One of the great many tragedies of the current situation is that Vivian Silver, one of the leaders of Women Wage Peace, the group marching in the banner heading, is currently missing and believed to be among the hostages taken by Hamas. Below I share their release about Vivian, as well as their position paper on the current conflict. It's not the kind of declaration that many would want, but I think it speaks to the challenges in the current situation, from a group of Israeli and Palestinian women who have been building bridges for years, fighting occupation with the tools they have and working in solidarity with each other. I'm not even sure I agree with it, it demands a lot very vaguely and almost nothing specifically. That said, I'm a regular reader of your news letter, and when I saw that image in the banner, I felt compelled to share this one story, that I have a very peripheral connection to. I hope it's helpful to somebody.
I have to avoid reading both NYTimes and BBC these days to avoid seeing Western newspapers rallying behind the revenge attack in Gaza. Asking 1,1 millions Palestine to leave in 24 hours is literally saying you guys are all dead. I thank you for articulating and reasoning this war out for each of us as individuals understand this better from the casualty rather than from the idealogy. Thank you for writing. It is heartbreak to see all the children on news. Why are they on news? They are dying at bombing time.
Thank you for this important piece. It speaks to the whirlwind of emotions I've felt this past week, and the dearth of communities so many of us contend with.
There is a lesson in your longing
One of the great many tragedies of the current situation is that Vivian Silver, one of the leaders of Women Wage Peace, the group marching in the banner heading, is currently missing and believed to be among the hostages taken by Hamas. Below I share their release about Vivian, as well as their position paper on the current conflict. It's not the kind of declaration that many would want, but I think it speaks to the challenges in the current situation, from a group of Israeli and Palestinian women who have been building bridges for years, fighting occupation with the tools they have and working in solidarity with each other. I'm not even sure I agree with it, it demands a lot very vaguely and almost nothing specifically. That said, I'm a regular reader of your news letter, and when I saw that image in the banner, I felt compelled to share this one story, that I have a very peripheral connection to. I hope it's helpful to somebody.
https://www.womenwagepeace.org.il/en/vivian-silver-a-peace-activist-is-missing/
https://www.womenwagepeace.org.il/en/position-paper/
I have to avoid reading both NYTimes and BBC these days to avoid seeing Western newspapers rallying behind the revenge attack in Gaza. Asking 1,1 millions Palestine to leave in 24 hours is literally saying you guys are all dead. I thank you for articulating and reasoning this war out for each of us as individuals understand this better from the casualty rather than from the idealogy. Thank you for writing. It is heartbreak to see all the children on news. Why are they on news? They are dying at bombing time.
This resonated with me, because that is what I did when l heard about the attacks. Then I read this Substack entry: https://hardegree.substack.com/p/understanding-the-palestinian-israeli-cbb?r=f0bbb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&fbclid=IwAR2BPNV0ByaSSZOzzeRZ1yJWwXEojlb14AOriAIwtAvTMdV3IiaPM3W76XI. It summed up all of my research and clarified so much of the history behind the conflict. It gave me some comfort that I was on the right track with my conflicting emotions. Perhaps your readers could benefit also. Thank you for this post.
I really appreciate this perspective. I also recommend this really beautiful piece by the editor of Jewish Currents, "We Cannot Cross Until We Carry Each Other." https://jewishcurrents.org/we-cannot-cross-until-we-carry-each-other
Thank you for this important piece. It speaks to the whirlwind of emotions I've felt this past week, and the dearth of communities so many of us contend with.
Thank you for this, friend.