Silent Vigil Observed for Peace, Not War, in Israel/Gaza

Vigil for peace, not war, in Israel/Gaza. Credit: C. Spencer

by Judy Adams 

November 2023

The California Peninsula/Palo Alto Branch observed silent vigils for peace, not war in Israel/Gaza. WILPF members and supporters have stood since the start of the war in Ukraine in silent protest. Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, we have stood in mourning for the loss of lives on both sides, wearing black to honor Women in Black, founded by Israeli women opposed to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian Territories during the First Intifada.

We extend their message worldwide to represent the end of all oppression, violence, militarism and injustice, as the WILPF button expresses. (See the testimonies on the Women in Black website for their actions, now expanded to address today’s many conflicts.) Although we are opposed to the Israeli Occupation of Palestine, we are not now focusing on that issue. We are publicly mourning the loss of life on both sides and advocating for a ceasefire and peace negotiations.
Photo credit: E. Fischbach

Recently, we shared our traditional Friday noon silent peace vigils with two Israeli women who arrived at our usual street corner bearing a large Israeli flag and signs calling for a return of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for withdrawal of Israeli troops. We asked the women to take down their flag, which we felt gave the impression that we were in support of Israel’s continued attacks on Gaza. They complied but in conversation during the vigil, one of the Israeli women told a member of our group that she put Israeli lives before Palestinian lives and would sacrifice Palestine for Israel. We cannot agree. Our stand for peace is based on a UN brokered ceasefire and peace negotiations to find a way out of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. That resolution continues to be unlikely, but we remain on the side of peace.

An added two-sided banner (from DefuseNuclearWar.org) reads “Diplomacy Now” and "Wage Peace Now” so we can switch to either side. We had considered displaying the flags but decided that, with tension high between Israel and Hammas, we would keep our message simple. Our signs do include messages asking for ceasefire and peace negotiations. 

We also hope to be joined by members of a local synagogue committed to the goals of American Friends of the Parents Circle, who are working with Palestinian and Israeli Bereaved Families for Peace and others seeking a peaceful end to both wars. Emotions run high about the wars and we believe that the peaceful presence of synagogue members will have a good effect. We will continue to vigil in peace for peace.
Photo: Judy Adams attending the vigil on October 13th. Credit: E. Fischbach