A Palestinian-Israeli alternative vision for peace - opinion
The real choice before us is not between being pro-Israel or pro-Palestine. The choice is between being pro-equality, pro-justice, and pro-dignity – or pro-war, death, and destruction.
Palestinian and Israeli flags overlook Dome of Rock and Western Wall(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)ByAZIZ ABU SARAH
The recent Trump administration proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza and transform the area into a real estate development is both unworkable and morally unacceptable. This idea, like many others, is rooted in a dangerous fantasy – one that views peace as a zero-sum game and uses injustice as a means to achieve peace.
In the last 16 months, I’ve met with families who lost loved ones in the October 7 Hamas attack, as well as families of hostages. I’ve also spoken with people in Gaza whose families were killed in Israeli airstrikes. I’ve heard stories of individuals who have disappeared – uncertain whether they are alive in Israeli prisons or buried under rubble.
These are the dark, heartbreaking stories that surround us. They are stories that drown us in pain and helplessness. Where living and dying by the sword has become the norm. Some of us have become convinced that we must have a “total victory,” forgetting that every war only sets the stage for the next.
But it’s precisely because of these stories that I believe we must cling to hope, for the future must be different. There is one undeniable truth: Israelis and Palestinians, numbering roughly 7.5 million each, are here to stay. Instead of wasting energy on misguided notions – whether the idea that Hamas can rid the land of Jews or that the Israeli state can rid itself of Palestinians — we must focus on building lasting peace.
Israelis stand with an Israeli flag opposite to Palestinians with Palestinian flag next to Damascus gate to Jerusalem's Old City, on Jerusalem Day, May 29, 2022. (credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS)
We must focus on building lasting peace
Many argue that in times of war, we must stick to our own tribes. They claim that now is not the time to reach out to the other side and speak about peace. But I disagree. There is no better time than now to raise our voices for peace because if we don’t break this cycle, our children will become the victims of the next conflict.
Being a peacemaker does not mean being disconnected from reality. We are angry, too. But, as my friend Rami Alhanan, who lost his daughter in a suicide bombing, taught me, anger and pain are like nuclear power. Anger can destroy, or it can create light. Peacemakers choose to channel our anger toward lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
For far too long, the voices of peacemakers have been sidelined while political leaders have failed us. The Israeli government, the opposition, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas have all failed to deliver on their promises of peace, freedom, and security.
It’s time for us to take the mantle. As leaders in the peace movement at the It’s Time coalition, Interact, and as members of Allmep, Maoz Inon and I work tirelessly to amplify the voices of peacemakers and make the case for hope and peace. Last year, over 6,000 people gathered together to prove that this vision is possible.
The real choice before us is not between being pro-Israel or pro-Palestine. The choice is between being pro-equality, pro-justice, and pro-dignity – or pro-war, death, and destruction.
Our vision for the future involves letting go of bitterness, hatred, and the desire for revenge. We must forgive those who have wronged us and those who have failed to protect us. Forgiveness is a personal choice – a choice that is essential for healing. We forgive not because those who have wronged us deserve it, but because we deserve peace for ourselves, our families, and our future.
To those who doubt: The future is still ours to shape, but only if we dare to lead the way. No one else can prove that peace is possible. It’s time to change course and forge a better future together.■
The writer is a tourism entrepreneur and peace activist who is part of the It’s Time coalition, which is organizing the People’s Peace Summit. The summit, scheduled to take place in Jerusalem on May 8-9, 2025, is a large-scale initiative aimed at presenting a positive and alternative vision to the ongoing conflict. The summit will feature cultural events, discussions, tours, and sessions on security, reconciliation, the economy, and the future of education, seeking to shift the focus from pain and division to practical steps toward a peaceful reality.
This initiative is part of the work of the It’s Time coalition, which unites approximately 60 peace and shared society organizations committed to ending the Israeli Palestinian conflict through a political agreement. The conference aims to provide a broad platform for voices advocating a future of justice, freedom, and security for both peoples while strengthening Jewish-Arab partnership within Israel.
