Partners for Progressive Israel

06/05/2026

Join Us This SUNDAY, JUNE 7! Ticketed registration at https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/7xSzt5t7FpDeY1_Gnd0jNQ?t=1774896253
11am ET, "Forces for Political Change – Looking Ahead to Elections", with Rabbi אבי דבוש Avi Dabush & Dr. Laura Wharton
1:30pm ET, "The Moral Challenges of State Power", with Rabbi Leah Shakdiel & Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie
The sessions will be moderated by our board member, Rabbi Andrea Coustan London.

Each Symposium session is a stand-alone discussion, and there’s no need to have attended earlier sessions in order to take part. During each two-hour session, Symposium participants engage in direct, on-camera discussion with presenters. Then, following the presenters’ departure from the call, participants spend a final 30 minutes dedicated to group discussion and exchange of thoughts.

Additional details about the Symposium are on our website: https://www.progressiveisrael.org/what-we-do/israel-palestine-symposium/the-israel-palestine-virtual-symposium-spring-2026/

06/04/2026

Two chances to hear from Israeli activists doing Protective Presence in the West Bank.
NYC: Kane Street Synagogue in Brooklyn, Tuesday, June 9, at 7 PM. Register: https://secure.nif.org/a/resisting-settler-violence-west-bank
DC: Temple Sinai. Wednesday, June 10, at 7 PM.
Register: https://secure.nif.org/a/bodies-line-resisting-settler-violence-west-bank

We're proud to cosponsor these New Israel Fund-led events!

There's been an alarming surge of settler violence in the West Bank. Whole Palestinian communities are being forced out of their villages. In response, some Israeli activists have been engaging in "protective presence" efforts, putting their bodies on the line to help protect Palestinian communities in the West Bank facing settler violence.

Join us to hear from three such activists - Maya Mark, Or Sivan, and Roei Kleitman - who will share what they’ve witnessed. We'll hear their stories and testimonies and highlight the crucial role these activists play in responding to the violence on the ground.​

Come and learn about their vital work, and find out how you can be part of the effort to protect Palestinian communities, hold settlers accountable, and promote a future in Israel and Palestine in which everyone can live with safety and dignity.

06/03/2026

If you're in Israel and Palestine: On Saturday, June 6, there will be a national Jewish-Arab demonstration in Haifa, marking 59 years of Occupation; the march will start from Paris Square. Organized by שותפות השלום شراكة السلام The Peace Partnership, a parallel, event - a freedom march with the Palestinian communities - will take place in the West Bank on June 12.

"End the Occupation"
"End the Settler Terrorism"
"For a just peace, security, and freedom for all"

The events are cosponsored by many of our civil society allies, including Mothers Against Violence-אימהות נגד אלימות, Combatants for Peace, Rabbis for Human Rights, Machsom Watch מחסום ווטש, Breaking the Silence, Looking the Occupation in the Eye-מסתכלים לכיבוש בעיניים., A Land for All ארץ לכולם بلاد للجميع, Standing Together, עמק שווה - Emek Shaveh, מחזקים-Mehazkim, פורום המשפחות השכולות Parents Circle Families Forum منتدى العائلات الثكلى.

06/01/2026

Our friend and ally, אבי דבוש Avi Dabush, posted this comment on the damage done to Israel when Netanyahu's government sends a far-right delegation to lead - and be honored at - the annual Israel Day Parade in NYC, which took place yesterday. We're delighted to be hosting Avi, via Zoom, at this Sunday's virtual Israel Symposium. Details in first comment.

Below is a partial (unofficial) translation of Avi's words.

"This is the face of Israel.

"We’re making a huge effort to connect Jewish young people to Israel. To explain that one can love and believe in Israel, and criticize and fight for its complexion. Against ugly occupation and Jewish terror, violence. and an extremist Orthodox monopoly, and for democracy, justice, and peace. That Israel, Judaism, and Zionism ≠ Ben Gvir and Smotrich.

"[But] When you see who’s leading the Israel Parade in New York, you totally understand why our mission is so difficult…

"But, I’m optimistic. We’ll replace [the government] and fix things. Soon ❤️🇮🇱 "

‏אלה הפנים של ישראל.

