Powerful Reflections on the Tragedy of October 7: “Hope for the Future”
The loss of life and the destruction of community, ignited on October 7th and continuing during the year’s-long war in Gaza, gave stirred strong feelings and passions in all of us; we are deeply moved by the pain and suffering of innocent civilians – families, women and children -- both Palestinian and Israeli. Our anguish and pain cannot be adequately expressed, and our promise is to honor the sacrifice of so many by directing our own lives to working towards peace.
We live in the hope for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the war. We pray for the delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and for the return of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. Our hopes have only become more urgent with the passing year.
An end to this war must be the first step to resolving the decades-old conflict between Israel and Palestine, and this can be done only when the rights of both peoples, including the right to national self-determination, are acknowledged and guaranteed – two states for two peoples.
We urge you to hear the voices of Hope in this new video that features the voices of our partner Israelis and Palestinians, who seek a different future for themselves—a democratic future where Israelis and Palestinians can both live in dignity, with acceptance and self-determination for all, and where the question is not how can I demonize the “other,” but “how we can create a safe and positive future for our children.”
We must learn to reject the binary, because there can never be a purely military solution to this conflict, no way forward that rests on the domination of one people, no force of arms that can bring lasting peace and security. The only way forward is one that imagines a different future, one that believes there are two peoples, each with the right to live in security, justice, and peace. The AFT stands proud to support civil society organizations, labor unions, and all in Israel and Palestine who are committed to that different future, and working to create a new reality on the ground.
Hear their stories, in this new video, of resilience and hope, “because the only path forward is a shared path.” As educators, healers, public servants, humanists, we believe deeply in compassion and tolerance, and the right of all people to live in peace, in the embrace of our shared humanity. As we move forward, and navigate the aftermath of this dark year past, the stories of unbroken spirit and unity that are now emerging from both Israel and Palestine will serve as a guide for a better tomorrow.
As one of our Palestinian partners has said, “Our conflict is complex, with pain and trauma on both sides. To build trust and achieve reconciliation, we must open our hearts to each other’s narratives and listen genuinely. Real change happens when ordinary people fight for justice in their everyday lives. We must be brave and take small steps forward together to find a new way.” Please take a few minutes to watch this moving video, above, and share the link with your colleagues, friends, and family so they, too, can hear these remarkable testimonies as well.
Our thanks to the Partners who have given us the video above. Please click below to hear more of their stories.
Robi Damelin and Layla Alsheikh |
Uri Weltmann |
Noa Sattath |
Dani Elazar |
Peter Lerner |
Shahd Bishara |
Randi Weingarten |
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