About this Event
On paper Aziz and Maoz should not be friends. Aziz’s brother was killed by Israeli forces, and both Maoz’s parents died in the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks. But against this backdrop of bloodshed, personal loss and historical conflict, they have had the courage to embrace each other in order to send a message to humanity: peace is possible and people have the power to make change.
At precisely the time when talking about peace seems too vulnerable, too naïve, too dangerous, Aziz and Maoz have made it their mission to do so, campaigning tirelessly and speaking publicly on the subject. Their opening talk at the 2024 TED Conference in Vancouver quickly went viral, with footage of their conversation receiving 2 million views in a month. Now their remarkable new book, The Future Is Peace, pairs candour and lyrical prose to promote their cause: We have resigned ourselves to this unending war as the only way forward. But we have tried this. We have tried war. The only war that is won is one that leads to peace.
In this timely event, Aziz and Maoz swap their usual stadium-sized stages for the intimate setting of The Conduit, for a conversation chaired by Director of Content and Convening, Karen Kaufman.
“In the face of the suffering of these two brothers and the suffering of these two nations, I have no words. They have had the courage to embrace each other. Let us pray for peace, and for these two brothers to bring the will to work for peace to their people” – His Holiness Pope Francis
Event Schedule
6:00pm: Pre-event socialising and networking
A cash bar will be available for refreshments.
6:15pm: Event begins
7:30pm: Event ends
Speakers
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 on a mission to transform tourism into a global force of citizen diplomacy. He has won numerous awards, including from the United Nations, 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, and has written opinion pieces for the New York Times, the Washington Post, Al-Quds, and Haaretz.
Maoz Inon is an Israeli peace activist, entrepreneur and co-CEO of InterAct International, a nonprofit dedicated to Middle East Peace. He was honoured 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. Maoz has written pieces for the Washington Post, Al Jazeera, Haaretz and more. He has co-founded several peace-focused initiatives within Israel and the Middle East, including the Jesus Trail, Fauzi Azar Inn, and Abraham Hostel & Tour brands.
Karen Kaufman is Director of Content and Convening at the Conduit, where she oversees the programming, conference and events strategy, as well as external positioning. She previously served as Google’s Head of Events’ Editorial for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, leading the thought leadership team and strategic partnership with the World Economic Forum. She spent over 20 years living in Israel and working on the Middle East Peace Process with roles at the British Embassy, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Haaretz newspaper, and the Tony Blair Institute. Karen is a trustee of New Israel Fund UK, which mobilises support for the grassroots visionaries building a just, safe, and equal future for every Israeli and Palestinian.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Conduit, 6 Langley Street, London, United Kingdom
GBP 16.96
