Ilan Bass 义兰 イラン אילן

Jewish Londoner based in Tokyo, Japan. Lived over a decade in Asia, Middle East & Europe. Mediator. Mandarin speaker. Advocate for non-violence.

[Ilan Bass 义兰 イラン אילן @ilanbass]

“Weapons win wars, but it takes ideas to win the peace.”

— Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l

[Hen Mazzig @HenMazzig]

Freddy, a German soccer fan who has gone viral for touring the United States for the World Cup, is now the target of the Free Palestine movement.

His crime: asking a logical and nuanced question that took into consideration the humanity of Jews.

[Samer Sinijlawiسامر السنجلاوي @SSinijlawi]

A Political Upheaval in Israel... But Are We Palestinians Ready?

Israel is witnessing a rapid political shift in recent weeks. According to the latest opinion polls, the party led by Gadi Eisenkot has been steadily gaining ground, surpassing the traditional opposition parties and quickly closing the gap with Likud. If this trend continues, Eisenkot's party could become the largest political force within a matter of weeks.

But the most important question for us as Palestinians is not who will win in Israel. The real question is: Will we be ready for this change?

In the past, we have missed many political opportunities because we remained trapped in stagnation, division, and the absence of democratic renewal. If a political transformation takes place in Israel without being matched by a genuine political transformation on the Palestinian side, this new window of opportunity will be lost, just as many others were before it.

We need a peaceful and democratic Palestinian political transformation: renewed leadership, elected institutions, modern political parties, and a clear vision for the future. Change on the other side alone cannot bring peace. It requires a Palestinian partner that possesses legitimacy, credibility, and the ability to make difficult decisions.

Change in Israel, if not matched by change in Palestine, will remain merely an internal Israeli development. But if it coincides with a Palestinian political renaissance, it could become a historic opportunity—one we cannot afford to miss again.

[Visegrád 24 @visegrad24]

Palestine Action supporters cry outside UK court after terror designation upheld

Far-left supporters of the terrorist group “Palestine Action” were seen crying outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London after the Court of Appeal confirmed that the UK government’s decision to designate the group as a terrorist organization is fully lawful.

The court upheld the ban, recognizing that Palestine Action had crossed the line from protest into systematic sabotage, violence, and intimidation targeting British defense companies, national infrastructure, and suppliers for NATO, Ukraine, and Five Eyes partners.

The group operated through secret cells in a coordinated campaign of criminal disruption.

[John Aziz @aziz0nomics]

You know who has been completely forgotten in so many discussions about Iran?

The Iranian people who rose up in peaceful protest and were massacred by their own government in January.

Trump is talking about delivering billions of dollars of cash to that same government today.

[World of Statistics @stats_feed]

GDP per capita

1990:
🇮🇱 Israel: $13,120
🇮🇷 Iran: $13,010

2026:
🇮🇱 Israel: $69,800
🇮🇷 Iran: $3,410

(IMF)

[Daniel Sugarman @Daniel_Sugarman]

Israel's brief detention of Sumud flotilla influencers led to international headlines and state condemnations.

3 weeks ago, ten members of the Sumud Land Convoy were captured & imprisoned in Libya while on their way to Gaza. They're still there.

No headlines. Little outrage.

[UN Human Rights Council @UN_HRC]

Israel/Palestine: "We are out of red flags," @UNHumanRights chief @volker_turk told the @UN Human Rights Council at its 62nd session.

All those with influence must help make the ceasefire a reality, end the suffering of Palestinians, and ensure accountability, he said.

#HRC62

[ALLMEP @ALLMEP]

“The window for a solution remains open, but it is narrowing."
@guardian deep dive into last Friday’s historic convening by @jnbarrot of 🇵🇸&🇮🇱peacebuilders + global diplomats in Paris, and their call urging #G7 leaders to ground diplomacy in civil society

https://t.co/xc4ClD5vYJ

[Haaretz.com @haaretzcom]

Jewish-Arab movement Standing Together launches Knesset run with new party https://t.co/qykLrano3Y

[Home Office @ukhomeoffice]

Home Secretary @ShabanaMahmood's statement on today’s Court of Appeal judgment on the proscription of Palestine Action.

[BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking]

UK government's ban on Palestine Action is lawful, Court of Appeal says, overturning earlier ruling https://t.co/UkSwsbHN4m

[Ilan Bass 义兰 イラン אילן @ilanbass]

@owenjonesjourno You’re backing Trump now?

[Ihab Hassan @IhabHassane]

The criminal Islamic Republic signed a deal with the US declaring a ceasefire on all fronts — except Gaza.

No surprise. They never cared about Gaza or Palestinians. It was always just a card to play.

