Moment of Truth with Ami Chen Mills
Moment of Truth with Ami Chen Mills
Where is the Hope for Peace in Israel-Palestine?
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Aziz Abu Sarah is a Palestinian peace-builder, co-founder of InterAct International, author and mission-driven entrepreneur whose personal story of transformation began after the tragic loss of his older brother, who was murdered by Israeli soldiers. Sarah’s story intertwines with that of another victim of regional violence, Jewish Israeli Maoz Inon, who lost both his parents on Oct. 7.

Just after Oct. 7, 2023, Inon learned his parents had been killed in their home, burned by fire during the attack on Israel by Hamas militants. Inon immediately received a Facebook message of condolence from a Palestinian who had also lost a family member, his brother–to torture by the IDF–and who had also been a peacemaker and dialogue promoter. That was Sarah.
Sarah did not expect a return message, but Inon reached out quickly. Since that time, the two of them have come to love one another as brothers. Inon often shares his early, post-Oct. 7 vision of a land running with rivers of blood that is finally cleansed by rivers of tears.
Together, Sarah and Inon have taken their message of reconciliation, forgiveness and prioritizing the future over the past to two popes, to major network news shows and to the Ted stage, where their dialogue became the third most watched Ted Talk for 2024.
In this episode Sarah speaks of his efforts to bring Jewish and Palestinian Israelis together and his efforts with Inon to focus on the common humanity of the people living in Israel and Palestine–through tours and events that feature speakers from both “sides,” and through a new peace center and conference currently being created in Nazareth.
In the midst of so much anger, horror, killing and bloodshed, how can we envision a future that is peaceful and just? Sarah also points to the fundamental logic that if we do not build peace, we will not have a peaceful future. Who will create this future and can it start now?
Listen to this show to find out who the peace makers are today.

Resources and Peace Organizations to Support:

International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, in Israel-Palestine

Interact International

Mejdi Tours

Maoz Inon YouTube Channel

Pre-order the book by Inon and Sarah, The Future is Peace: A Shared Journey Across the Holy Land

Breaking the Silence, Israel

Standing Together, in Israel

Combatants for Peace

American Friends of Combatants for Peace

More on Aziz Abu Sarah:

From seeking revenge to championing peace, Aziz has dedicated his life to advancing reconciliation through innovative initiatives in Palestine, Israel, and over 60 other countries.

As a National Geographic Explorer and TED Fellow, Aziz has demonstrated the power of travel as a tool for peacemaking. In 2009, he co-founded MEJDI Tours, a leader in responsible travel and creator of the pioneering Dual Narrative™ method, which uses travel to foster understanding and dialogue. He has used travel as a platform for fostering understanding and dialogue in over 30 countries, including Northern Ireland, South Africa, and Israel-Palestine.

In April 2024, at the annual TED Conference, Aziz and his Israeli partner, Maoz Inon, delivered the opening session’s first talk, which became the third most-watched TED talk of the year. 

The non-profit he co-founded, InterAct International, is focused on advancing sustainability, education, and cross-cultural connections, and he has served as the Executive Director at the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.

He is also a former Chairman of the Parents Circle–Family Forum, a network of bereaved families advocating for peace.

Aziz is the author of two books: Crossing Boundaries: A Traveler’s Guide to World Peace (2020) and Strangers, Neighbors, Friends: Muslim-Christian-Jewish Reflections on Compassion and Peace (2018). Currently, he is co-authoring a book with Maoz Inon, expected to be published in April of 2026 by Crown Publishing House and currently available for pre-sale.