Diaspora gathers in support of People’s Peace Summit

More than 20 cities around the world held rallies in support of Israeli-Palestinian peace activists over the weekend, adding impetus to the People’s Peace Summit to be held in Jerusalem later this week. Sydney Friends of Standing Together was proud to host the Sydney Peace Action on Sunday.

This peace action event was unlike Jewish community rallies, which focus on support for Israel right or wrong with no mention of thousands of Palestinian child victims or the total devastation of Gaza. It was unlike the Free Palestine rallies, where anti-Zionist and anti-Israel sentiment prevails.

Our action focused on supporting the growing strength of the peace camp within Israel.Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel are uniting in co-resistance, in groups like Standing Together, as allies for the cause of Palestinian freedom and equality.

Sunday’s action was a shared event: Jews, Palestinians and others, holding different views and beliefs, expressing ideas differently, but with a common purpose to say: “enough, no more killing, no more violence, let’s work for peace.”

With the horror unfolding daily before our eyes, with no end to violence and deep divisions - between Jews and Palestinians, Israelis and Palestinians, and between some Jews and others, why do I, why do we in Sydney Friends of Standing Together, firmly believe that peace is possible? Because we must.