Lhe President Macron was, very fittingly, one of the last world leaders to visit Israel-Palestine during the current crisis. Initially, he joined all other voices in affirming France’s resolute support for Israel following the brutal, inhumane and indefensible attack by Hamas.
He also echoed the increasingly pressing call for humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance. But then he expressed a truth that few other visiting leaders have dared to say as clearly as he did. In the immediate wake of the October 7 massacre, this would have been simply inaudible.
But the only real way out of this nightmare is a diplomatic process based on conflict resolution, not on managing or mitigating its consequences – ideas that have now run their course and ended in resounding failure. Emmanuel Macron further stated [mardi 24 octobre] a truth that must be at the heart of this process: “A Palestinian life is worth a French life, which is worth an Israeli life. »
Vivian Silver among the missing
This key idea, at present, is sorely lacking in the region, marked by limitless dehumanization of others and an alarming number of victims. This notion was also largely absent from previous cycles of diplomacy. Over the past thirty years, trust between Israelis and Palestinians has seriously eroded, making compromise impossible and the work of extremists very easy.
However, this ideal constitutes the primary value on which the courageous and visionary work of the Alliance for Peace in the Middle East (Alliance for Middle East Peace, Allmep), a network of more than one hundred and sixty Israeli-Palestinian non-governmental organizations dedicated to mutual equality, security and peace.
The terrible tragedy of recent weeks has touched our members in a personal way. Among the missing is Vivian Silver, 74, undoubtedly held hostage by Hamas. She dedicated her life to peace and equality between Israelis and Palestinians. Vivian played an integral role in the development of Allmep and was a co-founder of initiatives such as Women Wage Peacea women’s movement demanding a return to the negotiating table.
On many occasions, Vivian has volunteered within Road to Recovery, to bring Palestinians from Gaza to Israel to receive urgent medical care. Our community quickly mobilized to demand his release, as well as that of all the hostages, by organizing daily vigils for them.
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