I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abuelaish

The dedication reads, "To children everywhere. Their only weapons are love and hope...". I could tell I would enjoy this book after reading and agreeing with this cheesy but hopeful dedication. I picked this book up after participating in Hands of Peace this summer. A program where teens from Israel and Palestine come to Chicago for the summer and join with Americans in coexistence dialougues. The author of this book is a Palestinian doctor who despite of his traumatic and violent life, has chosen to advocate integration between both groups of people as a way to solve the conflict and achieve peace. He preaches that learning and understanding the other side is a key component in living in peace. I have to admit that growing up in a Jewish Day School where I have learned only one side of the conflict makes it hard to read this book comfortably. His memoir presents ideas that make me challenge previous beliefs I've held so close to me from a very young age. Ultimately if I have learned anything from the book, it's that conflict can be resolved by a mutual understanding of pain and suffering. Dr. Abuelaish believes that once the two sides can feel for each other and understand each other, they will want to find ways to negotiate and stop all the killing and fighting. I realized that this applies to me too. I should try to understand his points of view, and why he thinks that way. I don't have to agree with everything he says, but I can hear his story and try to understand where he is coming from. Although I have just started this book, it has already taught me to be conscience of all points of view. I think this has made be grow as a person to become less bias which will enable me to be a better peace activist. If you have any interest or connections to the conflict, I strongly recommend this book. It will open your eyes to a new way of thinking and give you hope that peace is possible in the Middle East.