The Israeli Peace Movement in a Time of Crisis

This article examines the state of the contemporary Israeli peace movement following the October 7, 2023, attacks and the resulting wars. Drawing on frame analysis and more than 40 in‐depth interviews with representatives from Israeli and Palestinian nongovernmental organizations, the study places the peace activists into three primary categories: peace builders, human‐rights advocates, and radicals. It further explores the strategies of and challenges faced by NGOs operating within an increasingly polarized and hostile environment. For example, respondents underscored the absence of political leadership as a major barrier to progress. While the movement has not achieved its long‐term goal of resolving the Arab‐Israeli conflict, it continues to function as a critical force for Palestinian rights and democratic values within Israel. The examination highlights the declining effectiveness of people‐to‐people initiatives—once a cornerstone of peace activism—amid growing mutual mistrust and radicalization in society. And it finds that heightened external pressure has catalyzed greater unity among NGOs, leading to increased collaboration across ideological lines. By contextualizing today's activism within broader political and social developments, the analysis helps to explain the peace movement's resilience, limitations, and enduring significance in a time of shrinking civic space.