Path of Hope and Peace: Ziad Sabateen

Dear friends and allies,

During a time of destruction and grief, I am fundraising to support community leader and peacemaker Ziad Sabateen, a Palestinian man born amidst the olive groves of Husan, a Palestinian town near Bayt Lahm/Bethlehem. Ziad's journey has been one of resilience, hope, and an unwavering commitment to peace in the face of unimaginable adversity.

In Ziad's homeland, the struggle for peace is not just a distant ideal; it's a daily reality. The lands he grew up on have been scarred by conflict and settlements, with olive trees uprooted and lives lost in the face of displacement and military occupation. But Ziad's story is not one of despair; it's a testament to the power of transformation and the belief that peace is not just a dream, but a tangible possibility.

Ziad's path took him through the crucible of the First Intifada. He was jailed by the Israeli government and spent five years of his youth there.

Through his journey, Ziad encountered individuals who challenged his preconceptions, one of them was Rabbi Menachem Froman, a figure known for his advocacy of peace within the Israeli settler community. This encounter was transformative for Ziad, leading him to embrace the tenets of peacemaking: that the solution to conflict lies not in division, occupation, and militarization, but in dialogue.

Today, Ziad's journey continues with "Path of Hope and Peace," an organization he founded to continue the work of building bridges between communities torn apart by conflict. His message is clear: the path to peace is not easy, but it is necessary, now more than ever. It requires courage, compassion, and a willingness to tear down the imaginary and physical borders that separate us.

Ziad, his family and community are struggling to survive. No Palestinian is allowed to work in Israel and basic needs are not being met, such as food, milk for the little ones, and money for electricity bills. Ziad hopes to alleviate some of the community's needs by reaching out to the international community that resonates with his mission.

This a direct message from Ziad

“I am a man who believes in peace and I work for peace among peoples. I do not believe in violence and wars. I sanctify human life. I work to protect every citizen, regardless of religious and political beliefs, but for more than seven months, the war has been raging and no one has been allowed to go to work, and the situation has become harsh and difficult for everyone. No food, no medicine, no milk for the children. There are even families without electricity because there is no money to pay the bills. I am sending this message to those with kind hearts to plant light and goodness in the homes of many families. I hope you can help, even if it is just a little. Thank you.”

Let us join hands and unite. We are one humanity. Let us stand in solidarity with Ziad, his family, community and all those who strive for peace in the face of extreme violence. Together, let us walk the path of hope and peace.

#PathOfHopeAndPeace

More about Ziad's work here

I am Ana Puente Flores, a woman from so-called Mexico City which is more accurately called Tenochtitlán. I am a mother, movement lawyer-in-training, and human. I believe that all individuals have an inherent right to life and that to reclaim our humanity we must acknowledge our inalienable connection to Mother Earth. We owe it to children all around the world to end violence everywhere.