Once it was B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. Flak from neighbors. One neighbor heard from another that I like Arabs. I asked how the other neighbor knew. The logo on envelopes sticking out of my mailbox. Another acquaintance told me not to take a job at B’Tselem: it might deter another potential employer in the future. I only did some freelance work for B’Tselem, but that’s not the reason. Someone told me to remove the New Israel Fund from my resume. It could adversely affect a job search. Prior to October 7 and for 18 months thereafter, I worked at the Parents Circle Families Forum (for bereaved families of Israelis and Palestinians who lost loved ones to the conflict yet committed themselves to reconciliation).
In between, I worked for NGOs promoting shared society – equality with Jewish Israelis for Palestinian citizens of the State of Israel or Arabs holding Israeli citizenship or Arab-Bedouin citizens of Israel in the Negev, and other minorities – defining their identity, a matter of their choice. Once chaired the Jerusalem branch of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. With modest donations, occasional petition signing, attending online and live events, I support organizations like Zulat, Breaking the Silence, Rabbis for Human Rights and follow them on social media.
Even now, when, finally, US pressure compelled the government of Israel to arrest Jewish terrorists in the West Bank as it does Palestinian terrorists, I read a talkback to a social activist’s social media post, saying now, amidst war is not the time to talk about Jewish terrorism, about Jewish terrorists attacking Jewish Israelis seeking to protect Palestinians in the West Bank from extremist settlers. Apparently, now is the time for extremists, collaborating with security establishment backed by government to take advantage of all eyes on Iranian ballistic missiles and cluster bombs, Hezbollah and Houthi attacks to perpetrate as many acts against Palestinians as possible – prodding their departure until it’s ethnic cleansing in retrospect.
Nevertheless, now, Jews were arrested for attacking Palestinians. That received little local media coverage. Could be detrimental to the base, supporters of the government, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Ben-Gvir. Celebrating recent revisions to legislation allowing the death sentence for terrorists was another matter – serves the base. Without further elaborating on the law and its implications on multiple fronts, suffice it to say, it represents another government step peeling layer after layer of any semblance of liberal democracy.
My rebuttal to any presumed superficial criticism of my approach: No delusions here about Nukhba brutality, rape and mutilation of bodies before, during and after massacring residents of Israel on October 7. While on that track, I am familiar with decades of Iranian calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. I know we need to be prepared to defend ourselves. This never means justification for base evil action by Israelis nor necessarily immediately nor ultimately supporting war. Complexity inherent in the picture. Justifying human rights’ violations doesn’t fit in the equation.
Then I read a report by Shira Kadari-Ovadia in Haaretz, “Trafficking of Palestinian Women from the West Bank to the Negev: ‘Sold to their Bedouin Husbands for 20,000 Shekels’” (April 5, 2026). As I read, it felt like rereading the harshest accounts in “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” the Khaled Hosseini novel (2007). Abuse. Polygamy. Domestic violence. Control. I was always told “fact is stranger than fiction.” And “stranger” is simply worse, less credible, because it ‘smore horrifying. I don’t need to summarize Kadari-Ovadia’s piece, but I can echo its resonating themes: humanitarian neglect of women anonymously interviewed, their lack of legal status, in abusive, polygamous relationships enabled by authorities which overlook sale of women, as merchandise. The government of Israel is responsible.
It’s not new. Like all human rights’ violations involving Palestinians from the West Bank, it assumes new dimensions amidst post-October 7 dynamics. Complicated. But no excuses in my book. Part of the picture reflects Bedouin life in the Negev in unrecognized villages. That responsibility of the State of Israel. And the government of Israel cannot be allowed to overlook trafficking of women and polygamy in any society in Israel! Not now. Never.
The victims are by no means in love relationships, except love for their children also victimized. No love to worry about extinguishing, but I’ll exchange love for truth and take the second half of the verse from the Song of Songs 4:15, read during Passover, and insist: “[flowing] rivers cannot drown it.”
Harriet Gimpel, April 6, 2026
Born and raised in Philadelphia, earned a B.A. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University in 1980, followed by an M.A. in Political Science from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Harriet has worked in the non-profit world throughout her career. She is a freelance translator and editor, writes poetry in Hebrew and essays in English, and continues to work for NGOs committed to human rights and democracy.