Grapevine, June 21, 2026: Peace, a distant dream - opinion

The concept of peace, symbolized by the shared words 'shalom' and 'salaam,' remains an elusive dream for many, according to this opinion piece. While acknowledging that individuals and groups on both sides genuinely desire peace and maintain friendships across divides, the author contends that more efforts hinder peace than promote it.

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Yes, there are groups and individuals who want peace, and who have close friends in each other’s camps, but more is done to hamper peace than to encourage it.

Illustrative examples of these hindrances are presented. The Beersheba Municipality reportedly canceled a joint Arabic-Hebrew book fair at the request of a right-wing activist who labeled the organizing group an "incitement organization." Despite the fair's aim to foster mutual understanding through academic panels and cultural activities, the municipality cited a "sensitive security situation" as the reason for cancellation, overlooking its cultural and peace-building purpose.

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The excuse that the municipality reportedly gave for the cancellation was the sensitive security situation. The fact that the fair was a cultural event aimed at promoting mutual understanding and respect was obviously ignored.

In Jerusalem, the article highlights the eviction of Arab families from homes they have occupied for decades, with ownership tracing back to Ottoman rule. It notes that cabinet ministers openly advocate for evicting all Arab families to build new National-Religious neighborhoods, further exacerbating tensions.

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Cabinet ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir make no secret of the fact that they would like to evict all Arab families and build new National-Religious neighborhoods for observant Jewish families.

The piece also points to the actions of "Jewish radicals" who attack Palestinians and destroy property, alongside Arab terrorists targeting Jews, as elements pouring "fuel on the fire." The internal conflict within the Israeli Arab community is also mentioned, with over 100 killings recorded this year alone. The author criticizes the unwillingness of most Israeli legislators to engage with Arab political parties and vice versa, suggesting a deep-seated political impasse.

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The Jewish radicals who keep attacking Palestinians and destroying their property are pouring fuel on the fire, as do Arab terrorists who attack Jews.