The scene in Binyanei Ha’uma one fine Friday morning felt like a cross between a camp reunion and a pep rally.

Organized by It’s Time, a coalition of 60 NGOs working for equality in Israel, and other organizations focusing on Israeli-Palestinian issues, the two-day People’s Peace Summit brought some 5,000 people to Jerusalem with a call to end the war in Gaza, free the remaining hostages, and find a long-term solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In a time when the term “leftist” has become an insult, it felt like the attendees gained strength just from being together. I asked a friend at the summit, Jared Goldfarb, a teacher and activist, if he thought there was still a Left in Israel.

“Sure,” he answered. “And it’s all here in this room.”

The summit was held as Israel began

See Full Page