Courageous Palestinian and Israeli Conversations: Last week, I spoke at the Birch Wathen Lenox School through the ConnectED program, which helps independent schools approach complex issues like the Israel‑Palestine conflict with nuance and empathy. I often speak alongside an Israeli partner to model healthy dialogue, active listening, and the ability to sit with uncomfortable truths. This time, I joined Charlotte Korchak, whose Israeli-American background and deep knowledge of the conflict complemented my focus on radical pragmatism, self-reflection within our communities, and a future-oriented approach.
Since October 7, students, faculty, and parents have struggled with this topic. Instead of avoiding it, the school chose to foster courageous conversations, essential preparation for high school students who will soon enter charged university environments. Our goal was not to debate or “win,” but to present perspectives from within our communities and show how to engage difficult history without feeling personally diminished.
I shared a common Palestinian view: that the creation of a Jewish homeland unfolded at the expense of a population already living there, who had no say in the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate, or the Balfour Declaration. Many Palestinians feel they ultimately bore the cost of European antisemitism and the Holocaust, which accelerated Jewish immigration and contributed to the tensions that erupted in 1948.
Charlotte explained the Jewish people’s ancient connection to the land, predating modern Zionism, and emphasized that early Zionist visions did not call for the expulsion of local inhabitants. She described how repeated denials of Jewish heritage and sovereignty contributed to a need to assert Jewish presence, even as legal land purchases and various proposals for coexistence were historically and contemporarily made.
We then responded to each other – me highlighting my family’s violent displacement in 1948, and Charlotte noting multiple Israeli attempts at peace that could have led to Palestinian statehood but were instead met with rejection and violence. I affirmed the Jewish right to self‑determination while explaining why many Palestinians feel theirs has been sidelined. Charlotte emphasized that a two‑state future is still achievable if both peoples accept each other’s permanence. Across several topics, we demonstrated how difficult conversations can be productive when grounded in history, empathy, and a willingness to listen.
We urged students to focus on making a difference rather than making a point, and to reject sloganeering, hostility, and performative activism in favor of pragmatic, informed engagement. Always say yes to more dialogue that is constructive, courageous, and rooted in understanding, and ignore those who try to punish or delegitimize such conversations.
HORRIFIC: Hamas militias kidnapped and tortured Palestinian activist Muhammad Azzari Baraka in Gaza City, brutally beating him and leaving him covered in bruises, with around ten members involved in the assault.
Mohammad’s case is unlikely to reach headlines, human rights organizations, or pro Palestine activists, simply because the perpetrator is Hamas.
Que los jóvenes de izquierda de EEUU se estén alejando de Israel es tan solo un síntoma más de cómo se están radicalizando en general (y alejándose de EEUU). O frenan a la extrema izquierda (empezando por las Universidades) o en EEUU va a correr mucha sangre.
A week after an investigation exposed the sexual abuse and exploitation of desperate and aid-seeking Palestinian women in Gaza, who face the threat from Hamas, the aid system, and societal neglect, major outlets and “pro-Palestine” activist groups ignored it entirely. Instead of addressing the findings, many dismissed the reporting, defended Hamas, or simply looked away. Now, however, a Guardian story alleging sexual offenses by Israeli settlers and soldiers in the West Bank is receiving widespread attention, commentary, and engagement. The issue isn’t whether sexual harassment and abuse by Israelis occurs; it undoubtedly has. The problem is the stark double standard: silence when Palestinians harm Palestinians, outrage only when Israel is the perpetrator. Nearly 90% of Gaza’s 2.2 million people have been displaced, many losing homes, income, and basic security. In such conditions, vulnerable women and children are at obvious risk of exploitation. Yet their sexual abuse and suffering drew no meaningful response from “pro‑Palestine” activists, human‑rights groups, international bodies, or governments.
The timing of the Guardian piece, just days after the Daily Mail’s investigation into sexual abuse and early marriages in Gaza, suggests an effort to redirect attention back to Israeli wrongdoing rather than confront serious, internal problems in Gaza. It functions as a way to deflect from sexual offenses committed by Hamas and others, and to shield those responsible from scrutiny.
I delivered some deradicalisation intervention sessions to a small group at a school for autistic kids.
I fell in love with them. They were so well engaged & polite.
Some stayed behind to talk more for another half an hour. I could tell the penny had dropped.
