Three Questions for... Maja Sojref
Maja Sojref, Executive Director of New Israel Fund Deutschland e.V.
Next week marks the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups on Israel, which became the deadliest assault on the State of Israel since its founding. The conflict has continued ever since, with war ongoing to this day.
Netzwerk Israel supports survivors of the terror of October 7, Shoah survivors and their families, as well as an emergency Jewish-Arab center. The New Israel Fund also organizes emergency humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza. What might a Jewish-Arab partnership in times of war look like?
Jewish-Arab initiatives in Israel, such as "Standing Together," have been actively working to foster empathy for civilians on both sides of the conflict since the terrorist attacks on October 7 and the onset of the war in Gaza. Their message is clear: only a shared perspective that acknowledges the needs of both Israelis and Palestinians can bring lasting peace and security. "Standing Together" has organized gatherings of Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel and launched social media campaigns to promote their cause. They have also provided practical assistance, from setting up bunkers in Haifa, northern Israel, to protect against rocket attacks, to collecting food parcels for civilians in Gaza. In southern Israel, there are additional examples of Jewish-Arab partnerships, such as the emergency aid center in Rahat, which we support through Netzwerk Israel. This center provides support to all survivors of terror, whether they are Jewish or Arab Israelis, kibbutzniks or Bedouins. It also serves as a place where the families of hostages can come together for support.
Netzwerk Israel has been in existence since the summer of 2024 – a highly dynamic time in which criticism of the Israeli government's actions in this war has also become louder and polarized the global community. How does this affect the work of Netzwerk Israel and the NIF?
The aim of the New Israel Fund (NIF) is to support Israel's democratic civil society – specifically, those groups committed to democracy, human rights, equal rights for all Israeli citizens, and a political resolution to the conflict. This mission has become more urgent than ever in light of the existential threats, both internal and external, that the Jewish state faces. Through Netzwerk Israel, we also seek to establish a German network to support Israel's civilian population. The goal is to raise awareness of the hardships faced by Israeli civilians, including Holocaust survivors, evacuees, and survivors of terror, while highlighting examples of Jewish-Arab cooperation.
Unfortunately, such messages often draw significant criticism, including insults and antisemitic hate speech on social media. It's truly disheartening that so many people seem unwilling or unable to grasp the complexities of this conflict, to tolerate its ambiguities, and to express empathy for the suffering of civilians on both sides.
If you look back over the last year: What voices and perspectives have you missed in the discussions in this country?
In the German discourse on Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East conflict, voices from local democratic civil society are rarely heard. These voices could help shed light on the complexities of societies in the region and create much-needed spaces for multi-perspective dialog. This is why, through the New Israel Fund Germany's educational program, we incorporate statements and interviews from groups like "Standing Together" to challenge polarization in Berlin schools – not only among pupils but also among parents – by promoting perspectives of commonality and democratic pluralism. Ultimately, this is about how we want to live together in a diverse society in Germany. As Alon-Lee Green, co-founder of "Standing Together," said in Berlin in December 2023: "If we in Israel manage to stand together as Jewish and Palestinian Israelis in this situation – why shouldn't you be able to do it here in Germany?"