RAMALLAH, January 18 (JMCC) - Palestinian doctor Izzeldin Abuelaish is most known in the
occupied territories for the tragedy that befell him during the
Gaza war when his three daughters and a niece were killed by an Israeli tank shell.
But since then the doctor's single-minded mission appears to be to bridge the gap between his own society and
Israel, where he once healed patients in a hospital.
Abuelaish is currently in the United States promoting his book, I Shall Not Hate, and his own version of a peace plan,
writes Ryan Bell at the Huffington Post.
But perhaps what stands out most about Abuelaish is his belief in humanity's inherent goodness. He appears to have no doubts that peace will be achieved between Israelis and Palestinians. When I asked him if he ever lays down in bed at night and thinks to himself, People will never change! he replied without hesitation, Ayyy, no! Never! If I believe in that -- that this patient will never be cured... His voice trailed off. I don't believe in that because today he is not going to be cured, but God knows what will happen tomorrow.
God is a decisive factor for Abuelaish. His Muslim faith is the source of his passion for saving lives, but his appreciation and respect for Judaism and Christianity is also remarkable. While discussing the role faith plays in his work he remarked, Saving one life, you save the world. Killing one, you kill the world. This is a paraphrase of a statement, not from the Quran as you might expect, but from the Talmud!