“If there were peace life would have a value. There would be games for the children, employment and opportunities. While there is no peace, there will be no life." 

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Ali Abu Awwad is a leading Palestinian activist who teaches his countrymen non-violent resistance and reaches out to Jewish Israelis at the heart of the conflict.  He tours the world to tell his riveting story of his discovery of the path of non-violent resistance.

 

Awwad is a founder of a new group “Roots/Judur/Shorashim: the Palestinian Israeli initiative for Understanding, Nonviolence, and Reconciliation,” based in the West Bank that promotes dialog and trust between Israelis and Palestinians as the way to peace.

After fifty days of violence this summer, Abu Awwad is a much needed voice for peace.  Abu Awwad frequently speaks about his journey to American Jewish groups and individuals.  

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

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About the Speaker

Palestinian activist Ali Abu Awwad, 42,  was shot and arrested and lost his older brother during the second intifadah over the West Bank and Gaza in 2003 yet chose to promote dialogue and trust over revenge and hatred. He made this transformation after he met others at Bereaved Families Forum, an organization that brings together people from both sides who have lost loved ones in the conflict, that he began to learn how to channel his pain and anger not only into nonviolent resistance, but also into reaching over the chasm that divides between Palestinians and Israelis. 

Abu Awwad, is one of a half dozen Israelis and Palestinians whose role in Bereaved Families Forum and grassroots work with young Palestinians was featured in the 2006 documentary, Encounter Point. He teaches that Palestinians will achieve greater freedom through non-violent change than revenge.  He is currently working on a book, Painful Hope.  As a young activist, he founded Al Tariq (The Way), which teaches his people the principles of nonviolent resistance.

Additional Resources:

Bereaved Families Forum

Encounter Point Documentary

Roots/Judur/Shorashim: the Palestinian Israeli initiative for Understanding, Nonviolence, and Reconciliation