I once opposed Israel, but then I met its unlikely allies

The author, a former anti-Zionist Coptic Egyptian, attended the Tel Aviv Institute’s New Middle East Laboratory in London in late June, a gathering of activists, writers, and community leaders. The event aimed to foster honest dialogue among individuals from communities historically in conflict, including Jews, Druze, Muslim reformers, Iranians, Assyrians, and Somaliland representatives. The author's perspective on Israel shifted after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and subsequent observations of pro-Palestinian activism. He found unexpected allies among Muslim reformers and other non-Jewish participants who shared a commitment to a future free from religiously weaponized violence. One participant, Hussain Abdul-Hussain, emphasized the importance of confronting destructive ideas without encouraging self-hatred. The author concluded that persuasion and coalition-building require creating space for diverse perspectives, noting that some of the strongest voices defending Israel were non-Jewish intellectuals and dissidents who recognize extremism as a threat to all their communities.