By Miriam Alexander | Resource Development & Operations Director
Dear friends,
We are now over three weeks into a regional war between Israel and Iran. Each day brings more uncertainty, fear, and a kind of emotional disorientation that is hard to define. Everything feels fragile and increasingly dystopic. And while much of the world’s attention is on this escalation, another reality is intensifying on the ground in the West Bank.
Our partners at the Human Rights Defenders Fund report a sharp and coordinated rise in settler violence targeting Palestinian communities and those working alongside them. Since January 1, 270 incidents have been reported—compared to 102 by this time last year, and 57 the year before. At least six Palestinians have been killed by settlers since the current war began.
What we are witnessing is not isolated violence, but a pattern that is increasingly systematic and directly impacts the communities our participants are in relationship with every day. At Achvat Amim, we are holding a few core commitments:
We are not pausing this work—but we are constantly adjusting to meet the reality on the ground.
Our current Spring cohort of 11 participants is living and learning in Jerusalem in the midst of this moment. They are volunteering with partners at Tent of Nations, Rabbis for Human Rights, The South Hebron Hills Storytelling Project, Gisha, and new partners: the Sotna Music Project, which brings Palestinian youth together through music and community-building, as well as Satyam, a Palestinian women-led center that brings Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals together for nonviolent activism.
The cohort is not only learning about systems of power, violence, and resistance - they are navigating them in real time, in close relationship with those most directly impacted.
In moments like this it can be tempting to reach for simple narratives about security, justice, or liberation, but what we see again and again is that without these relationships on the ground and a deep commitment to self-determination for all people, those words lose their meaning.
We thank you for your commitment to Achvat Amim and belief in a more just future in this land.
With appreciation,
Miriam + the Achvat Amim team
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