The silencing of the anti-war voices in Israel

JVL Introduction

This is a short but important edition of Al Jazeera’s Listening Post, in which Orly Noy, an editor with +972 Magazine in Israel talks about being a dissident in Israel post October 7.

It is to be in a position of loneliness and isolation as many on the left, previously opposed to the occupation, have rallied to Israel’s “self-defence”.

Those who oppose the vengeance being wreaked on Gaza are having a tough time of it, not even allowed to suggest that here is a context for the events of October 7, being hounded as traitors. Palestinian citizens are not allowed to show any sympathy for the people of Gaza and even Jewish protestors have been arrested/beaten up for trying to hold a silent protest against the war.

Here is Al Jazeera’s blurb about the programme:

A special interview with journalist and human rights activist Orly Noy on the pain and loneliness of the Israeli anti-war left post October 7th.

The left-wing, anti-apartheid side of Israeli society is clearly in the minority these days. Once the October 7th attacks took place – the country was in a state of shock. Opposing voices were largely silenced – drowned out by the calls for vengeance and the messaging coming out of the Netanyahu government.

And yet, on the fringes of Israeli public discourse, anti-war voices persist – people like Orly Noy. She is a journalist and editor working with a couple of left-wing outlets – +972 Magazine and the Hebrew language news site Local Call. She is also the chair of Israel’s foremost human rights organisation, B’TSelem.

Noy’s message – that Israeli society tacitly approves of ethnic cleansing and genocidal violence against Palestinians – does not represent mainstream public opinion. And for that reason, it is a perspective that needs to be heard – on the pain, silencing and isolation that comes with being on the political left in Israel today.