NIF grantee Omdim Beyachad (Standing Together) is known for its large demonstrations. But with large in-person gatherings banned and social distancing the norm, Standing Together is continuing to organize online.

Last Saturday night, the organization hosted a unique online conference entitled “Together We Will Beat the Coronavirus and Racism Crisis.”

Speakers emphasized that Arab-Jewish cooperation is essential for overcoming the health risks and economic threats posed by the coronavirus outbreak and the neglect of Israel’s disadvantaged communities.

Conference participants asserted that the Jewish-Arab majority must protest years of abandonment by the health system of Israel’s most impoverished sectors and the anti-democratic measures being taken by the Netanyahu government during the coronavirus crisis.

Speakers included Joint Arab List MK Ahmed Tibi, former Meretz chair Tamar Zandberg, Rabbis for Human Rights Executive Director Avi Dabush, journalist Avirama Golan, former Sikkuy co-director Ron Gerlitz, former MK Dov Henin, Thabet Abu Rass, Co-Executive Director of the Abraham Initiatives, MK Jaber Asakla, women’s activist Sondos Salah and many others.