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Combatants for Peace

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Combatants for Peace
Formation2006; 18 years ago (2006)
FounderChen Alon, Sulaiman Khatib
Legal statusActive
Websitecfpeace.org

Combatants for Peace (Hebrew: לוחמים לשלום; Arabic: مقاتلون من أجل آلسلام) is an Israeli-Palestinian NGO and an egalitarian, bi-national, grassroots movement committed to non-violent action against the “Israeli occupation and all forms of violence” in Israel and the Palestinian territories.[1]

The movement was formed in 2006 by Palestinians and Israelis who had taken an active role in the cycle of violence,[2][3] and decided to work together to promote a peaceful solution through non-violent action.[1] The former combatants had been gathering for a year in various towns around Jerusalem after leaders from both sides decided to take action to promote peace.[2] Originally, the activists were solely ex-combatants: the Israeli soldiers and refuseniks of the Israeli army and Palestinian fighters.[4] Today, members of the movement include also men and women who have never played a violent role in the conflict. Combatants for Peace is the only peace group worldwide that was founded and run by ex-combatants on both sides of an active conflict.[5] Other joint veteran-based peace initiatives have been co-founded only after peaceful resolution to their conflict has been achieved.[6]

The documentary film Disturbing The Peace was made in 2016 about the work of Combatants For Peace. The movie was screened throughout Israel, Palestine, the United States and Europe,[7] was a New York Times Critic's Pick,[8] and has won numerous awards internationally including the first ever Ebert Humanitarian Award.[9][10]

Mission and goals

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The mission of Combatants for Peace (CfP) is to create the social infrastructure needed to end the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and occupation through non-violent cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis. CfP aims to serve as a role model, showing that a peaceful alternative to violence is possible and promoting societal and political change. It envisions a strong bi-national community exemplifying cooperation and coexistence. Its goals are to end the occupation, establish a just peace, and demonstrate the possibility of Israelis and Palestinians living and working together.[11]

Activities

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Combatants for Peace has organized a series of meetings between veterans from both sides, most taking place in East Jerusalem in the early years,[2][3] but have expanded now into ten local bi-national groups operating between Tulkarm-Tel Aviv, Nablus-Tel Aviv, Ramallah-Tel Aviv, Jerusalem-Jericho, Jerusalem-Bethlehem, Beersheva-Hebron and in the North. Additionally, Combatants for Peace now organizes two region-wide Israeli-Palestinian bi-national groups, a Theater of the Oppressed group[12] and women's group.[10]

Other activities include participating in humanitarian aid work including laying water pipelines, planting gardens and playgrounds in villages, renovating schools and protecting workers’ rights,[13] delivering community lectures and workshops,[13] direct actions and protests against the policy of occupation and its outcomes such as road blockings, house demolitions, limitations on Palestinian farmers and confiscation of land by Israeli settlers,[14] providing information and raising public awareness globally through media and international lecture tours,[15] and empowering marginalized Palestinian communities in the areas of agriculture, protection of human rights, preventing demolition of houses, community development and all forms of non-violent struggle.[16]

Joint Israeli-Palestinian Ceremonies

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The Joint Memorial Day Ceremony

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The Joint Memorial Day Ceremony is organized by Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle-Families Forum and has been held annually since 2006.[17] In 2023 it drew over 15,000 attendees in person and around 200,000 virtual participants worldwide.[18] Held annually on Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day), this ceremony differs significantly from typical events that portray war and death as inevitable as it offers an opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians to mourn together and unite in their call to end the bloodshed. By grieving together, the event aims to transform despair into hope and foster compassion, emphasizing that occupation, oppression, and conflict are not unavoidable.[19]

The participation of one of Israel's most famous veteran actresses Rivka Michaeli in the 2022 ceremony resulted in threats from right-wing extremists online, a much stronger reaction compared to when other prominent Israeli artists, authors and musicians appeared at previous years' ceremonies.[20] In 2024 the ceremony was prerecorded to avoid the possibility of disruption by protesters.[17]

The Joint Nakba Remembrance Ceremony

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The Joint Nakba Remembrance Ceremony, organized by Combatants for Peace since 2020, aims to acknowledge and honor the Palestinian experience and history as essential steps toward peace and reconciliation. By recognizing historical truths, sharing and listening to personal stories, and fostering compassion, the ceremony seeks to break the cycle of oppression and violence. It emphasizes that current realities of bereavement and dispossession are the result of human choices and that different choices can lead to a better future. This event, a counterpart to the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Ceremony, involves collaborative efforts from Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals.[21]

Media

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Combatants for Peace have been interviewed on CNN,[22] by Democracy Now!,[23] had a front page article in the New York Times,[8][24] had several articles featured on the BBC,[25][26] and were featured in the Huffington Post,[27] the LA Times,[28] Al Jeezera,[29] and the front page of the Jerusalem Post.[30][31][32]

Awards

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Combatants for Peace has won a series of awards for their nonviolent, joint activism including:

