Forgotten Peace

A message from Peace: Don’t forget me. 

We must revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. An initiative that has lain dormant for the last twenty years since the Oslo Accords derailed. Since then, organizations like Hamas and violent settler movements have sprung up across the land. Decades of displacement, trauma, and violence must be acknowledged for peace to be achieved. Jews and Arabs alike must demand that peace is the top priority for both the Palestinian and Israeli governments. 

With the absence of governmental leadership, I encourage the younger generation of Israelis, Palestinians, and diaspora Jews to take initiative in imagining a peaceful future—one without occupation, extremism, and fear. I often find that when discussing the prospect of peace with friends or family, I’ve spent more time proposing initiatives and plans than either government has done in years. That alone is quite telling. 

 Maintaining the status quo only generates more violence, hatred, and overall dissolution. It undermines the founding vision of the state of Israel as a haven for jews worldwide, and denies Palestinians the right to safety. I urge all dialogue about Israel to mention the ongoing struggle for peace in the region. All conversations about Israel among the Jewish mainstream must acknowledge the harm caused by expansionist settler movements in the West Bank. A movement that not only endangers Palestinians but also stains Israel’s image worldwide. We mustn’t turn a blind eye to this harsh reality. 

Peace is not a dream, it’s not idealistic, it’s a necessity. It’s up to the people to stand up as their governments stand down. Rejecting extremism and questioning the status quo is essential for the path forward. Constructive dialogue to shift the narrative to one rooted in empathy is essential. Safety is a right for all inhabitants living in the area that stretches from the river to the sea. The future depends on never abandoning the prospect of peace.