Aswat Acherim (Other Voices)

The battle line in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is drawn at the border towns of Sderot and Gaza. Sderot is in Israel. Gaza is in Palestine. Not so long ago, they were peaceful neighbors, largely unaffected by the crisis. Today, a wall separates them and a river of blood unites them in grief. People on either side are sworn enemies. Their governments have no interaction except through bombs and wars. But, a few people on either side are trying to change that narrative with friendships across the hostile borders.

The leading voices are RONI KEIDAR and ERIC YELLIN in Sderot and MAHA MEHANNA and AHMED AL-NASSAN in Gaza. They are the other voices in the conflict. The friendships started with a blog created by a Gazan and an Israeli from Sderot where they tried to draw the world’s attention to their plight. Their blog gave birth to a group called the OTHER VOICE. From two friends and a blog, it has grown into dozens of friendships.

Unlike most friendships, they hardly ever meet because their governments forbid it. Organizing and communicating though phones and social media, they have staged events and rallies in Sderot and Gaza, often at the risk of their lives. These are not your normal friendships. They have lost friends, families and properties. They live under the shadow of death. But, they are bridging the river of hate and bloodshed with friendship. ASWAAT ACHER (Other Voices) is their story.