Herut Davidson on Arabic, social media, and bridge-building across the Middle East

Herut Davidson, an Israeli content creator, is using Arabic on platforms like TikTok and Instagram to engage directly with Arab audiences, aiming to foster understanding and challenge regional mistrust. Despite facing criticism and accusations of propaganda, she has garnered over 90,000 followers who appreciate hearing an Israeli Jewish woman speak their language.

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I think everything started when I grew up in a small village, actually in the West Bank, in the Shomron area. And there I had no choice to understand what is going on around me, but I really experienced it every single day.

Davidson's work represents a fragile experiment in direct regional engagement that emerged after the Abraham Accords. It has been significantly tested by the events of October 7, 2023, and the ongoing Gaza war. For Davidson, speaking Arabic is a tool to dismantle assumptions, reduce fear, and build connections where formal diplomacy has faltered.

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I wanted to bring an authentic point of view about what is going on, like, hey guys, I'm getting down to the shelter because there are rockets. This is such a simple situation that we, as Israelis, experience so much.

Her journey began in a village in the West Bank, where she felt compelled to understand her surroundings. "I wanted to bring an authentic point of view about what is going on, like, hey guys, I'm getting down to the shelter because there are rockets," Davidson told The Media Line. She believes sharing simple, everyday experiences as an Israeli can offer a different perspective.

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I think the fact that October 7 really doesn't exist in the world, but October 8 is what matters. People really, a day after, maybe a few hours after the attack itself, that happened on the morning of October 7, they already started to share that Israel is attacking, that Israel attacks Gaza, or Israel does this and that, and, like, ignoring simple facts about what happened.

Davidson expressed concern over how the October 7 attacks are perceived globally, noting that the focus often shifts quickly to subsequent events. "People really, a day after, maybe a few hours after the attack itself... they already started to share that Israel is attacking, that Israel attacks Gaza, or Israel does this and that, and, like, ignoring simple facts about what happened," she said. She also highlighted that many online encounters reveal a lack of understanding regarding the war's context or the impact of the October 7 attacks on Israeli society, including the reported killings, abductions, and sexual violence.

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People don't really understand, they just see the war that came after, but they didn't see the context, they didn't see what is going on.