In the Triangle, opinions vary on ending Middle East war

A group called Jewish Voice for Piece interrupted a Jewish Federation of Raleigh-Cary event in Durham on Wednesday to demand public support for a ceasefire.

The result was a difficult conversation.

"Everybody wants to see peace and security, however, sometimes you have to make sure that peace and security happens, it may not happen on its own," said Barry Schwartz, the federation’s executive director.

Israel has a right to defend itself, but Schwartz said no one wants to see the casualties of war.

“It is heartbreaking, it is always heartbreaking,” he said.

Jade Brooks, with the North Carolina chapter of Jewish Voices for Peace, was among 10 people who interrupted the federation event.

"Calling for the siege of Gaza to stop and stop the Israeli occupation,” she said.

Rabbi Eric Solomon, who recently visited Israel, described the fear on both sides as “serious and deep.”

Solomon was with his family when a loud boom led the rabbi to jump to protect his daughter.

"The sound alone shook me to my core,” he said. “It made me think, what is it like for an innocent civilian Palestinian, a child, who has nothing to do with this war.”

While several people at the event want a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, they weren’t sure how to make that happen.