“Dialogue allows you to disagree”

Committed to Israeli-Palestinian rapprochement for more than fifteen years, Jean-Marc Liling presents himself as a “dialogue activist”. He maintains friendly ties with Ali Abu Awwad, a figure of Palestinian non-violent resistance. “Ali is one of those Palestinians with whom I share a feeling of belonging to this land. More than ever, we feel the need to continue talking to each other and trusting each other. »

The lawyer belongs to “the left of faith”, a recent religious movement advocating meeting with the Palestinians. “It’s about talking to each other honestly, going beyond victimized competition and becoming aware of what we have in common. As Ali often says, “to dialogue is to create the secure framework allowing us to disagree.” » Jean-Marc Liling also draws his reasons for hope from certain actions of Israeli civil society which, he thinks, has the desire to reinvent itself. As the conflict bogs down and spreads in Lebanon, the activist affirms that courageous organizations are working under the radar, in order to bring dialogue and action between the Jewish and Muslim worlds on hypersensitive issues. “Their actions will undoubtedly make it possible to state the principles of future coexistence,” adds the lawyer.

According to him, the number and consistency of demonstrations in Israel against Benjamin Netanyahu since October 7 express the desire for change of part of civil society. “The foundations of a new Israeli social contract are in the making. It will have to include both the ultra-Orthodox and the Israeli Arabs, that is obvious to me. Even if we are a minority who believe in the virtues of dialogue, we can still change the future. »