Some people regard Israel as evil. Others defend it as if it can do no wrong. As ardent opponents of the occupation who see no contradiction between being pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian, we know that some of what Israel’s critics say is true. And some of what its defenders say is also true.
Our goal is to present a third narrative, to weigh the claims and counter-claims in this ongoing debate in order to help those who want to pursue peace and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Tough Questions
Featured Posts
One chant increases the fears of both Jewish and Muslim students
Study reveals how and why Jew and Muslims felt physically threatened on campus during protests over Israel’s war against Hamas
‘Anti-Israelism’ is the Problem, Not Antisemitism
Most demonstrators may be against the existence of Israel as a country. This can be seen as anti-Zionism, but questioning the survival of a nation is actually worse than opposing an ideology (an “ism”).
Dueling Narratives, Shared Histories
Paul Scham examines how Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews interpret specific historical events differently.
Recent Posts
The Two Most Important Flags for Liberal Jews Today
Take a look at this picture. Israel’s government and Hamas don’t agree on much, but they do agree on one thing: this picture is an abomination.
The “Zionism/Anti-Zionism” Debate: Bad for Israel, Bad for Palestine
For as long as I can recall, a feverish debate has been waged about the merits and demerits of something called “Zionism” and another something called “Anti-Zionism”. For many years, I’ll confess, I was an active participant. Now, though, I find the argument to be not only aimless drudgery, but a framing that primarily serves the most extreme viewpoints on either side of the Israel-Palestine question and that entrenches a binary zero-sum game mentality.
A ‘Solidarity Visit’ in Wartime
There are pitfalls to “solidarity tours” of Israel in the wake of October 7th; this one tried, albeit imperfectly, to avoid them. The trick is to cultivate compassion and understanding for both Israelis and Palestinians at this terrible time.
Son pays tribute to peace activist Vivian Silver at joint Israeli-Palestinian ceremony
Yonatan Zeigen, son of our dear friend and peace activist Vivian Silver who was murdered in kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, gave this beautiful speech at the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Ceremony that was held this week in Israel.
Palestinian Voices for a ‘Third Narrative’ & Peace
We’re delighted to find new Palestinian voices who, like us, insist on respecting the needs and feeling the pain of people on both sides, denouncing extremists and appreciating the complexities of the conflict.
‘Standing Together’ Activist Counters Extremes at UCLA
Zahra Sakkejha and her peers wore purple T-shirts and held signs that read, “Free the Hostages, “Ceasefire Now,” “Diplomacy Now,” and “Not One More Drop of Blood!” They chanted, “In Gaza, in Tel Aviv, all the children want to live!”