Dr. Edmond Melhem: Palestinian Women – Part III
Throughout the occupation XE “Occupation, Israeli” , and particularly during the intifada XE “Intifada” , the Palestinian family and the home had been invaded and violated by the occupying army XE “Army” :
In search of ‘suspicious’ or ‘wanted’ Palestinian young men, Israeli soldiers have entered homes, often in the middle of the night, awakened entire families, interrupted the privacy of men and women, searched every room, and humiliated and degraded parents in the front of their children. The home has become yet another place where confrontations with soldiers take place.(1)
On many occasions, women were exposed to arrests and were confronted with the threat of sexual violence XE “Violence” . They were even beaten or shot by Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers in their homes, while attempting to protect male relatives from arrest. Women often found themselves alone with Israeli soldiers searching their houses and who sometimes use this opportunity to molest, abuse XE “Abuse” and even attempt to rape XE “Rape” them. In addition, women often witnessed the demolitions XE “Demolitions” of their houses and suffered with their families the consequences of becoming homeless XE “Homeless” , left without most of their household effects. As the private sphere has been violated by the Israeli army XE “Army” , the Palestinian home and the family have become agents in the national struggle XE “Struggle” , increasing Palestinian women’s nationalism XE “Nationalism” , deepening their hatred for the occupying army and strengthening their commitment to the Palestinian cause.
Moreover, women became active in philanthropic XE “Philanthropic” organizations and mixed-gender XE “Gender” neighbourhood committees organizing food production XE “Production” projects and other important social services and necessities to communities under curfew XE “Curfew” and the severe living and social conditions of the occupation XE “Occupation, Israeli” . Many university-trained women managed during the intifada XE “Intifada” to fill leadership positions that might otherwise have been reserved for men. This was made possible by the removal of much of the male leadership from the public sphere by the IDF. The new visibility of female leaders and their engagement in political discussion led to a change in the attitude of some women, who demonstrated that, “the public sphere was as much the sphere of women as of men.”(2)
In short, the intifada XE “Intifada” challenged established traditional structures and social relationships within Palestinian society and generated an atmosphere of social change.(3) Owing to their participation in the labour force and their efforts and activism XE “Activism” on behalf of the national cause, Palestinian women became a force to be reckoned with. People began to view their gender as an asset, rather than as a liability. Moreover, restrictions on their movement were eased which widened the range of legitimate roles they could assume. Being aware of their responsibilities under occupation XE “Occupation, Israeli” , toward their families and the Palestinian people as whole, Palestinian women confronted the Israeli soldiers with courage and often risked their own lives to save their men from arrest or beatings. They also played a pivotal role in mobilizing and strengthening the structures and institutions of civil society, which enabled Palestinians to sustain a livelihood and resist occupation XE “Occupation, Israeli” .(4) This role and their greater political involvement in political struggle were viewed by society “as a sign of their loyalty to both their husbands and the collective cause of national struggle XE “National struggle” .”(5) Additionally, Palestinian women, particularly those activists, began to recognize the impact of their involvement in the intifada on their lives. Moreover, many activists “began debating issues related to the democratisation of Palestinian society.”(6) They questioned the absence of gender XE “Gender” issues from the national discourse and endeavoured to formulate strategies for social liberation XE “Liberation” alongside those for national liberation. Although Palestinian women were more politically and economically aware of their situation and paid less attention to social issues and their status in society since the intifada, Salaiba Sarsar XE “Sarsar, Salaiba” noted, “women have become more vocal about their rights. For them, as represented by the leaders of the Women’s affairs Technical Committee, national liberation and women’s liberation go together. Both complement and supplement each other.”(7)
In conclusion, Palestinian women have been acting in supportive roles to men in the battles of national struggle XE “Struggle” . They have sacrificed a lot, alongside men, in the hope to remove all forms of oppression XE “Oppression” and achieve liberation XE “Liberation” of the homeland. While most women continue to play traditional roles in the family and society, some have been advocating openly for the rights and concerns of women on economic, health and social issues (such as equal rights in marriage XE “Marriage” , divorce XE “Divorce” and inheritance XE “Inheritance” ), as well as on matters related to their representation in decision-making posts. Women’s achievements, since the inception of the intifada XE “Intifada” , are widespread. Their unity and continuous efforts to formulate their demands and rights through active participation in society and public life, and the prospects of creating statehood with a constitution XE “Constitution” that stipulates social justice XE “Justice” and gender XE “Gender” equity for all, carries a hope for a better future. Suheir Azzouni XE “Azzouni, Suheir” , the former Director General of a well-respected non-governmental organization, Women’s Affairs Technical Committee, expressed her optimism about Palestinian women’s potential and power. She wrote:
Palestinian women remain to be the fruits of a revolution. Many are their achievements in a short period. Their unity around women’s issues gives them power. The creation of statehood from scratch also carries within it the hope of more social justice XE “Justice” . To what degree this social justice will be reflected within the emerging Palestinian state will only be revealed by time.(8)
Tamar Mayer, “Heightened Palestinian Nationalism – Military occupation XE “Occupation, Israeli” , repression XE “Repression” , difference and gender XE “Gender” ”, op. cit., pp. 76-77.
Philippa Strum, “West bank Women and the Intifada: Revolution within the Revolution”, op. cit., p. 70.
Souad Dajani XE “Dajani, Souad” , “The Struggle of Palestinian Women in the Occupied Territories: Between National and Social Liberation” Arab Studies Quarterly, Spring 94, Vol. 16, Issue 2, p. 18.
4) Ibid.
5) M. A. Khan XE “Khan, Tahira Shahid” , XE “Khan, Tahira Shahid” The Culture of Martyrdom, op. cit., p. 105.
6) Jamileh Abu-Duhou XE “Abu-Duhou, Jamileh” , Giving voices to the voiceless: Gender-Based Violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, op. cit., p. 32.
7) Saliba Sarsar XE “Sarsar, Salaiba” , “The Empowerment of Palestinian Women in the West Bank XE “West Bank” and Gaza XE “Gaza” Strip”, in XE “Datta, Rekha” Rekha Datta & XE “Kornberg, Judith” Judith Kornberg (eds), Women in Developing countries: Assessing Strategies for Empowerment, op .cit., p. 148.
8) Quoted in Saliba Sarsar XE “Sarsar, Salaiba” , XE “Sarsar, Salaiba” “The Empowerment of Palestinian Women in the West Bank XE “West Bank” and Gaza XE “Gaza” Strip”, in Rekha Datta XE “Datta, Rekha” & Judith Kornberg XE “Kornberg, Judith” (eds), Women in Developing Countries: Assessing Strategies for Empowerment, op .cit., p. 156.
