Join us for a thought-provoking evening as two social entrepreneurs and peace activists, Israeli Maoz Inon and Palestinian Aziz Abu Sarah, share their stories of loss and resilience.
Maoz tragically lost his both parents on October 7, while Aziz lost his brother during the first Intifada. Despite their immense pain, they seek to build bridges and model a future of hope, reconciliation, and peace.
Peace making means not only believing in peace and solidarity - but putting in the hard work in the face of war, hatred and division - and doing things differently.
In April 2024, at the annual TED Conference, Aziz and Maoz delivered the opening session's first talk, which became the third most-watched TED talk of the year.
In May 2024, the two attended the ARENA DI PACE peace event in Verona, where they received a personal embrace and public support from Pope Francis, drawing international media attention to their shared vision for peace.
Together, they have also led impactful conversations and events across the world and within their communities in Israel and Palestine.
Currently, Maoz and Aziz are co-authoring a book, expected to be published in 2025 by Crown Publishing House. They serve as prominent leaders of the It’s Time Coalition, an umbrella organization uniting over 50 civil society groups dedicated to advancing peace and reconciliation.
In partnership with the Jewish News.
Aziz Abu Sarah
Aziz Abu Sarah is a Palestinian peacebuilder, author, and mission-driven entrepreneur whose personal story of transformation began after the tragic loss of his brother, who was killed by Israeli soldiers. Aziz is the co-founder of InterAct International, a nonprofit 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’s contributions to peacebuilding have been recognized by notable figures, including former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. 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).
Aziz has been recognized among the “500 Most Influential Muslims in the World” by the Royal Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan annually since 2010 for his impactful work in cultural education and conflict resolution. 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.
Maoz Inon
Maoz Inon is an Israeli peace entrepreneur and a father of three. Since the murder of his parents in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, he has become a prominent voice for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. A sought-after speaker—from the halls of congress to universities, businesses, a wide spectrum of organizations and NGOs—he inspires audiences with his signature message that “Peace is Possible.” Before October 7, Maoz founded several peace-focused tourism initiatives within Israel and the Middle East, including the Jesus Trail, Fauzi Azar Inn, and Abraham Hostel & Tour.
In recognition of his efforts, Maoz was honored in 2024 with two prestigious awards: the Franco-German Human Rights Prize, awarded by France and Germany, and the Shared Living Award from Abraham Initiatives.
