidence about the organization's present activities, its current status and organizational structure remain unclear. Its documented identity is that of a feminist, anti-occupation, pro-peace coalition rather than a commercial product or consumer brand.
History
The Coalition of Women for Peace was established in November 2000 as an umbrella organization bringing together Israeli women's groups opposed to the occupation of Palestine and committed to a just peace. Its formation took place during a period of intensified Israeli-Palestinian violence and political uncertainty. The coalition provided a framework through which feminist peace organizations could coordinate public advocacy, develop shared principles, and connect opposition to occupation with broader demands for equality and social justice. The founding organizations were Machsom Watch, Noga Feminist Journal, Women in Black, The Fifth Mother, TANDI, Bat Shalom, New Profile, and NELED. At a conference in Nazareth in November 2000, the coalition adopted a common set of principles for addressing the conflict. The initial program supported ending the occupation through a two-state solution, treating Jerusalem as the capital of both states, and reaching a just resolution of the refugee issue based on United Nations resolutions. It also called for women's participation in peace negotiations, a reduction in Israeli militarism, social and economic justice, equal citizenship for Palestinian citizens of Israel, and Israel's integration into the Middle East. The coalition's political identity combined feminist organizing with an explicitly anti-occupation position. Rather than limiting its work to conventional peace messaging, it linked the conflict to militarism, discrimination, citizenship, economic inequality, and the underrepresentation of women in public decision-making. This approach positioned the organization within Israel's progressive civil-society and peace movements while also distinguishing it from frameworks that treated security policy as separate from questions of equality and human rights. In 2009, the organization undertook a series of ideological and political debates to reconsider the principles adopted at its founding. The review reflected changes in the political environment and differences among activists regarding the most appropriate political framework. The updated outlook stressed historical justice and international law and no longer presented a two-state solution as the only possible result. It also expressed support for the right of return of Palestinian refugees. These developments showed an expansion of the coalition's analysis from a primarily state-centered peace formula toward a broader rights-based conception of justice. The organization also commented on major diplomatic developments. In September 2011, during the Palestinian statehood initiative, it argued that a formal declaration of statehood in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would not, by itself, end the occupation or resolve structural issues such as discrimination, refugee rights, and civil equality. The coalition called for an agreement that would end the occupation while protecting Palestinian individual and collective rights. Its statement also referred to the right of return and to forms of resistance it considered compatible with international norms. The coalition became involved in controversy over the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. Its support for some aspects of BDS contributed to criticism from organizations opposed to the campaign and created difficulties for some of its institutional relationships. In 2011, the New Israel Fund ended its funding relationship with the coalition. The decision became part of a wider dispute surrounding the New Israel Fund's activities in Australia. The Coalition of Women for Peace responded with strongly worded public criticism, arguing that the funding decision reflected pressure from NGO Monitor and the adoption of right-wing political framing. The available material does not identify a current executive team, a current headquarters, or a definitive statement about whether the organization remains operational in its earlier form. Consequently, the coalition's documented history and political positions can be described with confidence, while its present structure and activity level require further verification.
- 2011
Position issued on Palestinian statehood initiative
[1]The coalition argued that statehood recognition alone could not resolve occupation, discrimination, refugee rights, or civil equality.
- 2011
New Israel Fund funding ended
[1]The New Israel Fund discontinued funding for the coalition amid controversy associated with the coalition's support for aspects of BDS.
- 2009
Political principles reviewed
[1]A series of debates reassessed the coalition's political platform, emphasizing historical justice, international law, and Palestinian refugee rights.
- 2000
Coalition established
[1]The Coalition of Women for Peace was formed in November as an umbrella organization of Israeli women's groups opposing the occupation and advocating a just peace.
- 2000
Founding principles adopted in Nazareth
[1]Participating organizations agreed on principles covering an end to occupation, two states, Jerusalem, refugees, women's participation, demilitarization, social justice, equal citizenship, and regional integration.
Products and positioning
A feminist, anti-occupation civil-society coalition focused on Palestinian rights, demilitarization, social justice, and a negotiated or otherwise rights-based resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2000Women’s peace coalition and anti-occupation advocacy
Israel · Palestine
The coalition coordinated women's groups around opposition to the occupation, support for a just peace, women's participation in negotiations, and reduced militarism.
Outcome. It established a shared platform and public identity for participating feminist peace organizations.
- Support for aspects of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement
Israel · International
The coalition supported some aspects of BDS as part of its opposition to occupation and its rights-based political program.
Outcome. The position contributed to controversy with critics of BDS and affected the coalition's relationship with the New Israel Fund.
Brand decisions
2011
Statement on Palestinian statehoodStrategyBackground
The Palestinian leadership's statehood initiative prompted debate over whether recognition alone could resolve the conflict.
Action taken
The coalition argued for an agreement ending occupation and preserving Palestinian rights rather than relying on a declaration of statehood alone.
Aftermath
The statement clarified the coalition's opposition to occupation and its support for refugee and collective rights.
2009
Revision of political principlesStrategyBackground
Internal ideological and political debates examined whether the coalition's original framework still reflected its activists' positions.
Action taken
The coalition placed greater emphasis on historical justice and international law, recognized that a two-state solution was only one possible outcome, and supported the right of return.
Aftermath
Its platform developed toward a broader rights-based approach to the conflict.
2000
Adoption of founding peace principlesStrategyBackground
The coalition's founding groups sought a common framework for feminist peace advocacy during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Action taken
They adopted principles supporting an end to occupation, a two-state framework, refugee justice, women's participation, demilitarization, equality, and regional integration.
Aftermath
The principles became the coalition's initial political platform.
Sources2 sources
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