Although some of the most recent accomplishments for women are unheard of in many Arab countries, the conservatism and the patriarchy in these Arab countries, and Palestinians strong sense of belonging to the Arab world, make it difficult for Palestinian women to go much beyond achievements in women s rights in the surrounding Arab countries. Although the Palestinian Authority has voiced its acceptance of international conventions, these cannot be held binding. However, the statements made by the Palestinian leadership about the equality of Palestinian women are being utilized to their utmost by the Palestinian women s movement to gain more equality. For example, Palestinian women living in East Jerusalem, currently governed by Israel, are regarded as mere residents and are not allowed to give their nationality or residency to their husbands or children. Even when Palestinian women in the Palestinian Authorities were able to keep their maiden names, this achievement was rendered meaningless when Israeli Authorities refused to give permits for these women to reach the Israeli airports because their names differed from those kept in Israeli records on all Palestinians.
Palestinian women remain to be the fruits of a revolution.
Many are their achievements in a short period. Their unity around women s issues gives them power. The creation of statehood from scratch also carries within it the hope for more social justice. To what degree this social justice will be reflected within the emerging Palestinian state will only be revealed by time. All rights reserved.