John Sears: Hope for Israel/Palestine

I agree with My Turn writer Laurie Booshada [“Security and dignity through equality,” Recorder, June 26] that the only way to peace in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank is to achieve security and dignity through equality for all. The question is, how can the Jews and Palestinians possibly achieve that goal when events are being driven by extremists, including religious extremists, on both sides?

There is a grassroots organization in Israel that is mobilizing Palestinian and Jewish citizens of Israel to work side by side to seek an alternative to perpetual war. It is called Standing Together and it is the largest Jewish-Arab grassroots movement in Israel. It offers hope in what seems like a hopeless situation.

Its young, dynamic leaders, both Jews and Palestinians, declare that “we are committed to creating an alternative to our existing reality and building the political strength to make this transformation possible.” They are asking Americans to help. They need our help.

As their leaders say, there are 7 million Palestinians and 7 million Jews living on a tiny piece of land. No one is going anywhere. They must find a way to live together. Readers can learn more about Standing Together at standing-together.org/friends. The Western MA chapter of Friends of Standing Together organizes weekly vigils Wednesdays on July 3, July 17 and July 31, from noon to 1 p.m., and Thursdays on July 11 and July 25 from 5 to 6 p.m. To receive its newsletter, go to to tinyurl.com/ymmyw5cx. 

John Sears

Hawley