In this our last episode of the year 2022, we reflect on harbingers of hope. On the political front, in response to Israel’s November election that elected fascist elements and resulted in a near-total erasure of the parliamentary left, a new political party united around the principle of complete equality for all was founded by a group of Israeli Jews and Palestinians. The new party’s name, All Its citizens, is a direct challenge to one of Israel’s Basic Laws which asserts that a party can be disqualified from running in elections if their platform negates the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. While some analysts dismiss the new party as too small for hope, a seed has been planted. Seeds grow.
We listen to portions of two past radio episodes where we find hope. Kefiah Addera tells how, despite immense odds, she successfully organized the village women to bring electricity to their small community in the South Hebron Hills. Then Yonathan Shapiro, an Israeli Jew who now advocates for Palestinian rights, explains why he embraced Breaking the Silence, an organization of former Israeli soldiers who document harsh actions they once took against Palestinians, actions they now regret.
