'We'll kill you, traitor': How far-right thugs and police target Israel's antiwar protest leaders

In this powerful episode of the Haaretz Podcast, host Alison Kaplan-Summer speaks with Alon Lee Green, national co-director of Standing Together, a progressive grassroots movement uniting Jewish and Palestinian Israelis around peace, equality, and social justice. The conversation unfolds against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire in the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, with Green detailing the growing antiwar protest movement that has drawn thousands to Habima Square in Tel Aviv. Despite overwhelming public support for the war—61% opposed the ceasefire according to a recent INSS poll—Green emphasizes a significant shift in public sentiment, citing a drop from 90% to 61% in war support over five weeks. He argues that repeated wars without lasting results represent strategic failure and calls for diplomacy over perpetual conflict. The episode also reveals the personal dangers faced by protest leaders: Green recounts being targeted by far-right thugs who threatened to kill him, broke into his apartment, and poured acid on his door—actions he believes are coordinated with state actors. He further details violent police crackdowns during protests, including being arrested and subjected to aggressive, face-to-face threats by officers. Despite these risks, Green remains hopeful, highlighting Standing Together’s ability to unite diverse groups across the political and ethnic spectrum. He attributes the movement’s appeal to its inclusive, youth-driven model and its vision of a shared society. The discussion extends to the international stage, where Green critiques ideological purity tests from some left-wing circles that ignore on-the-ground realities. He expresses cautious optimism about global political shifts and the potential for a new Jewish-Arab political coalition in Israel that prioritizes peace over war. The episode closes with reflections on the upcoming elections and the possibility of translating grassroots activism into electoral politics, though Green remains committed to maintaining Standing Together as a non-partisan movement.