Some of the 1,000 attendees at the Peace Now conference on Dec. 23
Dear friends,
I’m not sorry to see the backside of 2023. It’s been an awful year from the Israeli-Palestinian perspective.
The most far-right government in Israel’s history took hold, followed by the Netanyahu coalition’s attempt at a “judicial coup,” accelerated settlement expansion, increased settler violence, and provocative visits to the Temple Mount by extremist politicians. Clashes escalated between the IDF and Palestinian militants in the West Bank. Then came a whole new level of horrors: the murderous Hamas attack of October 7, the hostage ordeal, and the ensuing Gaza war, which has brought devastation to the civilians of Gaza and widespread hardship and grief in Israel.
Will 2024 be any better? We can only hope and do our own small part to help make that happen. Right now, it looks as if the war will drag on. Palestinians and Israelis are further apart than ever. It will take huge changes on both sides – in leadership and in public mindset – to create conditions for a more peaceful future. And it will require the international community to make sustained positive contributions.
Peace Now is already leading the way on the Israeli front. Last week it brought together luminaries of the Israeli peace camp in a conference to promote a new path forward in the wake of the Gaza war. Attended by over 1,000 people, the event was hopefully and defiantly entitled “There is a Solution.”
The conference title refutes the view that the core issues underlying Israel-Palestinian strife cannot be resolved and therefore the only choice is to “manage the conflict” indefinitely. This strategy, long upheld by Prime Minister Netanyahu, and which amounts to kicking problems down the road, was shown on October 7 to be utter disaster. The Peace Now conference emphasized a counter message: there is no choice but to create a political horizon and work towards a two-state solution.
As conference host Yossi Marchek said: “We cannot live by our sword forever. After October 7th, we need a change—for us, for our children, and for those who are no longer with us.”
Member of Knesset Gilad Kariv laid out the first steps that must occur: “The day after the war must involve diplomatic negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, with deep involvement from the American government and moderate Arab states.”
In contrast, Netanyahu has rebuffed calls for a two-state solution and presented no vision for Gaza’s future. Some fanatics in his camp even favour rebuilding settlements in the Strip and have hinted at population transfer.
In 2024, Canadian Friends of Peace Now will stand more solidly than ever with our partners in Israel. We will increase our support to Peace Now, Israel’s oldest, most notable peace organization, because the need is greater than ever. We must do all we can to strengthen the voices of sanity, moderation, pragmatism, and compassion.
Very hearty thanks to all our generous supporters for enabling us to continue with our mission. (If you have not yet donated, there is still time to do so and receive a tax receipt for 2023.)
My very best wishes to everyone for the coming year. May it bring you what you need for personal happiness and may we all find the strength to face ongoing challenges.
Gabriella Goliger, National Chair
On behalf of the team at Canadian Friends of Peace Now
