Neta Polizer ’05

“What we’re dealing with now is a struggle to preserve our humanity.”

Choosing to be close to the flame: Holding contradicting narratives
Dealing with contradictions and colliding narratives is what I define as my life’s work. I feel this is where I belong — it’s my place in the world. Bronfman represents this for me as well. While Bronfman is a healing space of deep contemplation, I’ve sought to explore extremes, especially politically, going to places that can be painful and closer to the flame. This comes from an inner calling to hold duality in the most difficult and challenging places. It requires precision and continuous effort: staying in touch with something so painful while always giving space, recognition, and a voice to those who don’t have one — without being deterministic or divisive. Many attempts at bridging divisions often ignore disagreements or wounds in order to succeed. But when the wounds are central, it rarely works. It’s important to me not only to recognize the elephant in the room, but to talk about it.

In many ways, this is my identity. My connection to this place and to my people is deeper today — not in spite of holding this duality, but because of it. I’m very Jewish, very Zionist, very patriotic, but I give these my own meaning. Everything I do — the ability to delve deeply into Palestinian reality, even in times like these — comes from an ethical and Jewish commitment. It’s a commitment to act with optimism for the future.

Building a bridge to chart a different future
The most divisive issue in Israeli society is that of the Israeli-Palestinian future. There are deep fractures in how people perceive it, what their starting points are, and which values are central. Much of my work focuses on creating space for dialogue between significant players within Israeli civil society leadership who often don’t communicate and view each other as enemies. The challenge is not just to argue that they must listen to each other and work together — but to create a meaningful process that can chart a different future.

I work with Jewish-Israeli civil society leadership across parties and sectors — from religious leaders to media figures, cultural influencers, and anyone capable of shaping public discourse. My role is to mediate the complex processes happening within Palestinian society, which is rich with nuance. The goal is to lay the foundation for a future, foster more aware and bold leadership across divides that holds a deep understanding of Palestinian realities and perspectives, while cultivating a sense of responsibility, based on the understanding that even if seemingly intractable, the future of Israelis and Palestinians could and must be transformed by us — Jews, Israelis and Palestinians — as both of these peoples are inseparable from the land, whether we like it or not. A key part of my work is supporting Israeli-Jewish leaders in better addressing the Israeli-Palestinian reality. There is a significant void in leadership and a lack of any vision for a stable Israeli-Palestinian future. My job is not to offer a single model, but to serve as a platform, convening leaders from across the political spectrum and offering deep and transformative experiences that could change for the better how they think, feel and act.

We have no choice but to move forward
The fact is, despite decades of the Jewish-Arab conflict and the events of October 7, Jews and Arabs continue to live side by side on this small strip of land. So, I believe we have no choice but to think ahead and pave the way towards a different future. For most Israelis, this is still very difficult. There are valid emotional and psychological reasons to remain stuck in October 7th. However, those who are able to move forward, I believe, have a responsibility to do so.  

Israeli society has long made conscious and unconscious efforts to ignore the Palestinian issue for as long as possible — not out of malice or disrespect, but from a lack of hope for any real solution and a desire to live our lives without touching it. I believe this was a mistake, though an understandable one. In the absence of a vision for the future, it makes sense. 

Since October 7, however, I feel there has been a shift in how broader Israeli society perceives the conflict—now seen not only as an existential threat, but with a heightened sense of urgency. Once, there may have been more utopian aspirations regarding the possibility for Israelis and Palestinians to live together in peace. Now, though far from a place of optimism or a desire to make peace, there seems, at least, to be a growing understanding that we have no choice but to address this issue.

That said, we are wholly unprepared to tackle it as a society. We are deeply polarized, lack a shared language, and in many ways, even our core values no longer align. For the vast majority of people, there is confusion, a lack of understanding of how to approach it. But there is also something very positive in the refusal to return to the status quo.

Recognizing the complex Palestinian perspective
The Palestinian position is complex and fragmented, with Gaza and the West Bank experiencing separate realities despite being one people. The war in Gaza has ignited a strong sense of unity among Palestinians — in stark contrast to Israeli society — but their society remains fragile and unstable in terms of trust in its leadership and the strength of its social institutions. It’s important to note that while the ongoing conflict with Israel is undoubtedly a central factor, Palestinians also face other challenges. This point is crucial because, for future progress, both sides must feel they have agency and responsibility, rather than just a sense of victimhood. This is true within the fragmented Israeli society as well, where many of us today feel we are part of a minority.

On a more optimistic note — and I recognize this is difficult to address given the intense trauma of October 7, which has fostered a deep perception that all Palestinians seek to destroy us — it is important to remember that support for Hamas within Palestinian society, particularly in Gaza, is actually quite low. This offers a hopeful perspective. Many people in Gaza would prefer a different reality, and many could transform their views of the other if their living conditions were different. 

Our fate is tied to the wellbeing of others 
Even before the war, Palestinians in Gaza were thirty times poorer than Israelis. The economic hardship is dire, not to mention the casualties and broader implications of the war. This situation shapes every aspect of their lives. While in Israel, the sense of having no future has led to years of ignoring the issue, Palestinians cannot afford to do the same. Instead, they are being driven toward radicalization and growing despair. This is where bridging the gap between Israelis and Palestinians becomes extremely difficult. However, it is crucial to understand that many actions — though not ideal and often met with opposition — can improve living conditions for Palestinians, creating a significantly different reality. While it may not solve core issues, it could enable gradual healing or, at the very least, stabilization of the region.

Israeli internal interests are deeply tied to what happens on the Palestinian side, but this understanding is lacking today. There have been moments in Israeli politics when a few people, not necessarily from the left, realized this: that addressing the well-being of others — even if it doesn’t directly deal with core identity or political issues — is vital. I think this is key to the conversation today.

We can, at least, create a shared space
I believe it’s possible to create a shared space here, even without solving the unresolved two-state solution issues. We can, at least, create a space for a decent life for all. While this requires many stages, including building trust and stability, it is achievable in the long term.

Even now, during the war, I see more people—not everyone, but more than I expected — beginning to understand this. I also see the feasibility. Much of my work is focused on conveying the processes already unfolding within our societies, and I can attest that things are in motion. There are also ongoing transformations  within Palestinian society, including efforts to promote democracy. This is not something that reaches Israeli ears. We often think Arab societies are incapable of democracy, and there are indeed deep challenges. But there are also strong pro-democratic forces among Palestinians who, despite the heavy price they pay, oppose any violent course of action — whether labeled as terrorism or violent resistance.

The struggle to preserve our humanity
I often reflect on the destructive dynamics of the past year, beyond the violence, war, and the terrible actions of October 7. What we’re dealing with now is a struggle to preserve our humanity. Part of insisting on being human is not only holding on to your own views and sense of justice, but also recognizing the humanity on all sides. Even in acts of monstrosity, no one here is a monster. These are the actions of people. Throughout history, people have committed both terrible and triumphant acts. So, I hold on to humanity, to the complexity and contradictions, and I try to use them to build something that may do some good. 

We’re in this together 
Working for an American-Israeli organization, I’m committed  to broadening the lens through which I look at the reality in Israel today. The fates of all Jews are tied — albeit in somewhat contradicting ways — to Israel. The Israeli-Palestinian future has a huge impact on the lives and identities of all Jews. While it feels harder than ever to carve a path forward, it is the joint mission of Jews everywhere to address this issue and be in conversation about it.