Points of light amid the darkness

The situation in Gaza is horrendous.... But the movement for real change is growing. Sharing some reasons for optimism that we can create a different future

Despite the onslaught of bad news coming out of Gaza and the West Bank this week – continued starvation, shooting of dozens of people waiting for food, more dead hostages, more bloody battles, and my friend Yara in Deir El Balah STILL hasn’t gotten any food – despite that and more, there are some inspiring points of light and hope.

Paris Peace Conference

This week hundreds of Israeli and Palestinian activists will gathering in Paris for a peace conference focusing on several proposals for long-term solutions, such as those created by Land for All, by partners Ehud Olmert and Nasser Al-Kidwa and by Gershon Baskin and Samer Sinijlawi. The conference is being hosted by French President Macron in preparation for next week’s peace conference at the UN in New York.

I’m really pleased to report that Forum 1325 under the leadership of Yasmin Guerin, has ensured that there will be 50% representation of women, as well as a 50-50 split of Israelis and Palestinians. This is no small feat.

And…. I’m also thrilled to report that I’ll also be going, serving as Media Liaison for Forum 1325. I will be live-blogging about it, so pay attention to my spaces on Substack, FB, Youtube, Bluesky, IG, – both my personal and podcast links – to follow the news.

The women of Forum 1325 talk about solutions and partners for peace.

To support the Paris Peace Conference for NGOs, click this ALLMEP link here.

Protests and marches to the Gaza border

The protest movement in Israel is growing in strength and numbers. Here is an inspiring clip of one of the groups marching to Gaza last week to end the practices of starvation and end the war.

Women’s Cabinet Conference

Following the Macron conferences, the Women’s Cabinet led by my friend Nirit Oren Shternberg will also be hosting a joint Palestinian-Israeli women’s conference for peace, focusing on women’s unique perspectives and expertise. Why it’s so important to have women around the table. That conference is on the 19^th of June, and I’ll be live-sharing about that too.

I interviewed Nirit from the Women’s Cabinet on my podcast earlier this year. She has dedicated her entire life to bringing peace and empowering women.

To support the Women’s Cabinet, click here.

Launching Season 4 of Women Ending War

I’m excited to report that my podcast Women Ending War, will be launching SEASON FOUR also next week with my new cohost, Amira Musallem. You may remember Amira from guest-hosting in previous seasons. She’s amazing, a Palestinian non-violent activist from Bethlehem who does incredible work and who I love. We have some wonderful interviewees this season, and I’m excited, and I think you will be too. So don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast links to be first to hear about it. Find us on Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, and FB. And please share!

Points of light amid the darkness. There IS another way. There ARE solutions. And there ARE partners.

And a bonus bit of random news….

In September, I’ll be Gdwilling faciliting a 5-day writing retreat on the beautiful Island of Paros, Greece. I know it feels really strange to be talking about doing something so amazingly decadent in the midst of war…. and yet, maybe getting out of this for a few days in order to sit with writers in a calm setting and put some thoughts together — maybe that’s what we all need right now. It’s a privilege… and maybe also a necessity…

Anyway, if this sounds good to you, please be in touch with the organizer, Reva. reva@jerusalemharmonyapts.com

Click below for more details.

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