References

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  1. ^ a b "About us". cfpeace.org. Archived from the original on 2019-08-31. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  2. ^ a b c "120 former Israeli, Palestinian combatants in new peace drive". Haaretz. Reuters. 10 April 2006. Archived from the original on 11 April 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b Ynet (10 April 2006). "New movement: IDF soldiers and Fatah prisoners". Yedioth Internet. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  4. ^ Ghanem, As'ad (2013). "Palestinian Nationalism: An Overview". Israel Studies. 18 (2): 11–29. doi:10.2979/israelstudies.18.2.11. S2CID 145627992.
  5. ^ Haines, Jenna (May 1, 2018). "Combatants for Peace: ex-combatants lay down arms to seek peace". Center for Religious and Spiritual Life at Smith College.
  6. ^ "Vision and Mission - Combatants For Peace". afcfp.org. Archived from the original on 2018-02-03. Retrieved 2018-02-02. (see minute mark 1:09 of video)
  7. ^ "DISTURBING THE PEACE A FILM BY RECONSIDER". Combatants for Peace. Archived from the original on 3 September 2018. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  8. ^ a b Webster, Andy (November 10, 2016). "Review: 'Disturbing the Peace' Profiles Israelis and Palestinians United Against Violence". The New York Times.
  9. ^ a b Allen, Nick (April 18, 2016). "Ebertfest 2016: "Disturbing the Peace" Wins First Ebert Humanitarian Award | Festivals & Awards". RogerEbert.com.
  10. ^ a b Ebert, Chaz (November 8, 2016). "Disturbing the Peace: Stephen Apkon talks to Chaz Ebert | Chaz's Journal". RogerEbert.com.
  11. ^ "Our Mission". cfpeace.org. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  12. ^ Greenwood, Phoebe (22 Jul 2010). "Fighters turn to theatre to advocate Middle East peace". The Guardian.
  13. ^ a b c Walker, Chris (9 December 2015). "Tomorrow's Peacebuilders - 2015 Winners". Peace Direct.
  14. ^ "bostonreview.net". Archived from the original on 2009-07-12. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
  15. ^ "Guest Voices: Combatant For Peace - On Faith at washingtonpost.com". March 22, 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-03-22.
  16. ^ a b "Combatants for Peace Tour". Anna Lindh Foundation. Archived from the original on 2017-01-03.
  17. ^ a b Bigg, Matthew Mpoke (May 13, 2024). "Activists Hold a Ceremony Reflecting on Both Israeli and Palestinian Losses". The New York Times.
  18. ^ Keller-Lynn, Carrie (25 April 2023). "15,000 attend controversial joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day event". The Times of Israel.
  19. ^ "19th Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony". cfpeace.org. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  20. ^ Kaplan Sommer, Allison (May 2, 2022). "'Violent Incitement': The Israeli Right Is Furious at This Legendary Actress". Haaretz.
  21. ^ "The Nakba Ceremony". cfpeace.org. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  22. ^ "The Israelis and Palestinians uniting for peace - CNN Video". CNN. 25 November 2016.
  23. ^ "As Gaza Plunges into Darkness, Israeli and Palestinian Fighters-Turned-Peace-Activists Speak Out". Democracy Now!.
  24. ^ Baker, Peter; Nazzal, Rami (28 October 2016). "Once Devoted to Suicide Bombing, She Now Embraces a Peaceful Jihad". The New York Times.
  25. ^ "Middle East families united by grief". BBC News. 27 October 2007.
  26. ^ Patience, Martin (1 February 2007). "Bereaved activist renews peace call". BBC News.
  27. ^ "Disturbing the Peace: A Vision of Hope". HuffPost. 15 November 2016.
  28. ^ "Review: Israelis, Palestinians join forces in documentary 'Disturbing the Peace'". Los Angeles Times. 17 November 2016.
  29. ^ "International Press". afcfp.org. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021.
  30. ^ Dell, Josh (17 January 2016). "Palestinians, Israelis block Route 60 to protest 'occupation'". The Jerusalem Post.
  31. ^ Shaham, Udi (16 July 2016). "Hundreds participate in Israeli-Palestinian Freedom March". The Jerusalem Post.
  32. ^ Ashkinaze-Collender, Sophie (14 July 2016). "Ex-foes, seeking peace, meet at Jerusalem Film Fest". The Jerusalem Post.
  33. ^ "War Abolisher Awards of 2024 Announced, Presentation Scheduled". World beyond War. 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  34. ^ "January 31, 2017: Nobel short list for 2017 to be sent to the committee". www.nobelwill.org.
  35. ^ a b c d e "Awards". afcfp.org. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024.
  36. ^ "International Pfeffer Peace Awards". Fellowship of Reconciliation (United States). Archived from the original on April 19, 2017.
  37. ^ "Combatants for Peace: Sulaiman Khatib and Maya Katz". www.tuftsgloballeadership.org. October 6, 2015.
  38. ^ "Prize Winners: 2010 – Bassam Aramin and Avner Wishnitzer". Institute of International Education. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  39. ^ "Int'l Courage of Conscience Award: 129. Combatants for Peace". www.peaceabbey.org. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  40. ^ "Fourth Edition 2009 | Award Winner: Combatants for Peace". Anna Lindh Foundation. Archived from the original on 2017-10-30.
  41. ^ "Award ceremony 2009". liviafonden.dk. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  42. ^ "Common Ground Awards 2007". Search for Common Ground. November 6, 2007. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
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