Democratic Palestine : 32 (ص 15)
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- Democratic Palestine : 32 (ص 15)
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WW
Women have joined men in refusing
to work in the territories occupied in
1948, in compliance with the UNL
calls. Israeli sources state that the
percentage of women boycotting work
in Israeli factories and farms was
higher than that of men. This is due to
the new realities borne out of the in-
tifada where women are obliged to stay
at home, not only to take care of their
children and homes, but also to
cultivate the land and to encourage the
self-sufficiency program.
THE SOCIAL FIELD
Women are participating in large
numbers in the popular committees and
the various special function commit-
tees, such as those for popular educa-
tion, food provision, medical aid and
supporting the families of the martyrs,
injured and detained.
The social field is one of the most
important arenas where the intifada has
created a new system of social and
moral values, based on cooperation,
collective thinking and _ internal
solidarity. Women’s effective par-
ticipation in the intifada has created
new conditions for influencing the
social attitudes of even the most tradi-
tional men. With the advent of self-
sufficiency and home _ gardening,
women have gained added respect for
their work. Men have been obliged to
help in the work of the home, resulting
in more equal partnerships.
Naturally, it is the Palestinian
women who have played a prominent
role in the reduction of dowries and the
costs of getting married, by promoting
modest weddings and doing away with
the luxuries which characterized
Palestinian weddings in the past. Wed-
ding celebrations have now turned into
nationalist occasions with nationalist
songs and popular dances.
STATISTICS
To further exemplify the prominent
role of Palestinian women in the in-
tifada, it is necessary to point to some
important statistics. During the last 15
months, 70 Palestinian women have
Democratic Palestine, March 1989
been martyred, which constitutes
almost 13% of the total of 545 martyrs.
The age distribution of female martyrs
is shown in the following table:
Number of Female Age
Martyrs
22 Under 15
28 15-49
20 Over 50
70 Total
These figures attest to the broad par-
ticipation of Palestinian women in the
intifada, while exposing the reality of
Zionist terrorism against women,
children and elderly, employing lethal
bullets, poisonous gases, killings,
beating until death, provocation, etc.,
as it clearly appears from the following:
Number Cause of Martyrdom
33 Lethal bullets
28 Poisonous gas
3 Death induced by beating
3 Intentionally run down
3 Other
70 Total
Palestinian women are participating in
the intifada in all areas, as is apparent
in the following lists of where women
were martyred:
Number Area
40 West Bank
29 Gaza Strip
1 1948 Territories
70 Total
Number Location
28 Camps
15 Cities
27 Villages
70 Total
Additionally, approximately 4,000
women have been injured, while 1,200
have suffered miscarriages due to
violent confrontations and the Zionists’
use of tear gas. Women constitute ap-
proximately 16% of the total number
of injured, 33,000. (This figure does
not include the many women who were
treated on the spot for injuries.)
West Bank lawyers estimate that
40,000 Palestinians have been detained
at one time or another in the first 15
months of the uprising. Among them
are over 3,000 women. In _ recent
months, 100 Palestinian women have
been administratively detained, and 120
have been placed under house arrest.
This is the first time the Zionist.
authorities have imposed _ these
restrictions on women on a wide scale.
The broad participation of the
Palestinian women in the intifada is a
further confirmation of its revolu-
tionary essence. This was also expressed
in the calls of the United National
Leadership for giving women their
rights and considering March 8th as an
official paid holiday. The Declaration
of Independence issued by the 19th
PNC clearly stipulated full equality of
rights and «social justice, equality and
non-discrimination in public rights...
on grounds of race, religion, color or
sex.» Appreciation of women and their
role in the Palestinian struggle was
reiterated in the political statement of
the PNC.
Loyalty to the Palestinian women,
their struggle and boundless sacrifices,
demands of all the Palestinian revolu-
tionary organizations to shoulder their
responsibilities and take the necessary
steps to enhance this role. This means
giving maximum attention to the pro-
cess of educating and mobilizing
women, enabling them to be equal to
men. It also entails providing women
with the opportunity to attain leader-
ship positions, raising their portion of
representation in leading bodies in ac-
cordance with their active, militant
role. Otherwise, continued talk about
the women’s role and equality will be
only idle talk.
Let us give women their rights and
honor their sacrifices and struggle.
13 - هو جزء من
- Democratic Palestine : 32
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