BRIDGING THE DIVIDE: KOBI AND AZIZ

Providence---Kobi Skolnick, a former member of the fundamentalist Kahana youth movement and Israeli soldier will join with Aziz Abu Sarah, a former Fatah Youth member to speak at Temple Beth El, 70 Orchard Ave in Providence, on Tuesday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. to tell their remarkable stories from enemies to peace activists seeking solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This event is co-sponsored by J Street Rhode Island, which is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans to advocate for vigorous U.S. leadership to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to broaden debate around Israel and the Middle East in national politics and the American Jewish community.  It is also being cosponsored by Temple Beth El, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University.  The event is free and open to the public.

Skolnick and Abu Sarah now speak together as peacebuilders and will be talking about their path-breaking work across divides.  They will discuss their evolution from fierce advocates through life-changing experiences that have led them to employ tools for peace, not tools for violence and conflict.  They will also speak about their previous advocacy of violence and how their path turned to recognize the limited utility of violence.  In sharing their personal histories, they will talk about their shared belief in a negotiated two state solution and the engagement of the international community to play a critical role that can address the national aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.

"To meet Kobe and Aziz is to believe that anything is possible.  Hearing their personal stories of pain and transformation into such amazing people leaves me heartened, inspired and aware of the role that each of us can play in advocating, strengthening relationships and working together to bring about true peace between Israelis and Palestinians," said Judy Kaye, Co-Chair of J Street Rhode Island.

MORE

Kobi Skolnick was born into a Hasidic family in Israel and moved to a settlement in the West Bank during his high school years.  He was a member of the fundamentalist Kahana youth movement that promoted Jewish power and regularly encouraged its members to assault Palestinians.  During his service in the Israeli Defense Forces, he became aware of the complexity of the conflict and began to open his mind to other perspectives.  Today Mr. Skolnick is highly involved in the Israeli-Palestinian peace movement.

Aziz Abu Sarah lost his closest brother to the conflict when he was just 10 years old.  Mr. Sarah, a Palestinian born and raised in Jerusalem, is a veteran practitioner in the Palestinian-Israeli peace movements.  He was the chairman of the joint organization of 500 Israeli and Palestinian bereaved families who work for reconciliation, the Parents Circle-Bereaved Families Form.  He also co-hosted a bilingual radio show called "Changing Directions" on Radio for Peace in Jerusalem.  He has spoken in hundreds of churches, synagogues, mosques and university campuses on interfaith dialogue and the role of religion in reconciliation.

J Street is the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement in the United States.  Its mission is first to advocate for urgent American diplomatic leadership to achieve a two state solution and a broader regional, comprehensive peace; and second, to ensure broad debate on Israel and the East in national politics and the American Jewish community.