OCTOBER 12 • 2023 | 5
J
N

opinion

Israeli Opposition, Pro-Democracy 
Protesters Press Unity in Face of 
Attacks from Hamas
H

ours after Saturday’s 
deadly surprise attack 
on Israel by Hamas, 
the Israeli 
protest group 
Achim le’Neshek 
(Brothers and 
Sisters in Arms) 
was helping 
arrange trans-
portation for 
army reservists 
being called to 
the front. 
“Brothers and Sisters in 
Arms call on everyone who is 
required to stand up for the 
defense of Israel without hes-
itation and immediately,” the 
group tweeted early Saturday. 
“Right now, the most 
important thing is the safety 
of the country’s citizens.”
It was an abrupt turnabout 
by a group of military veterans 
and reservists who previously 
threatened to refuse service 
if the government carried 
out its judicial reform plans, 
but a sign of how what Prime 
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 
has called a “war” with Hamas 
has mobilized a polarized 
Israeli public. 
Opposition party heads 
in Israel’s Knesset issued a 
statement backing the Israel 
Defense Forces. The heads of 
the Yesh Atid, National Unity, 
Yisrael Beitenu and Labor par-
ties wrote that they “are united 
in the face of terrorism,” and 
that “in days like these there 
is no opposition and no coali-
tion in Israel.”
Organizers of the huge 
anti-government, pro-democra-

cy protests that have convulsed 
the country for much of the 
year suspended the weekly 
demonstrations for the first 
time.
“We stand with the residents 
of Israel and give full support 
to the IDF and the security 
forces,” the protest organizers 
said in a statement, the Times 
of Israel reported. “We call 
on all those who are needed 
to report [for duty] and play 
their part to safeguard the 
security and health of the resi-
dents of Israel.”
Brothers and Sisters in 
Arms set up an online sign-
up sheet for those needing 
transportation to army bases, 
hospitals and “family.”
The coordinated attack by 
Hamas came at a low point in 
the morale of the country. Last 
month, more than 180 for-
mer military, intelligence and 
police officals warned that the 
far-right government’s plan 
to reshape the country’s judi-
ciary threatened the country’s 
resilience. 

“We’ve been through wars, 

through military operations 
and all of a sudden you realize 
that the greatest threat to the 
state of Israel is internal,” 
Tamir Pardo, a former head of 
Israel’s Mossad intelligence 
agency and an organizer of 
the protest letter, told the 
Associated Press.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, 
who has called for a compro-
mise on the judiciary overhaul, 
also called for solidarity.
“I call on everyone to obey 
the directives of the Home 
Front Command, to show 
mutual support and calm-
ness,
” he wrote on X. “We can 
defeat all those who wish us 
harm!”
Hints of future divisions 
were already being seen in 
early reactions to the deadly 
attack. But as rockets contin-
ued to rain down on Israel’s 
south, the border with Gaza 
remained breached, and 
Hamas reporting having taken 
Israelis prisoners, protesters, 
opposition leaders and those 
in power presented a united 
front. 
 

Andrew 
Silow-Carroll 
JTA.org

Israelis donate blood at a hospital in Tel Aviv after a barrage of rock-
ets were fired and fighters from the Gaza Strip infiltrated Israel, Oct. 
7, 2023.

JACK GUEZ/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

statements
From 
Federation

Once again, on a holy day of 
the Jewish calendar, the peo-
ple of Israel have come under 
attack. Once again, the brave 
military forces of the State of 
Israel are responding and will 
defend our beloved Jewish 
state.
 And once again, our 
Detroit Jewish community, 
along with the Jewish com-
munities throughout North 
America, stands in total and 
complete solidarity with the 
people of Israel. We pray 
for their safety and will do 
everything we can to ensure 
the complete success of their 
efforts.
 We share this message from 
Yoav Raban, a Federation staff 
member working in Israel: 
“We know that as tragic and 
devastating as this day is, it 
is just the beginning of many 
more difficult days to come. 
Let’s all share in prayer for the 
safety of our people and as 
quick of a resolution as possi-
ble to this nightmare.
”
The Jewish Federation of 
Detroit is in close contact with 
our colleagues and partners on 
the ground. Together we are 
working to support victims of 
terror, help rebuild damaged 
infrastructure, and address 
the unprecedented levels of 
trauma caused by this horrific 
attack. You can support this 
effort at https://tinyurl.com/
kpyy2jmf.

The situation and needs are 
still evolving in Israel during 
this critical time. 
We will continue to update 
you on this situation and until 
then we pray for the safety of 
the people of Israel. 

STATEMENTS continued on page 8

