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Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr were especially difficult this year. Just as we had finally reached a ceasefire, some of the hostages had returned and we began to settle onto a path that offered a slightly more bearable reality, everything was cruelly and unjustifiably disrupted— a situation driven by petty politics and a shocking disregard for the fate of the hostages. The judicial overhaul has returned in full force, exploiting the fear, shock, and trauma of war and the abandonment of the hostages in order to deal a devastating blow to Israeli democracy.
We are living in dark times. The collapse of governance and willful blindness has led to an increase in acts of Jewish terror in the West Bank, harming unprotected Palestinian civilians. Crime in Arab society inside Israel continues unchecked, in a kind of lawless Wild West created by the government, and personal safety no longer exists.
Bit by bit, the areas within Israel where there is still some semblance of law and justice are shrinking, and aspects of the government’s conduct are visibly illegal.
This is our reality. Within it, we must choose whether to fight and promote the possibility of a better future, or to surrender to racism, violence, and abandonment, and watch Israel sink. You are invited to Givat Haviva if you choose the first path. In this month’s update, you’ll see our wonderful joint Jewish-Arab team leading educational initiatives, participating in conferences, and receiving recognition for years of work in the complex field of shared society education. You’ll see educators and school principals, who face resistance but still bring their students to Givat Haviva for programs in democracy and equality. You’ll see 150 youth from Israel and around the world studying at our International School, willing to spend their evenings learning about the state of Israeli democracy and how to protect democracies elsewhere. You’ll see 10 young Jewish and Arab artists who took part in our residency program, living and working together for three months and now presenting a joint exhibition at the Givat Haviva gallery.
Democratic Israeli society is under attack. Arab society in Israel is being robbed by the government and abandoned to rampant crime. Those who dare to protest against anti-democratic government moves are being suppressed by a police force that has lost its way. And still, millions of Israelis—Jews and Arabs—want to live in dignity and equality. They want to provide a safe home for their children, access to education, and opportunities for personal fulfillment. They want to live securely and with well-being, to work at jobs they love and celebrate holidays and vacations without fear. Thousands of parents send their children to Givat Haviva to learn about their society. Hundreds of teachers each year come to learn how to educate for democracy and equality. Local leaders from all political parties seek to maintain good relations between communities through dialogue and understanding.
This is the foundation we build upon. This is the foundation with which we preserve the Israeli spark striving for a democratic state governed by the rule of law.
Wishing us all a peaceful spring holiday season, and may we know freedom and hope.
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