After 11 days of direct conflict between Israel and Gaza, a ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, was put into place on Friday morning. However, the impact continues to ripple through Israeli and Arab society, and thousands are calling for more than just a temporary ceasefire. On Saturday, citizens across Israel rallied, calling for Jewish-Arab partnership in hopes of progressing towards what the majority wants: peace.
The main gathering met at Rabin Square in front of the Tel Aviv Municipality building, and there was also a wave of rallies taking place in intersections and bridges across the country. Protestors also gathered in front of the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem.
Nonprofit organizations like Standing Together and Women Wage Peace are just a couple who are leading efforts to engage Jewish and Arab civilians in conversation and solidarity talks. Global conversations between Israelis, Americans, and Palestinians are also taking place on Clubhouse, an audio application that allows users to listen in and join conversations.
Despite the massive waves of hatred hitting most international media headlines, the day-to-day relationships between Israelis and Arabs remain tense, yet it’s the small acts of kindness that will never make the news. One young couple in Jaffa created a crowdfunding campaign for the Arab family whose house had been firebombed. Their local community raised enough money to help with their son’s healthcare and secure the family’s rent for over one year. A Jewish grandfather witnessed an angry mob terrorizing an Arab resident, and rushed downstairs to protect him until the police showed up. An Arab shopkeeper went out of his way to smile, wave, and check in on customers. A Jewish woman left a box of fresh baked cookies in front of her Arab neighbor’s door, only to find the box filled with fresh cookies in return.
During the rally held at Kikar Rabin, Tamar Zandberg of the Meretz party spoke that “it’s no coincidence that the violence broke out just when we began to feel that maybe Jews and Arabs can cooperate in politics too. Some people wanted to sabotage this vision, they wanted to continue sowing hatred and incitement, and violence. But this evening and here, we are telling them – enough, no. Now too we can and must establish a different government in Israel that will not encourage hatred, will not incite, will not separate Jews and Arabs.”
The decades-long conflict seems endless. Yet at the end of the day, whether anyone likes it or not, Jews and Arabs live side by side anyway. And you know what they say: Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
