Interview with Shir Yerushalmi from the Standing Together grassroots movement
How could we create hope amidst so much tragedy? If you could give out one message to the world regarding this, what would it be?
Our motto is “Where there is struggle there is hope”. Hope is not an abstract idea but rather an action we have the ability to take. We are hopeful because we know there is another way, we’re fighting for it, and more and more people are joining us.
You mentioned you’re hopeful because you know there’s another way. Could you expand on this “other way”?
The “other way” means choosing peace for our future instead of endless war. It means partnership and empathy instead of fear and hatred. We know that Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace as it is in the interest of the people who are living on this land. It’s not a fantasy, it’s something many people on the ground are already working towards every day. That gives us hope.
You mention using fear as fuel to fight extremism. How do you do that?
Fear is a real emotion, especially in this region. Instead of letting it turn into hatred or paralyze us, we try to let it guide and motivate us to take action. When things feel scary, we remind ourselves: the only way out of this cycle is by building something better. Fear can be a signal that something needs to change, and that’s what we work toward.
Have you seen any changes in opinions among your movement since October 7th?
Yes, definitely. Some people feel more despair or fear, and that is completely human. However many have developed a deeper commitment to our values, because the violence proves to us that this reality is not sustainable. We’ve seen more people speaking up, more people showing up, and more urgency to act for change.
Have you seen changes in public policy thanks to your movement? If not, does that motivate or demotivate you?
We’ve had some wins during the years, for example preventing the minimum wage from being decreased during the “minimum 40 (shekels an hour) campaign”. We know that building a grassroots movement takes time, but we also know that that is how a real political power is built. And that power is what will eventually lead to policy change.
For further information : https://www.standing-together.org/en
