Israel needs us, its best friends
THESE ARE worrying times for Israel. Violence between Israelis and Palestinians is escalating at an alarming rate, with the Shin Bet recently reporting that the number of terror victims in 2015 was the highest in seven years. At the same time, the human-rights and democracy camp in Israel is facing aggressive attacks on its legitimacy in the public sphere and the Knesset, in particular those groups and individuals that call for an end to the occupation of the Palestinian Territories, or work to expose alleged human-rights violations that take place in the shadow of the conflict.
The New Israel Fund, which we represent, has worked for nearly four decades to advance human rights and defend democratic values and infrastructure in Israel against the backdrop of the ongo- ing conflict with the Palestinians and many tragic peaks of violence.
Yachad was established in 2011 to galvanise British Jews in support of a political resolution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. For both our organisations, Israel’s security and a strong thriving democracy are twin, inextricably linked goals. Yet polls in Israel indicate that many among the Israeli public feel that those who advocate for democracy and human rights do not offer sufficiently compelling ideas on the immediate security challenges facing the country.
As such, a false dichotomy has taken root, which pits human rights and democracy concerns as being in opposition to the pursuit of national security. We believe that they can in fact be reconciled; that Israel can enhance its security while maintaining its democratic character. More than that, this is essential if Israel is to rebuild its standing in the world and strengthen its relationships with key allies.
While security issues influence virtually all aspects of daily life in Israel, and preoccupy those of us in diaspora Jewish communities who care deeply for Israel’s future, rarely do we in the UK have the chance Danger: Threats of violence are at a high across Israel