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Jewish Socialist
Issue 55 is out now!

Read the contents and selected articles

News

What a state! success! | Another Israel

What a state! success!

The JSG's benefit show for a just peace in the Middle East, 60 years - What a State! on 8th May 2008 was a stunning success. All tickets were sold a day before the performance, the audience had a brilliant evening, and we made £1400 which will be distributed between
B’Tselem, the Israeli Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories.
Friends of Freedom and Justice - Bilin, a non-violent campaign against the separation wall in the territories.
Combatants for Peace, an organisation of Israelis and Palestinians working together to end the cycle of violence.£200 to Combatants for Peace an organisation of Israelis and Palestinians working together to end the cycle of violence.
National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns.

Thanks to everyone who came to the show, to all those who worked behind the scenes and to the performers who made it such a great event. Even the Jewish Chronicle had to admit it was a wonderful night!

Another Israel

The idea of Another Israel attracted over 200 people to a meeting in central London on 12th March 2008. Its aim, in this 60th year of the founding of the state of Israel, was to give voice to alternative voices within Israel itself, voices opposed to the settlement enterprise and the occupation, for an honest recognition of the suffering of the Nakba, a just peace and for full equality between Jews and Palestinians.

A series of Judah Passow’s remarkable photographs formed the backdrop to the meeting, and the actress Janet Suzman set the tone, reading two short personal experiences of the human cost of the conflict in Gaza from Sapir College, in Sderot, and from an Ashkelon hospital treating Palestinian victims.

The Israeli speakers – Daphna Baram, Matan Cohen, Yehudit Kirstein Keshet, Michel Warshawski and Eyal Weizmann – all spoke honestly and thoughtfully, from experience and theory, of the work and uphill struggle of the peace and human rights groups in Israel. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly a telephonic contribution from Dr Eyad El-Sarraj, head of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program and inspirer of the Israeli Convoy to Gaza in January. His calm, measured account of the siege and his ongoing hope for cooperation between the peoples on both sides of the conflict underpinned the importance of the work of the activists of Another Israel.

A DVD of the event is being produced. A poster exhibition, highlighting the work of around 30 of the many Israeli groups working for Another Israel was also previewed. The posters are available for display – please contact anotherisrael@gmail.com for more information about this and the availability of the DVD.

The meeting was put together by an ad hoc collection of individuals from JfJfP, ICAHD-UK, IJV, PSC and FFIPP-UK working with their organisations’ support. It is to be followed up by other events over the year, giving space to Another Israel in all its strengths and weaknesses, its range and diversity.

Irene Bruegel