Marathon of Hope

How Civil Society and Sport Can Spark a Global Wave of Peace

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks once drew a profound distinction between optimism and hope. Optimism, he said, is the belief that things will improve. Hope, however, is the conviction that together, we can make them better. That difference has inspired many to use civic engagement and sport as tools to connect people across borders and beliefs to make a better future.

In Israel, thousands of grassroots organizations work every day to make a difference—to bring people together, to heal, and to build. These civil society actors often go unrecognized by political leaders who, too often, trade in fear and division to maintain their grip on power.

That’s why it was so encouraging to see the G7 summit in Italy in May 2024 spotlight civil society’s role in building peace. Thanks to the intervention and leadership of the late Pope Francis, civil society was placed prominently on the global agenda for the first time. World leaders acknowledged the essential role of people-to-people efforts in fostering reconciliation and long-term cooperation.

In fact, a new forum was established called The Civil 7 – C7 which is one of the official engagement groups of the G7. It provides a platform for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to bring forth proposals and demands aimed at protecting the environment and promoting social and economic development and well-being for all, ensuring healthy lives, gender equality, human rights and the principle of leaving no one behind, in order to stimulate a constructive dialogue with the G7.

The C7 goes far beyond the 7 countries, gathering the voice of more than 700 organizations from around 70 countries; policy positions and recommendations are therefore developed collectively, thanks to a vibrant and inclusive process. (C7 Communiqué, ALLMEP Report)

This international recognition echoed powerfully at a lunch I attended on April 3, 2025, hosted by Helena Merks, Deputy Ambassador of Germany, at the German Embassy in Tel Aviv. The event, organized by ALLMEP (the Alliance of Middle East Peace), showcased three inspiring organizations: Architecture of Hope, Tag Meir, and Lumiflies Hope Incubator.

• Architecture of Hope unites youth from Hamburg, Sderot, Otef Gaza, and Rahat through dialogue and art, guided by Hedi Bouden, Israeli artist Nir Alon, and German filmmaker Jan Lewandowski.
• Tag Meir brings Muslims, Christians, and Jews together to fight hate crimes, support victims, and amplify voices of unity.
• Lumiflies Hope Incubator fosters peacebuilding across Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs, and Jews through education, media, and arts, aiming to reach 7 million people through social campaigns.

These are just a few of the over 170 NGOs that make up ALLMEP, all working toward one shared vision: peace through grassroots connections.

LtR: Helena Merks, Deputy Head of Mission , German Embassy and representatives of Lumiflies, Architecture of Hope, Tag Meir.

Local embassies can play a vital role in peacebuilding—using their diplomatic reach to support and validate these efforts. Ten embassies participated that day, including Germany, France, the U.S.A., Spain, Italy, Australia, Norway, Greece, Ireland, and Singapore. At a time when many peacebuilders have lost their jobs due to USAID cuts, this show of diplomatic solidarity was more than symbolic; it was deeply needed.

Marathon for Peace: From Beirut to Jerusalem

The next day, I joined 40,000 others for the 14th edition of the Jerusalem Marathon, which welcomed around 1,800 international runners from over 50 countries. Hundreds of groups participated, many running for meaningful causes. This year, the atmosphere was especially poignant, as countless participants dedicated their run to the memory of those lost since October 7. With each stride through the ancient streets of Jerusalem, runners paid tribute to lives cut short and became part of a powerful act of collective healing.

The marathon highlighted the beautiful diversity of Israel. Shalva’s team of 600 runners was the event’s largest charity delegation. The NGO Kesher Ayin – Winner Israel enabled 70 blind and visually impaired runners to participate, tethered to trained guides. The participants reflected all walks of Israeli life: Jewish and Arab, religious and secular, united by motion and mission. This marathon was a moving tribute and a symbol of hope and resilience.

Jerusalem marathoners entering the Old City

Runners wearing shirts with images of hostages and those who died since Oct 7.

Last week, the 21st edition of the Beirut Marathon also became a beacon of peace and resilience. Postponed in 2024 due to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the 2025 Beirut Marathon returned on Thursday, May 1st, with 20,000 runners, proudly representing 38 countries, carrying a message of unity. In contrast, the 2023 edition drew a record 48,605 runners.

Beirut Marathon 2025. Credit The Media Line

Sport has long served as a bridge when other paths are blocked. In May 2014, Australian ultramarathon runner Pat Farmer ran 1,500 kilometers in 20 days from Beirut to Jerusalem, passing through Amman, Aqaba, Eilat, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Nazareth, and Ramallah. His run was a living metaphor for hope—two marathons a day to connect communities and show that even in the Middle East, movement can mean unity.

This year’s Jerusalem marathon came just two days before the UN’s International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6. The day is marked by the White Card campaign organized by Peace and Sport in Monaco, which this year reached over 170 million people through social media.

And now, in that same spirit, a new major initiative is being launched: “It’s Time – The People’s Peace Summit,” scheduled for May 8–9, 2025 in Jerusalem. With a coalition of over 60 peacebuilding and shared society organizations, this summit will be the peak event of the year for Israeli peacebuilders.

Through sport, through civil society, and through courageous gatherings like this, we move beyond optimism. We step into hope—active, collective, and real.