Israeli Peace Activist Itamar Avneri on Ending the Gaza War and True Sides in the Conflict

Standing Together Movement

• 🌱 Standing Together is the largest joint movement of Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel, fighting for an end to the occupation, a just Israeli-Palestinian peace, and equality within Israel.
• ✊ The organization has been leading the struggle to stop the current war, achieve a hostage deal, and prevent future conflicts.

Public Opinion in Israel

• 📊 Itamar Avneri states that the overwhelming majority of Israeli Jewish society supports ending the war and does not support the current government.
• 📣 Despite criticism and the perception of being a minority, Avneri believes the government is the one in the minority, with public understanding that change is necessary providing hope.

The "Cities for Peace" Initiative

• 🕊️ Avneri is in Paris for the "Cities for Peace" initiative, aiming to bring together Israeli and Palestinian peace activists, mayors, and figures to find concrete solutions and focus on the role of women in conflict resolution.
• 🤝 The goal is to find allies, as Avneri believes that only the Israeli and Palestinian people can end the war, but the international community has a role to play.

Identifying the True Sides

• ⚠️ Avneri emphasizes that the conflict is not simply Israelis versus Palestinians, nor the Israeli government versus Hamas.
• 🎯 The real sides are the warmongers (Israeli government, Hamas) who feed off each other, and the people (Palestinian and Jewish people in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank) who share the common interest of peace.

Overcoming Disagreements and Building Future Leadership

• 📈 Surveys indicate that a majority in both Palestinian and Israeli societies support a two-state solution, suggesting that disagreements can be overcome with political will.
• 🌟 A new generation of activists, including students and women, are seen as crucial for building the majority needed to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace, rejecting the idea of perpetual war.
• 🚺 The male leadership on both sides has disappointed, highlighting the need for women's perspectives and leadership in achieving positive change.