Woman leaders at UN call for renewed Israeli-Palestinian talks

[Englander]

By The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS - Israeli and Palestinian women met Wednesday with female heads of state and foreign ministers in their continuing efforts to work
toward a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The recent war in Lebanon has given the International Women's Commission new purpose and a new opportunity. The conflict showed, the commission said, that what some considered a narrow conflict has the ability to destabilize the entire region and demands an international solution.

The IWC spoke with Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Finnish President Tarja Halonen and other female leaders from European Union countries, asking them to join their initiative. The Finnish president, who currently holds the rotating EU presidency, pledged support for the group and said she would look into developing a task force to address their proposals.

After the war in Lebanon, the commission realized "that this was a time when the international community has become once again involved and would be debating our issue, and therefore it's important for us to come at this time to these meetings," said Galia Golan, an Israeli professor.

Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, also said that Israel's acceptance of an expanded international force in Lebanon might signal a willingness to accept more international involvement in the peace process.

More at;
Haaretz