If you follow Ameinu’s Zoom programming and/or email communications, you know that I spent the first six weeks of the war in Israel, supporting family members and living the trauma that Israelis experienced. The scope and depravity of the Hamas attack on Israelis, the collective agony and personal tragedy of hostage families, fear for the future… all this and more impacted every Israeli.
And I am not referring only to Jewish Israelis. I had the opportunity to engage with our friends and colleagues in the Israeli Arab community and demonstrate solidarity with them while many felt they were being watched for signs of “disloyalty” if they dared show sympathy for their innocent Palestinian brethren in Gaza. It is critical that we strengthen and maintain these relationships precisely at this time.
I also met with leaders of the pro-democracy movement that Ameinu so actively supported in demonstrations across the United States and at NY’s Celebrate Israel parade in June. As I am sure you know, these very same Israeli activists immediately pivoted after October 7 and led civil society in establishing an impressive operation in support of evacuees, soldiers, families of reservists and others. Based upon private conversations, a “third act” that includes electoral politics may come after the war.
Because of Ameinu’s role in organized Jewish institutions, while in Israel I was able to bring our progressive voice to solidarity missions organized by the Conference of Presidents and the Jewish Agency. And I have news that may surprise some of you – the war has shaken some closely held beliefs across the political spectrum. I found myself in “bus conversations” regarding causes for the war and what the “day after” will bring that were very different than one might expect.
Another area of focus while there was to check on the resilience of Palestinian-Israeli relationships in the face of war. Without a doubt there is some fraying around the edges, but I was gratified to find that activists and professionals are working hard to maintain those relationships and related initiatives.
