Dear Friends,
In the final days of 2025, the headlines here have been dominated not by peace initiatives but by settlement expansion. The Israeli security cabinet recently approved 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, part of a broader push that has seen settlement numbers rise sharply and drawn condemnation from multiple countries and international bodies as undermining prospects for peace.
At the same time, Palestinian authorities have warned of plans to build thousands of additional settler homes across the central West Bank, including near Jerusalem, in projects Palestinian leaders say further isolate Palestinian communities and shrink the possibilities for a contiguous future state.
This isn’t abstract politics; it shapes daily life for millions - fragmenting territory, intensifying dispossession, and deepening the conditions our members confront on the ground. For Combatants for Peace, these developments reinforce why our work matters: a refusal of violence, joint struggle against injustice, and persistent engagement across communities are not optional ideals but necessary strategies in such a moment.
If we were to make a cautious prediction for 2026, it would not be that peace is suddenly within reach or that the occupation will end. That would be dishonest. But it may be the year when more people - here and abroad - stop mistaking stability for justice, or security for silence. A year when civil society, rather than formal politics, continues to set the moral and strategic agenda. A year when joint struggle is no longer treated as naïve, but as necessary.
This lull before the new year is not an ending - it is a moment that asks for continuity rather than conclusions. What comes next will not be shaped by declarations or timelines, but by whether people are willing to stay engaged when the work is slow, uncomfortable, and contested.
As we enter the new year, Combatants for Peace will continue to insist on more talking where silence is encouraged, more cooperation where separation is enforced, and more trust built across lines that power works to harden. This work depends on long-term commitment — to each other, to shared struggle, and to the belief that change is possible even when outcomes are uncertain. We move forward without illusions, but with responsibility — and with the support of people willing to stay the course. Please consider making a year-end gift to help us continue this vital work in 2026.
From our entire team and movement — Happy New Year, and may it be a year of courage, solidarity, and action.
