The Path to Freedom
Ali Abu Awwad’s work recognizes 10 principles he believes critical to durable peace and security in the region
Recognition of both peoples’ belonging to the entire land. Any solution must guarantee the express legitimacy of Palestinian and Israeli identities in a way that secures the other’s identity and does not threaten it.
Mutual recognition of identities, beyond borders: Both the Palestinian and Israeli people must be able to practice their identities, and live with security and freedom regardless of current or future borders. This is critical to creating an environment for peace, within which we can establish a new political solution.
Belonging over ownership: Palestinians and Israelis both relate to the land through ownership, but this must be transformed into something far deeper and wider: belonging. Everyone on that land belongs to that land and we all must serve it, not conflict over it.
Change behaviors, not identities: Transforming the conflict requires changing behaviors, not losing identities. A solution depends on people giving up behaviors that humiliate the other, without feeling one’s own identity threatened by doing so.
Palestinians must take responsibility for themselves: In doing so, Palestinians can free themselves from the mentality of victimhood and competition of suffering.
Nonviolence is the best way to take responsibility: Nonviolence is not only a strategy or tactic—it must become part of the Palestinian identity. Palestinians should not condition nonviolence on steps that must be taken by Israelis. Nonviolence comes first and is the necessary path to achieve rights and transform the dynamic of fear into cooperation.
Nonviolence is the only way for Palestinians to transform their harsh political reality: It allows Israelis to overcome their historic trauma and fear, and anyone to partner in the struggle for freedom.
Peace camps in both societies must redesign their strategies beyond personal transformation to practical action plans that create the environment for a peaceful solution.
To achieve our rights and freedom, we Palestinian people must establish our own strategic, national plan that engages both political leadership and civil society.
The international community must commit to be pro-solution, without intervening in the conflict. Instead, partner with both sides to solve this madness.