The Third Narrative is currently sponsored by the New Jewish Narrative (NJN), created by the recent merger of Ameinu with Americans for Peace Now. What follows is a statement from our “mothership,” the Peace Now/Shalom Achshav movement in Israel — sent in an email blast by our colleagues north of the border, Canadian Friends of Peace Now. (All in the family, so to speak.)
Amid the dust clouds of war and euphoria, it is still too early to assess the outcome of the strikes on Iran’s nuclear project. What is clear is that Israel stands today at a critical crossroads for its future. Will we know how to leverage military gains into a strategic political move that can lead to regional peace?
Without an agreement between the United States and Iran that removes the nuclear threat, Israel may be left with a tactical achievement alone.
The real challenge — and opportunity — lies in translating a military success into a new reality, centered around regional normalization and a two-state solution.
Israel’s great misfortune is that the only ones in the current leadership with a vision are the messianic extremists, who believe that every disaster brings salvation: October 7, wars on more and more fronts, economic collapse, and the unraveling of Israeli society.
The way the senseless war in Gaza is being conducted shows that this government is not aiming for regional alliances, but rather for deepening a state of war — a state that ensures its political survival, even at the cost of sacrificing civilians, soldiers, and hostages.
These heavy costs compel us, as a civil opposition, to step into the political arena — with initiative, vision, and a genuine commitment to a negotiated agreement. Otherwise, even the boldest military successes will be squandered and become historic missed opportunities.
We must transform military achievements into a new regional reality centered on establishing peace arrangements in the Middle East.
This is the time for broad alliances. The time is ripe for normalization, for determining Israel’s permanent borders, for the establishment of a Palestinian state, and for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
After the war in Gaza, after the war in Lebanon, and even after the war in Iran — peace is possible.
But peace requires leadership that is not in love with war.
Statement by the New Jewish Narrative…
“Now is the Time for Diplomacy to End the Iran and Gaza Wars” can be read in full at NJN’s website.