These are worrying times for Israel. Violence between Israelis and Palestinians is escalating at an alarming rate, with the Shin Bet recently reporting that the number of terror victims in 2015 was the highest in seven years. At the same time, the human-rights and democracy camp in Israel is facing aggressive attacks on its legitimacy in the public sphere and the Knesset, in particular those groups and individuals that call for an end to the occupation of the Palestinian Territories, or work to expose alleged human-rights violations that take place in the shadow of the conflict.
The New Israel Fund, which we represent, has worked for nearly four decades to advance human rights and defend democratic values and infrastructure in Israel against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians and many tragic peaks of violence.
Yachad was established in 2011 to galvanise British Jews in support of a political resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For both our organisations, Israel's security and a strong thriving democracy are twin, inextricably linked goals. Yet polls in Israel indicate that many among the Israeli public feel that those who advocate for democracy and human rights do not offer sufficiently compelling ideas on the immediate security challenges facing the country.
As such, a false dichotomy has taken root, which pits human rights and democracy concerns as being in opposition to the pursuit of national security. We believe that they can in fact be reconciled; that Israel can enhance its security while maintaining its democratic character. More than that, this is essential if Israel is to rebuild its standing in the world and strengthen its relationships with key allies.
While security issues influence virtually all aspects of daily life in Israel, and preoccupy those of us in diaspora Jewish communities who care deeply for Israel's future, rarely do we in the UK have the chance to engage with experts on these matters. Nor do we generally have the opportunity to explore new ideas that seek to ensure a safe and secure future for Israel.
Our conversations are often limited to repeating the sound-bites of politicians and their political agendas - expressing support for specific policies with little regard as to whether they actually improve or diminish Israel's security in the national and international arena.
We believe that, given Israel's current challenges, now is the time for Israel's greatest friends - diaspora Jewish communities - to engage seriously in understanding these threats and challenges.
We need not only to understand issues in order to inform our conversations, but also to be able to work out how best to engage with them constructively.
It is for this reason that the New Israel Fund and Yachad are hosting a security conference this Sunday, joined by leading Israeli strategists, individuals who have served at the highest echelons of the IDF and Shin Bet, politicians, journalists and grassroots activists.
The speakers have dealt with core security questions on a daily basis in both their professional and personal lives, whether it be advising the Shin Bet, serving as a commander in the Israeli Army, living on the border with Gaza, or serving as a minister within the Palestinian Authority. They are looking to share their experience with our community and seeking to address crucial questions. What are the core security challenges facing Israel today? Are security and peace mutually exclusive? Is there a Palestinian partner for peace? And what is the cost of maintaining the current status quo?
Yachad and the New Israel Fund are organisations deeply committed to building a safe and secure Israel, and to advancing democracy and equality for all its citizens based on the vision of Israel's founders. Research tells us this is a vision shared by the vast majority of the UK Jewish community. We look forward to playing our part in this crucial conversation - one that goes to the core of being a Zionist in the 21st century - how can we best support Israel in making this vision a reality? We hope you can join us.