[Gershon Baskin🟣 غرشون باسكين גרשון בסקין @gershonbaskin]

To the Heads of State and leaders of the G7 Countries:
The United States of America,  Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union
In preparation for your upcoming summit meeting in Évian-les-Bains, France on June 15-17, 2026: Mr. President, Prime Ministers, Chancellors, distinguished leaders,
I come before you not as a government official, but as an Israeli peace activist and negotiator, someone who has spent nearly fifty years working with Israelis and Palestinians, speaking with political leaders, peace activists, ordinary citizens, and, at times, even with those whom governments refuse to speak to.
I am here to tell you something that many people no longer believe:
Peace between Israelis and Palestinians is still possible.
But it will not happen on its own.
For decades, the international community has supported a two-state solution in words while allowing realities on the ground to move steadily further away from it. Today we are at the edge of a cliff. The decisions made in the next year may determine whether two states remain possible or whether Israelis and Palestinians are condemned to permanent conflict.
The Gaza war has taught us a painful lesson. There is no military solution. Israel cannot bomb its way to security. Palestinians cannot fight their way to freedom. The alternative to a political solution is not victory for one side. The alternative is endless war.
The G7 countries possess enormous political, economic and diplomatic leverage. It is time to use it.
I also want to speak plainly about the role of the United States and of President Trump. The reality is that no international leader today possesses more influence over Israeli decision-making than President Trump. He has demonstrated repeatedly that when he chooses to make an issue a priority, Israeli leaders listen. He also has significant influence with key Arab partners whose participation will be essential to any lasting peace.
If that influence is used not only to stop wars but to build peace, it could become one of the most important diplomatic achievements of our time. The G7 should work in partnership with the United States, helping to create a unified international framework that combines American leadership, European commitment, regional participation, and international guarantees. Only such a coalition has the weight necessary to move the parties beyond the failures of the past.
I ask you to support five concrete steps.
First, make it clear that the goal of international policy is the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state living in peace and security beside Israel.
Not as a distant aspiration. Not as a slogan. As a real political objective with a timetable.
Second, support the rebuilding of Gaza under a legitimate Palestinian governing authority that rejects armed militias and is capable of delivering security, services, accountability and hope. The people of Gaza deserve a future beyond war. At the same time, Gaza cannot be rebuilt while armed organizations continue to operate outside the authority of the state. There must be one legitimate governing authority, one security structure, and one monopoly on the use of force. Disarmament must be part of the political process, implemented in a way that provides confidence to both sides and is linked to the broader framework of peace, reconstruction, security, and statehood.
Third, insist on security arrangements that guarantee that Gaza and the West Bank will never again be used as launching grounds for attacks against Israel.
Israelis must know that peace means security. Palestinians must know that security will not be used as a permanent justification for occupation. Both peoples deserve safety, dignity, and freedom.
Fourth, support democratic renewal.
Neither Israelis nor Palestinians should be denied the opportunity to elect leaders capable of making peace.
Too often, leaders have become prisoners of political survival rather than servants of their people’s future. If current leaders cannot deliver a political future, then new leaders must emerge through democratic means.
Fifth, create an international implementation mechanism with real authority, resources, and accountability.
We do not need another declaration. We need a process that survives changes of governments and political crises. The conflict has become internationalized. The solution must be internationally guaranteed.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The people I meet on both sides are exhausted. Israeli parents want their children to live without fear. Palestinian parents want their children to live with dignity and freedom.
These are not contradictory aspirations. They are complementary aspirations.
The future I believe in is simple:
Israel as the democratic nation-state of the Jewish people with full equality for all of its citizens.
Palestine as the democratic nation-state of the Palestinian people with full equality for all of its citizens.
Mutual recognition of the historic connection of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and of the Palestinian people to the Land of Palestine.
Open borders for cooperation. Strong borders for security. Regional integration. Economic partnership. And an end to the belief that one people can achieve its national aspirations by denying the aspirations of the other.
History will not judge us by the speeches we give. History will judge us by whether we had the courage to act when action was still possible.
The choice before us is clear:
Two states, mutual recognition, security, and peace.
Or perpetual war.
I ask you to help make the right choice.
The window for a two-state solution is not closed, but it is closing. Future generations of Israelis and Palestinians will ask whether we acted while there was still time. Let our answer be yes.
Thank you,
Dr. Gershon Baskin

[Ilan Bass 义兰 イラン אילן @ilanbass]

@sahmetkiz Incredible to witness Free Palestine activists supporting colonialism when they think it suits their argument.

This attempt at a gotcha is pure ignorance.

[Ilan Bass 义兰 イラン אילן @ilanbass]

@guanchewarrior @jnbarrot @francediplo @gouvernementFR @EmmanuelMacron @Elysee @kajakallas @AnitaAnandMP @YvetteCooperMP You seem to be forgetting that states decide their own immigration policies.

[Ilan Bass 义兰 イラン אילן @ilanbass]

Good need but the level of funding is surely far below what is required.

[The Times of Israel @TimesofIsrael]

The three countries will give £1 million ($1.3 million) each over the next three years, with the hope that other countries will contribute. Israeli and Palestinian civil society organizations will be eligible, according to a joint statement by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and her Australian and Canadian counterparts, Penny Wong and Anita Anand.

Read more on The Times of Israel

[Elizabeth Tsurkov @LizHurra]

New UN report shows that Hamas perpetrated "hundreds of cases of extrajudicial punishment" against Gazans. "These cases involved executions, kneecapping, bone-breaking with metal pipes or cement bricks and beatings" https://t.co/OyEcAuKdCu

[ALLMEP @ALLMEP]

🕊️ 150+ Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilders are gathered at the 2026 Paris Call for the Two-State Solution, breaking into working groups to draft policy recommendations for the G7.

Here's what they're working on 🧵👇

[Ihab Hassan @IhabHassane]

People in Gaza have called for mass protests on June 26, 2026, demanding that Hamas leave and end its rule.

Hamas leader Hazem Qasem had one response: he called them traitors and declared that Hamas is not going anywhere.

The people speak. Hamas threatens. Nothing has changed.