- 🚨My dear friends, your help and support are needed for my family during this catastrophic situation. We are living through our worst days. Donate, quote, share my post.
https://t.co/lG5lg1iBYW
Does anyone know someone from The Gaza Children Village? A friend in Gaza wants to teach there.
https://t.co/CagUYE4kKL
Board of Directors:
Dr. David Hasan
Ofer Bronchtein
Sharon Brous
Nava Hefetz
Azzam Shawwa
Reem Younis
Marcie Zelikow
Advisory Board:
Nava Hefetz
Sophia Abram
Thabet Abu Rass
Arik Agassi
Raluca Ganea
Adam Goldstein
Rachel Hadari
Haim Peeri
Yotam Pulitzer
Maya Savir
Sam Worthington
@imshin@clashreport but his book: In Days to Come: A New Hope for Israel. Is a good book and a legacy to be linked with his name <3
I haven't read much of his recent statements but I do know his name from years ago and during the war I read this book and I like it.
While the world has been rightfully focused on the war with Iran and its implications, Hamas in Gaza continues to re-establish its complete and firm grip on power, control, and all aspects of life in the destroyed, shrunken, and besieged coastal enclave. Inside the “red zone” that the terror organization controls, there are dozens of checkpoints set up by Hamas’s governmental police, as well as the group’s al-Qassam Brigades – covering the entirety of the Strip’s north-to-south travel axes. Whatever the Board of Peace and its executive committee and the technocratic committee of Palestinians (NCAG) had planned, it’s hard to imagine anything dislodging Hamas’s firm fascist and violent grip on 2 million people in Gaza. While Hamas is severely weakened and a mere shell of its former self, it still has access to sprawling tunnels, and it has reorganized & re-established its hierarchical structures.
Hamas has millions of civilians to use as perpetual human shields in a Jihadi, suicidal project that is willing to finish Gaza off, not unlike Hitler’s last stand in Berlin in 1945, when the Soviets wiped out the city to end the Third Reich. The war with Iran has served Hamas in Gaza by reducing international focus and scrutiny on its growing and expanding influence and control.
There should be a foundation that facilitate from different points all around Gaza, and it can have Gazan employees. IMC has its trusted field hospitals that proved zero affiliation with hms, and GCV is a good example for schools that teach actual peace. Both supported by Jews.
Jewish people should--out of generosity--make another foundation to distribute aid inside Gaza.The Egyptian initiative approved to be failing in fair distribution also, not just UN. They are explicitly-seeing from ground- affiliating with HMS. (Please see my comment on this Post)
UN agency caught smuggling into Gaza!
Inon Shalom Yitach (i24):
Attempt to smuggle hundreds of bottles of motor oil into the Gaza Strip under the guise of humanitarian aid foiled
Following the incident, head of COGAT, Major General Halevi, decided: "I am suspending the entry of aid shipments on behalf of the UNDP agency that coordinated the shipment." The smuggling was foiled following the vigilance of the Land Crossings Authority personnel.
In the photo: the motor oil hidden in boxes of sunflower oil.
#TheGazaYouDontKnow
Link to source follows
1/ After extensive construction works, the luxurious Evan Restaurant Café in Gaza City is finally opening
this evening, 16 Mar '26.
This footage is from the trial opening.
Timestamp: 14 hours ago (15 Mar '26)
#TheGazaYouDontSee
Links + more footage + more details follow 🧵
Criminales de guerra, todos, que abusan las protecciones a ambulancias, prensa, escuelas, para destruir nuestra civilización.
Red Crescent es la Medialuna Roja, la Cruz Roja islámica.
I hope there are better measures for civilians in case the IDF decided to take off Hamas for good, hopefully there will be no Hamas one day,.
It concerns me every time the Israeli government talks about Hamas's activities because it might mean there will an operation for that.
דעה: ההודעות היום על תפיסת חוליית חמאס בביתא של 10 שביצעו פיגועי מטען ותכננו חטיפה ועל חיסול מחבלי נוחבה בעזה באימונים - שתיהן יותר משהן מרגיעות הן מדאיגות. מעידות כל אחת בגזרתה על התארגנות רצינית של חמאס, בעזה מדובר בהתארגנות מחדש אחרי מלחמה של שנתיים וזה גם חמור הרבה יותר