Peace for Israel needs justice for Palestinians, not beating Iran

JVL Introduction

The war on Iran and the threats from Iran will not be solved without justice for Palestinians.  It might be going too far to say that the war on Iran was only a distraction from the ongoing suffering of the people of Gaza and the massive upsurge in settler violence and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, but it is certainly having that effect.  There are reasons for the existence of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis and, whether or not Iran supports them, they – or similar organisations – would exist.

Israelis’ support for the war on Iran is waning but continues in the belief that crushing the government in Iran would mean peace for Israel.  Even it were achieveable, it would not. That requires a commitment to peace and justice, it requires seeing Palestinians as full human beings, as full agents in their own lives and not as people manipulated by Iran.

The likes of Maureen Lipman ask for our sympathy because Israelis are exhausted after frequent bomb sirens and nights in shelters but never thought of the people in Gaza being pulverised without sirens and shelters.  We stand for peace and justice for all between the  River and the Sea. This will not come with “victory” by force over Iran that is much more likely to create more anger, more enemies, more children and young people who may be tempted towards violence to avenge the violence they have endured and that their families have endured for generations.

LL

This article was originally published by The Guardian on Thu 26 Mar 2026. Read the original here.