Beyond Clueless Mothers: Israeli "Women Wage Peace" Activists' Perceptions of Why Women Are Key to Peacemaking.

This article examines the Israeli women-led peace movement Women Wage Peace (WWP) by exploring the perspectives of its female Jewish and Arab-Palestinian activists on the "women and peace hypothesis" (WPH), which posits that women possess unique peaceful qualities. While WWP officially employs culturally resonant maternal collective action frames emphasizing motherhood and protection of future generations, activists express diverse views that also highlight feminine attributes such as compassion, communication, and the ability to bridge divides beyond maternal roles. The movement creates a distinctive sense of belonging and "safe spaces" through caring practices, attracting women—including Arab-Palestinians who often experience a deficit of belonging within Israeli society—who may feel excluded from other political or mixed-gender groups. The article suggests that women's peace movements might benefit from combining maternal and broader feminine frames while fostering inclusive, supportive environments to enhance mobilization and solidarity across diverse communities.