On Reconciliation: Lessons from South Africa and Rwanda for Israeli-Palestinian Reconciliation

Authors and peace builders Maya Savir and Aziz Abu Sarah will lead a conversation about what the reconciliation processes in South Africa and Rwanda can offer Israelis and Palestinians — and everyone else — about healing and rebuilding in the aftermath of conflict. Savir's On Reconciliation was first published in Hebrew in 2017, drawing on her visits to South Africa, which dismantled apartheid, and to Rwanda, which rebuilt after the Hutu-led genocide against the Tutsi — to ask whether, what, and how these two distinct reconciliation processes can apply to Israelis and Palestinians. Savir will be joined in conversation by Aziz Abu Sarah, whose latest book, The Future Is Peace, co-written with Israeli peace activist Maoz Inon, is a New York Times bestseller praised by the paper's review as a poignant, unflinching account of the two men's journey across Israel and the West Bank. Sarah wrote the moving foreword to On Reconciliation. The event will also feature a performance by musicians Micah Hendler and Hassan El-Tayyab. Register Online >> About the Authors Maya Savir Maya Savir has been a human rights and peace activist for all her adult life. Maya currently serves as Israel country director for Search for Common Ground, the largest international organization dedicated to peace building. A professional in humanitarian and development work, she spent a decade working in Africa, where the stories of Rwandans and South Africans she met inspired her to write On Reconciliation. Maya is the author of two works of adult fiction, one work of adult nonfiction, one young adult novel, and three children’s books. The daughter of Oslo Accords architect Uri Savir, Maya lives in Tel Aviv with her husband and four children. Aziz Abu Sarah Aziz is a peace builder, cultural educator, serial entrepreneur—co-founder of InterAct International and MEJDI Tours, author and an international speaker. Aziz has spoken at numerous international organizations, tourism conferences, corporations and universities, including TED, the United Nations, National Geographic, Nexus and the European Parliament. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Goldberg Prize for Peace in the Middle East from the Institute of International Education, the European Parliament’s Silver Rose Award, the Eisenhower Medallion, and the Eliav-Sartawi Award for his Middle Eastern Journalism. He won the Intercultural Innovation Award from the UN Alliance of Civilizations and the BMW Group. He was also recognized by former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his work in peacebuilding. Register Online >>