Maoz Inon & Aziz Abu Sarah, a Jew and a Palestinian, visited our Politics Done Right set at Netroots Nation 2024 to discuss their work to create peace between Palestinians and Jews, especially given the crisis in Gaza.
A Palestinian and a Jew traveling together for peace
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The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has spanned over a century, generating deep wounds and seemingly irreconcilable divides. Yet, despite these challenges, stories of hope, resilience, and partnership have emerged. One such story is that of Maoz Inon, an Israeli Jew, and Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian Muslim. These two men are traveling together, united by a shared mission of promoting peace and reconciliation, offering an antidote to the entrenched hostility that so often dominates the region.
The conversation, led by Egberto Willies, highlights this remarkable partnership. Inon and Abu Sarah are living proof that dialogue and empathy can pave the way for a brighter future, even in times of immense grief and loss. In a world that often sees war as inevitable, these two men defy the odds, showcasing how personal connections can transcend national, ethnic, and religious boundaries.
In the interview, Aziz Abu Sarah recounts how their friendship deepened after a particularly devastating event: the killing of Inon’s parents in the tragic violence on October 7. Despite the gravity of the situation, Abu Sarah reached out with a message of condolences and solidarity. His words, though simple, were profound—acknowledging not just the personal loss but the greater reality that violence does not lead to freedom or security for anyone, Israeli or Palestinian. His gesture spoke to his values, which revolve around compassion, unity, and the belief that peace is the only sustainable solution.
Inon, grappling with the profound loss of his parents and childhood friends, understood the significance of this gesture. He recognized the immense courage it took for Abu Sarah, a Palestinian, to reach out to him during such a fraught time. It was more than just an act of sympathy—it was an acknowledgment that their lives were intertwined despite the political and historical divisions. This moment solidified their bond, transforming their relationship from professional collaborators in the tourism industry into true partners in the peace process.
Their collaboration did not stop at personal reconciliation. The two men have since become leaders in a growing Israeli-Palestinian peace movement, which is gaining momentum even as violence continues to rage in the region. As Inon poignantly put it, he wishes for his parents to be remembered not as victims of war but as victims of peace. This perspective is at the core of their shared mission: turning personal tragedy into a driving force for collective healing and unity.
Abu Sarah, who himself is no stranger to loss, echoes this sentiment. He recounts the death of his brother when he was just ten years old, another casualty of the long-running conflict. He speaks clearly about the pain of such experiences and the critical importance of having allies who can walk you through that pain. This sentiment transcends borders: the idea that true peace can only be achieved through partnership, not division.
Both men have clarified that their message is not limited to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the interview, they stress the global nature of their work, noting that the lessons they’ve learned—about hope, forgiveness, and the future—apply to conflicts worldwide, including here in the United States. Their experience speaks to a broader truth: that political, social, and religious divisions are often exacerbated by external forces, whether governments or economic systems that profit from conflict. These forces, they argue, push ordinary people into antagonism against one another, exploiting their pain for political or financial gain.
Yet, despite their seemingly insurmountable challenges, Inon and Abu Sarah remain optimistic. As they point out, the media tends to focus on the violence and the divisions. Still, a growing movement of Israelis and Palestinians is working together for peace. They cite organizations like Women Wage Peace, Combatants for Peace, and Standing Together as examples of grassroots movements building bridges between communities. These groups, much like Inon and Abu Sarah themselves, are fighting to ensure that future generations will not be defined by the violence of the past but by a shared vision of equality, dignity, and mutual recognition.
One of the most powerful moments in the conversation comes when Inon speaks about forgiveness. He describes it as a difficult but necessary step for moving forward, explaining that forgiveness is not about forgetting or absolving the past but freeing oneself from the chains of hatred. By choosing to forgive—whether it be the Hamas fighters who killed his parents or the Israeli government that failed to protect them—Inon is making a conscious decision to focus on the future. It is a message that resonates deeply, especially in a world where cycles of revenge and retribution often feel inescapable.
The story of Maoz Inon and Aziz Abu Sarah offers a powerful counter-narrative to the dominant discourse of conflict in the Israeli-Palestinian struggle. Their literal and metaphorical journey together serves as a reminder that peace is not just an idealistic dream but a tangible reality that can be built through human connection, empathy, and shared purpose. As the world watches the violence unfold in the region, the message from Inon and Abu Sarah is clear: peace is not only possible—it is necessary. It starts with the courageous act of recognizing our shared humanity.
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