‏אנחנו עושים מאמץ עצום לחבר צעירים יהודים לישראל. להסביר שאפשר לאהוב ולהאמין בישראל, ולבקר ולהיאבק על פניה. נגד כיבוש וטרור יהודי מכוערים, אלימות ומונופול אורתודוקסי קיצוני ובעד דמוקרטיה, צדק ושלום. שישראל, היהדות והציונות לא שווים בן גביר וסמוטריץ׳.

‏כשרואים את המובילים של מצעד ישראל בניו יורק מבינים לגמרי למה המשימה שלנו כל כך קשה.

‏השר עמיחי שזורק בהבל פה פצצות אטום על מליוני אנשים והשר וסרלאוף, מעריץ כהנא, מובילים את המצעד. לתפארת מדינת ישראל האלימה, גזענית ודכאנית. לצידם יו״ר כנסת שלא מכיר בנשיא בית המשפט העליון.

‏אפשר להתעלם ממה שקורה מעבר לים. לבטא ״אהבת ישראל״ בבוז דוחה כלפי שני מליון רפורמים והרבה למעלה ממחצית היהודים הליברלים והשמאלנים. אי אפשר לטעון שלא מדובר בהרס מוחלט של מדינת היהודים והערכים עליהם נוסדה.

‏אבל, אני אופטימי. נחליף ונתקן. בקרוב❤️‍🩹🇮🇱🕊️

05/29/2026

"Poor Zionism. Had it only retired early ... and realized that winners possess the bandwidth for compromise, it might today be enjoying an honorable and dignified old age. Instead, it has been twisted into a vicious weapon..."
In case you missed this important (even provocative) op-ed by our president, Paul Scham, published late in the day yesterday. https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026-05-28/ty-article-opinion/.premium/zionisms-fatal-refusal-to-retire/0000019e-6e53-de7e-abfe-ee57b1a50000

The Movement Achieved Its Historic Goal in 1948. Its Inability to Stop There May Yet Destroy the Moral Legitimacy It Once Possessed

05/28/2026

Read this new op-ed in HaAretz by our president, Paul Scham.
We have a clear-eyed view of Zionism and Israel and aren't afraid to criticize either - though we'd really prefer to be able to praise them.

The Movement Achieved Its Historic Goal in 1948. Its Inability to Stop There May Yet Destroy the Moral Legitimacy It Once Possessed

05/28/2026

When the 20-point ceasefire plan was issued last year, we noted that "the plan itself is only as good as the words and actions of the actors who need to implement it" and warned that Netanyahu "has a reputation for sabotaging deals". Here we are. http://theguardian.com/world/2026/may/28/netanyahu-orders-israeli-army-seize-70-gaza-strip-violating-ceasefire-deal

Link to our 9/30/25 statement in first comment.

Speaking in West Bank settlement, Israeli PM, who is fighting for political survival before elections, says ‘we are squeezing Hamas’

05/28/2026

Tuesday, June 9, at 7pm - Kane Street Synagogue in Brooklyn, NY. We're delighted to cosponsor this event, organized by New Israel Fund: Three "protective presence" activists on the front lines in the West Bank will share what they've witnessed about the alarming surge of settler violence and how we can help. Register at https://secure.nif.org/a/resisting-settler-violence-west-bank

With activists Maya Mark, Or Sivan, and Roei Kleitman (bios in comments).

Additional cosponsors include Smol Emuni US, New Jewish Narrative, T'ruah, J Street, Lab/Shul, The Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP), Park Slope Jewish Center, The New Shul, Congregation Beth Elohim, The Institute for Living Judaism in Brooklyn, and host Kane Street Synagogue.

05/27/2026

Journalist Noam Sheizaf, the founding executive director and editor-in-chief of +972 Magazine, is calling on anti-Occupation folks in Israel to play the 'inside game', and join the HaDemocratim party (aka, the Labor/Meretz union). The goal, he said, is to make sure the party flies the banner of anti-occupation, and, in the short term, that the party's primaries elect people to the party slate who are publicly focused, first and foremost, on ending the Occupation.

After all, the Occupation, Sheizaf reminds us, is the root of Israel's woes, including the Netanyahu government's efforts to hollow out its democratic institutions.

העיתונאי והיוצר הדוקומנטרי נועם שיזף קורא להתפקד לדמוקרטים כדי להקים בתוך המפלגה בלוק אנטי־כיבוש, שילמד מהמתנחלים בליכוד איך מפעילים לחץ פוליטי מבפנים * בריאיון לז...