The Future is Peace, by Aziz Abu Sarah and Moaz Inon (2026)
The Future is Peace, by Aziz Abu Sarah and Moaz Inon traces the journeys of an Israeli-Arab and an Israeli-Jew who became friends. Both are in the hospitality/tourism industry and both lead dual tours throughout Israel and the West Bank.
This book traces a week's trip the two took together across the country following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Both authors suffered tragedy in their lives. Inon's parents were killed in the October attack; Sarah's older brother was killed by IDF soldiers while in prison. Thus, both men knew suffering of loved ones at the hands of the "enemy." Together, they work towards bring peace throughout their country and try to explain their "truth" to the other.
Although both grew up in Israel, neither knew of each other's history. Inon was not familiar with background of the Nakba, which refers to the days following the creation of the State of Israel, and Abu Sarah did not know the history of the Holocaust.
The thesis of the book is that though the authors experienced tragedy due to the ongoing conflict, they still believe that there is a place for learning, dialogue, growth, and, one day, peace. When Abu Sarah was younger, his brother was killed by Israeli forces after being beaten in prison for throwing rocks. Moaz’s parents were killed on October 7th by Hamas. For some, these losses might engender fear or hatred of the other. Yet, for Abu Sarah and Inon, they do the opposite. The book explains how it was their shared pain that brought them together, first in friendship and then in activism.
Years before October 7, Abu Sarah founded Mejdi tours and Inon founded the Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem. Both projects were designed to bring people together to learn about the country and ideals that unite people. Neither men are historians, and some of the language in the book is decidedly skewed. The narrative does acknowledge that after Israel Independence, surrounding Arab countries did not look after or take in the displaced Palestinians living in area acquired by Israel. The book also notes that those Arab countries were more concerned with a "land grab."
Some of the language used is inflammatory. The Israeli's are said to "occupy" land, and are "settlers." Both refer to the conflict in Gaza as a "genocide", while the October 7 massacre is just a tragic event. The premise also seems to place all the blame of the "Palestinian problem" on Israel, without acknowledging that there are shared responsibilities in this conflict. The book points out that many Palestinians displaced after 1948 are still living in crowded condition that is now supported by UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency). That program was intended to be temporary, but nearly 80 years later is still in effect.
The book does describe the difficulty that life for Palestinians living in the West Bank is not without its struggles, and the constant checkpoints, and violence. These are very real concerns and does need a better understanding by Israeli Jews.
This book will make you angry. But, it will also make you think. It will make you reconsider some of your ideas about both sides. At the end, you will also feel a spark of hope. Peace begins with people coming together and meeting one-on-one, considering the needs of each other. This is the world that Abu Sarah and Inon, along with many other peace activist in Israel, are creating. It will take time, but is not without possibility.
Read: August 30, 2026
4 Stars
