Arab-Jew Hope: The Power of 3

Remember these names:

1. Dalia Ziada
2. Jonathan Nizar Elkhoury
3. Fatema Al Harbi

With radical Islamic terrorists waging Israel war and global Jew-hatred rampant, three extraordinary humans with courage and conviction are taking action — promoting peace, dialogue, and real change.

I witnessed their passion this week in New York City at ‘Voices of Change: Arab Advocates for Israel ‘, an event orchestrated by The Israel American Council and Sharaka, and hosted at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun.

Dalia Ziada is a brilliant Egyptian Muslim author and pro-Israel activist who was forced to leave Egypt after October 7^th due to death threats. Undaunted, she now helps shape policy and lectures across US college campuses, dispelling a myth or twenty.

Jonathan Nizar Elkhoury is an Israeli Lebanese Christian minorities rights advocate, whose family fled Lebanon when he was 9 years old, and now travels far and wide, shattering illusions about Israeli apartheid.

Fatema Al Harbi is an eloquent Muslim peace activist from Bahrain, was the first Bahraini civilian to visit Israel, and now brings Israeli Arabs and Jews on delegations to Bahrain.

Yair Klyman moderated the panel as these 3 dynamos shared the stories that propel their activism.

All 3 grew up hating Jews.

All 3 had epiphanies that made them see the light:

In Egypt, Dalia witnessed the ‘severity’ of anti-Israel crowds burning Israeli, US, and Egyptian flags. For Dalia, after October 7^th, there was no turning back her voice.

Jonathan had never met a Jew, and was amazed how his family was accepted into Israeli society, even though they weren’t Jewish. “The same way that Israel protected me, I now need to protect back.”

As a child in Bahrain, Fatema was always ‘curious’ about Israel, even though she prayed 5x/day to hate it. Now she brings her fellow Bahrainis into the Jewish Muslim friendship fold.

All 3 understand the false narratives about Jews in Arab society; the irrational hate taught to people who have never met an Israeli or a Jew.

All 3 write, speak, debate, mobilize, and risk their lives in the pursuit of “a new Middle East, built on dialogue, understanding, cooperation, and friendship.”

All 3 exemplify reverence for life in the best sense.

This uplifting night of hope was just what the spiritual doctor ordered at a time when our collective Jewish hearts are aching.

So.

Bravo, Israel American Council and Sharaka for your vital work.

Todah Rabah Congregation KJ, for your sanctuary.

Thank you thank you Dalia Ziada, Jonathan Nizar Elkhoury and Fatema Al Harbi for your clear-eyed humanity, courage, and positive action.

Dear reader, HERE IS YOUR HOMEWORK:

Look these 3 heroes up. Follow them. Host them at an event. Interview them on a podcast. Encourage and support them. Help them spread their powerful word.

Because they’re on your team, fighting the good fight for a better, just, peaceful world.