The Associated Press is reporting that more than 30 people have been killed in Israel-Palestine in one of thebloodiest days in seventeen months. Early this morning, Israeli troops raided towns in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,killing some 26 Palestinians and wounding nearly 60 others. At the same, just miles from one of the raids, a17-year-old Palestinian attacked dormitories and a Bible study hall in a Jewish settlement in Gaza. Five Israeliteenagers were killed.

Despite the fighting, President Bush has announced that he is sending his special envoy, General Anthony Zinni, backto the region to try to negotiate a cease­fire. The blueprint for his proposal is based on a truce plan sketchedlast year by CIA chief, George Tenet. It calls for the Palestinians to crack down on so-called militants and preventattacks on Israel, and for Israelis to lift its broad travel bans on Palestinians and pull back to positions it hadbefore September 2000. Zinni is expected to present his plan to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Palestinianleader Yasser Arafat, and others next week.

But as men come together at the negotiating table, plotting a peace process that may or may not work, who will speakfor Palestinian and Israeli women? Throughout the occupation of Palestine and the ensuing conflict, women havesuffered uniquely and inordinately. At the same time, they have played a leading role in the struggle against theoccupation as well as peace efforts.

Today we will speak with two women from the Jerusalem Link, the coordinating body of two independent women’s centers:Bat Shalom–The Jerusalem Women’s Action Center, located in West Jerusalem–and Marcaz al-Quds la l-Nissah–theJerusalem Center for Women, located in East Jerusalem. The groups work together toward a real peace, not merely atreaty of mutual deterrence.

Guests:

• Amneh Badran, director, Jerusalem Center for Women.
• Terry Greenblatt, director, Bat Shalom.

Related links:

• Jerusalem Center for Women
• Bat Shalom