By Iky Salinas
This week, I will fly to Israel to exercise my right as an Israeli citizen and vote. The following day, I will travel to the West Bank with the Protect the Harvest coalition, supporting Palestinians in protecting their livelihoods against the growing threats to their safety and land.
These may seem like two separate acts, one political and the other practical. In reality, they are deeply connected. Both reflect my commitment to an Israel that upholds democracy, equality, and peace while recognizing the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. The future of Israeli democracy cannot be separated from the conditions under which Palestinians live, nor can Israel’s long-term future be secured through the permanent denial of Palestinian rights.
The stakes could hardly be higher. For those who believe Israel can and must be both a Jewish and democratic state, the question is whether Israeli society will make the political choices necessary to realize that vision. We cannot avoid the difficult questions of occupation, Palestinian self-determination, and the relationship between Israel’s Jewish character and its democratic commitments.
In our most recent webinar, Dr. Gayil Talshir discussed how Israel’s central political debate has shifted. What was once framed as a debate between the right and the left over peace has become a struggle over the meaning of Israel’s Jewish and democratic character and whether these commitments can coexist with the policies pursued by the country’s political leadership.
We are increasingly confronted with two competing visions for Israel’s future: one that prioritizes Jewish supremacy at the expense of democratic equality and subordinates Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians living under occupation, and another that seeks to reconcile Jewish self-determination with equal rights and a future of peace.
The consequences of these competing visions are visible in both public policy and daily life. The nationalist right has increasingly invoked Judaism and Zionism to legitimize its political project, with serious consequences for both Israelis and Palestinians. Just days ago, Israel announced another round of budget cuts affecting ministries responsible for education, transportation, welfare, and other public services, reportedly amounting to hundreds of millions of shekels, in favor of increased defense spending.
Meanwhile, settlers have increasingly invoked religious and national claims to justify violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Tragically, Shabbat, a day of rest and introspection for Jews, has become the day of the week with the most violent attacks against Palestinians.
These are not the values that define my Jewish identity, nor do they reflect the vision of Israel shared by many of its founders and generations of Israelis who have fought for democracy and equality. I believe in an Israel committed to democracy, equal rights, and peace, one that does not come at the expense of Palestinian freedom and dignity.
That is the vision that Partners for Progressive Israel works to advance, alongside our partners and supporters in Israel and the region. My trip is an opportunity to put these commitments into practice: to participate in Israel’s democratic process, stand in solidarity with Palestinians protecting their livelihoods, and learn from those working toward a more just and peaceful future. I look forward to sharing reflections from the trip as I work with PPI’s partners in the Protect the Harvest coalition and meet with our supporters in the region. Thank you for being part of a community that continues to believe that a different future is possible.
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