It's been an intense time for us at Combatants for Peace over the past month. We continue to deal with our changed realities both personally and as an organisation, and find new ways to continue to support each other throughout this dark time.

We said to goodbye to Yonatan Gher, who was our Israeli Co-Director for the past four years. During that time Yonatan steered us through three elections in Israel, the Corona pandemic, and was a central voice in the bloc opposing annexation. We all have so much appreciation for Yonatan and the way he led, listened and provided so much stability in the chaotic world that we live in.

We welcome Eszter Koranyi as our new Israeli Co-Director. A note from Eszter;

"I joined the team at Combatants for Peace a little over six years ago, and had you asked me prior to 7th October if this role was in my future, I probably would have said no. But the despicable attack by Hamas and the war that followed changed my plans and priorities, as I imagine it did for many of us. I am extremely excited and honoured to take up this position, and I feel that as difficult as working for peace is right now, there is no greater responsibility or stronger calling. Leading the Israeli movement is my personal contribution to lasting peace efforts. I want us to continue to grow as a community, and I commit to building the kind of unique programmes that will reach across both Israeli and Palestinian societies, and spread our voice far and wide.

I am excited to meet many of you in the international community over the next few months, Together, we are united in wanting only the best for everyone in our homeland, and I call on you to remain hopeful, to believe in our joint ethos, and to support our calls for humanity and non-violence.

I say goodbye to Yonatan with a heavy heart, but I am grateful that he will stay a part of our movement, and support us all as we go on with our mission to end the occupation, and create a better future with liberation, equality and justice for all."

Eszter leads the movement jointly with Rana Salman, our Palestinian Co-Director. We are proud to have reached this milestone of having women at the heart of movement, leading the organisation forward and showing our community and others that women's voices are crucial through times of conflict, war and crisis.

As a movement, we have a responsibility to keep going even through times of the most intense violence. We are continuing to unite Palestinians and Israelis to meet the other, to hear the other, and to trust the other. The next few months will be a key moment in our movement's history as we prepare for the Joint Memorial Ceremony followed by the Nakba Remembrance Ceremony. Neither of these events have even been more poignant or so needed, and we will share our progress and planning with you as they come together. But one thing we know for sure is that we will hold these events together. We won't be silenced, or intimidated, and we will show the world that despite the horror we inflict on each other, there is another way - and we embody it.

For now, join us in welcoming Eszter, and wishing courage and strength to Rana as she continues to change hearts and minds around the world, and carry our message of peace to the masses.