We, Israelis, Are Calling for Global Pressure on Israel To Force an Immediate Ceasefire
We, Israeli citizens residing in Israel and abroad, call on the international community – the UN and its institutions, the United States, the European Union, the League of Arab States, and all states around the world – to intervene immediately and implement every possible sanction towards achieving an immediate ceasefire between Israel and its neighbors, for the future of both peoples in Israel and Palestine and the peoples of the region and for their rights to security and life.
Many of us are veteran activists against the occupation, for peace and mutual existence in this land. We are motivated by our love for the land and its residents, and we are concerned for their future. We have been horrified by the war crimes committed by Hamas and other organizations on 7 October and we are horrified by the countless war crimes that Israel is committing. Unfortunately, the majority of Israelis support the continuation of the war and massacres, and a change from within is not currently feasible. The state of Israel is on a suicidal path and sows destruction and devastation that increase day by day.
The government of Israel has abandoned its citizens who are hostages (and has killed some), it has neglected the residents of the south and north of Israel, and it has forsaken the fate and future of all of its citizens. Israel’s Palestinian citizens are persecuted and silenced by state authorities and by the wider public. It is our opinion that the repression, intimidation and political persecution prevent many who share our views from joining this call.
Every day that goes by further distances any possible horizon for a regional agreement and reconciliation, a future where Jewish Israelis can live with security in this place. Achieving these will require lengthy processes, but the constant massacres and destruction must be stopped immediately!
The lack of true international pressure, the continuation of arms supplies to Israel, economic and security partnerships and scientific and cultural collaborations, bring most Israelis to believe that Israel’s policies enjoy international support. The leaders of many countries make repeated statements about the horror they feel and verbally denounce Israel’s operations, but these condemnations are not backed by practical actions. We are replete with empty words and declarations.
Please, for our futures and the futures of all of the residents of Israel and the region, save us from ourselves and use real pressure on Israel for an immediate ceasefire.
More than 2,700 Israeli citizens have signed this letter. The full list of signatories can be seen here. An earlier version of this letter was published in Libération
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From initial letter published in Libération:
First signatories: Yael Lerer Franco-Israeli, editor and translator, former NFP candidate 8th constituency of French people outside France Anat Matar Philosopher, Tel Aviv University Ron Naiweld Franco-Israeli, historian of Judaism, CNRS Yoav Shemer-Kunz Franco-Israeli, political scientist, University of Strasbourg Yael Berda Sociologist, professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Smadar Ben-Natan Lawyer and researcher specializing in human rights, University of Oregon Oded Goldreich Israel Prize winner, researcher in theoretical computer science, professor at the Weizmann Institute Aliza Shenhar Professor emeritus, former Israeli ambassador to Russia, former president of Yezreel Valley College Amos Goldberg Holocaust specialist, professor of Jewish history and the contemporary Jewish world, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Menachem Klein Professor of Political Science at Bar-Ilan University Yagil Levy Sociologist, military specialist, professor at the Open University of Israel Shmuel Lederman Specialist in genocide studies and political theory, lecturer at the University of Haifa Neve Gordon Lawyer and political scientist, professor at Queen Mary University in London Idan Landau Professor of Linguistics at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Michal Ben-Naftali Author of “Can’t You See That I’m Burning?” (2024), Actes Sud Miriam Eliav-Feldon Historian, professor emeritus, Tel Aviv University Achinoam Nini (Noa), singer Rabbi Dubi Avigur Rakefet, Rabbis for Human Rights Michael Ben-Yair Former Attorney General of Israel Ayala Metzger One of the leading figures in the protests by the families of the hostages.