Meeting with Palestinian Leadership in Ramallah

Against the backdrop of the hostage deal and the ceasefire, dozens of Jewish and Arab peace activists, including representatives of 60 peace organizations from across Israel, met today with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Among them was NIF’s Tami Yakira, human rights organizer and coordinator. 

The It’s Time coalition, a group of peace organizations supported by NIF that participated, issued a statement about the meeting: “The era of conflict management is over. Today begins a new era—an era of hope,” they wrote. “Only a political process leading to a peace agreement can save both nations from extremists and from an eternal war. We are fed up with death. It’s time to return to sanctifying life.”

Abbas said at the meeting: “I have been waiting a long time for this encounter, and your delegation’s presence here strengthens the hope for peace,” adding that “hope begins today, and now we must ensure that we continue and realize peace. Every Israeli who believes in peace is our brother.”

During the meeting, Abbas expressed deep condolences to Yonatan Zeigen for the murder of his mother, Vivian Silver, during the October 7 massacre. When Leah Shakdiel, an Israeli peace activist and feminist scholar, offered a quote about the value of saving lives, the president added a verse from the Qur’an emphasizing the sanctity of saving a life and the gravity of killing innocent people.