The rise in tensions and recent clashes between Hamas and Israel are at the heart of international news. As the international community seeks solutions to defuse the crisis, it is important to give voice to those campaigning for peace. We met with Israeli activists and former officials to hear their perspective on the situation.
Yariv Oppenheimer, former director of the Peace Now movement and currently head of the NGO “Two State Coalition”, points out that since the Hamas attacks, even peace supporters are angry and suspicious of the Palestinians. According to him, it will take time to overcome this trauma. However, he sees in this war the opportunity to change partners for peace. He supports the idea of striking a deal with the Palestinian Authority rather than Hamas, in order to view this conflict as political rather than religious. He believes that if Palestinians see the devastating consequences of these attacks, it could lead them to question their leaders and pave the way for a peace agreement.
For his part, Dr. Tareq Abu Hamed, director of the Institute for Environmental Studies, speaks as a Palestinian Israeli and expresses his deep shock at recent events. He rejects the idea that war can provide a lasting solution to conflict and emphasizes that peace is a more difficult process to build, but essential. It calls for bringing people together, fostering mutual understanding and building a just peace to ensure a better future for future generations.
These testimonies highlight the importance of continuing efforts for peace, despite the challenges we face. The voice of peace must remain audible and find echoes in the international community. By giving voice to these activists and former officials, we hope to help raise public awareness of the need to seek peaceful and lasting solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.