“If you must divide us, let it be as those who believe in peace and equality and those who don’t … yet.” ~ The Future is Peace
Aziz Abu is Palestinian. Maoz Inon is an Israeli. Both have lost family to the conflict and have known the bitterness of righteous anger. The world expected them to be enemies, yet they chose a different path. They forged a bond of brotherhood.
In The Future Is Peace, co-authors Aziz and Maoz take readers on a transformative weeklong journey across a sacred and bloodstained land. Together, they discover the mythic, political, and personal history that divides but also binds them.
Facing competing narratives, these two peace activists explore how compassion and unity can pull humanity back from the precipice of blind hatred. Throughout their travels, they are constantly asked: In the face of so much loss, how can we ever find hope? Their answer is always the same. One cannot find hope. We must create it.
The Future is Peace is a rebuttal to a broken world and a bold challenge to the belief that more violence can ever bring security. Told with unflinching honesty, their story is proof that peace is not a naive dream, but a courageous choice—for reconciliation to heal the wounds of revenge, for partnerships to change a destiny of war, and for empathy to save us from drowning in sorrow.
Pairing unapologetic candor and inspirational prose, Aziz and Maoz are sending an urgent message that the people have the power to make change. Peace is inevitable. For Palestinians, for Israelis, it is not just possible—it is the future.
Aziz Abu Sarah is Co-CEO of InterAct International, a nonprofit dedicated to Middle East peace. He is a peacebuilder, entrepreneur, National Geographic Explorer, TED Fellow, and renowned speaker and trainer on conflict resolution and responsible travel. Aziz is the co-founder of MEJDI Tours, a travel company seeking to transform tourism into a global force of citizen diplomacy. He has won numerous awards, including from the United Nations, the Institute of International Education, and The Explorers Club. Aziz is consistently named one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan. He has written opinion pieces for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Al-Quds, and Haaretz.
Maoz Inon is Co-CEO of InterAct International, a nonprofit dedicated to Middle East peace. He is an Israeli peace activist and entrepreneur. He was honored with the prestigious Franco-German Human Rights Prize and the Shared Living Award from Abraham Initiatives. He has spoken on Capitol Hill, at U.S. universities, and the European Parliament. He has written pieces for The Washington Post, Al Jazeera, Haaretz, and more. He has founded several peace-focused initiatives within Israel and the Middle East, including the Jesus Trail, Fauzi Azar Inn, and Abraham Hostel & Tour brands.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with live music, and the conversation begins at 7:00 p.m. This event includes a Q&A session and a photo line immediately following in the lobby.
Ticket Information
General Admission Ticket: $20
Ticket + Book Pickup: $47
Ticket + Book Shipped: $55
Student and Teacher Tickets: Free
No age restriction with a valid school ID, student and teacher tickets admit one person to the live event. Books are not included.
Content Rating
Unless otherwise noted, NWS events are designed for adult audiences and may not be suitable for children.
Group Tickets
For discounted rates on groups of 20 or more, please contact: [email protected]
Ed Ronco is the news director at Interlochen Public Radio, a post he’s held since June of 2022. He moved back to his home state of Michigan after nine years in Seattle, where he was the local host of “All Things Considered” for public radio station KNKX. Before that, he worked as a reporter in Sitka, Alaska, where he covered everything from whales to the school board, and South Bend, Indiana, where he covered politics and business. Ed and his partner, David, live just outside Traverse City.
