Seek the Peace of Jerusalem

About the Book

Over the last seven decades, since the formation of the State of Israel, there has been no shortage of Jews and Arabs desiring peace in Israel-Palestine (the Holy Land). Most peacemaking attempts failed because the parties did not see peace as a win-win deal. The prevailing mantra in this conflict is win-lose or no deal. Today, the Palestinians are not willing to make a deal with the Israeli Jews because they perceive that a deal with the Israeli Jews means the Palestinians will lose. Also, the Israelis are not willing to make a deal with the Palestinian Arabs because they perceive that a deal with the Palestinian Arabs means the Israelis will lose. There are also other geopolitical factors affecting this conflict. This conflict is gradually shifting toward a battle fueled by people relying on religious texts to prolong the struggle.

About the Author

Omer Salem is a senior fellow of the Foundation of Religious Diplomacy, New York City, and is founder of the Ibn Rushd Institute for Dialogue based in Egypt and the United States, an interreligious research association. Dr. Salem promotes the importance of using Islamic moral values as the basis for conflict resolution. He has been invited to various churches, synagogues, mosques, and international conferences, where he has spoken before audiences that included members of the US Senate in Washington, DC, and members of the Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem. Dr. Salem is an honorary member of the Worldwide Association of al-Azhar Graduates. He is a candidate for a PhD in Islamic studies from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Ohio. He holds a master’s degree from the Yale University Divinity School and a bachelor of science degree from the University of California at Berkeley. Omer, an American-Sunni Muslim, was born in Egypt; established a career in engineering, real estate, and investment in California’s Silicon Valley; and is a frequent preacher among the New Haven, Connecticut, Muslim community. In California, he assembled a group of representatives of various faith communities across the United States and the Middle East to consider options for peace in the Holy Land based on Islamic moral values. The group produced a related white paper that is the basis of the Mellata Ibrahim (“MI”) Initiative, which has gained support from various religious and civil society organizations, as well as representatives from Stanford University. Omer currently lives with his wife and children in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. To contact the author with your comments, please, email him at omer.salem@aya.yale.edu Omer currently lives with his wife and children in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.