HRF submits joint petition to the United Nations on behalf of Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza
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NEW YORK (June 17, 2024) — On June 3, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) submitted an individual complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) in the case of Russian opposition leader and pro-democracy advocate Vladimir Kara-Murza, along with the Centre de la Protection Internationale (CPI), Freedom House, Free Russia Foundation (FRF), Global Justice Advisors, McCain Institute, and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR).
The groups requested the UNWGAD declare Kara-Murza’s detention arbitrary under international law and urge Russia to immediately and unconditionally release him. This request follows another address to the US State Department, in which HRF and three other groups urged the agency to designate Kara-Murza, a lawful permanent resident of the US, as wrongfully detained and facilitate his release and safe return to America.
For the past 20 years, Kara-Murza has tirelessly promoted democracy and human rights in Russia. In 2015 and 2017, he survived two near-fatal poisonings, almost certainly perpetrated by the Russian regime. As a result, he developed a medical condition called polyneuropathy. He was arrested on April 11, 2022, while visiting Moscow. In April 2023, he was sentenced to 25 years for “public dissemination of knowingly false information about the Russian Armed Forces,” “carrying out the activities of an undesirable organization,” and “high treason.”
The charges stemmed from his public speeches criticizing the Kremlin’s human rights violations and war in Ukraine, his alleged collaboration with the US-based FRF — an “undesirable” organization according to the Russian regime — and his “cooperation with a NATO country.”
The groups state that Kara-Murza’s detention resulted from the exercise of fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression. The complaint also lists numerous violations of the right to a fair trial, such as restricted access to a lawyer, denial of family visits, denial of a public hearing before an independent and impartial court, and denial of necessary medical care, among others.
“Kara-Murza has been detained solely for exercising his fundamental human rights, including his right to freedom of expression and his vocal opposition to the Russian regime," HRF Chief Advocacy Officer Roberto González said. "The numerous violations of international law in the proceedings against him clearly demonstrate that his detention is an attempt to punish him for his relentless opposition to Vladimir Putin and his allies, aiming to silence one of the last remaining voices of dissent in Russia.”
Kara-Murza is serving his sentence in a Siberian penal colony in Omsk. Under these severe conditions, his health has deteriorated significantly; he has lost more than 50 pounds (22 kilograms) and experiences numbness in his limbs. As Russian officials continue to deny Kara-Murza vital medical attention, experts fear he may not survive another year in these conditions.
Scott Kirsner
Scott Kirsner has spent two decades as a business journalist and contributing editor at the Boston Globe, Wired Magazine, Fast Company, Variety, The New York Times, BusinessWeek and other publications. His focus on how innovations that matter get introduced to the world has taken him to the White House, the Sundance Film Festival, the United Nations, and the innovation labs of Google, Disney, General Motors, Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, Marriott, and many other companies. Scott is the author of several books on innovation and technology, including a highly-acclaimed collaboration with George Lucas, “Inventing the Movies,” which explores the challenge of bringing new ideas to a century-old, change-resistant industry: Hollywood. His most recent book is “Innovation Economy: True Stories of Startups, Flame-Outs, and Inventing the Future in New England.”
He has spoken at Harvard Business School, the MIT R&D Conference, South by Southwest, the Consumer Electronics Show, HubSpot Inbound, New York Internet Week, the Churchill Club, Tijuana Inovadora, the Connected Health Symposium, and the NAB Futures Summit. Scott has also appeared on NBC's Today Show, Yahoo Finance, CNN, NPR's Science Friday, the Discovery Channel, and WBUR's Radio Boston.
Scott is a co-founder of InnoLead, a Boston media and events company focused on corporate innovation. He helped start The Convergence Forum, a life sciences gathering on Cape Cod, and the Nantucket Conference, an entrepreneurship event. His latest project is co-founding a new organization, The Innovation Trail of Greater Boston. You can follow it on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn: @BostonInnoTrail, or learn more at theinnovationtrail.org
Students Stage Peaceful Demonstration at Mass. State House
In March 2024, students at the Brookline, Massachusetts chapter of SND at Brookline High School staged a peaceful demonstration outside of the Massachusetts State House in Boston. They urged lawmakers to pass Resolve H. 738, a bill establishing a commission to study the existential threats that nuclear weapons and climate change pose to humanity. Read more about Students for Nuclear Disarmament here.
Patrick for Kansas Newsletter!
Patrick for Kansas
Welcome to my newsletter! I'll be using this space to bring you campaign news, upcoming events, and house renovation updates.
PATRICK SCHMIDT JUN 12
On May 24, I officially filed for candidate in Kansas-19 Senate District. I filed by petition with well over the 335 signature requirement! It was a proud day for me and my wife, Megan. The last 6 months have been an awesome journey and the next couple months leading up to the primary are going to be filled with hard work and exciting events. Thank you all for your support!
Our first piece of mail has officially gone out! We look forward to sending out more in the coming weeks, so be sure to look out for those.
This space will be used to bring you local news, campaign updates, and upcoming events to support us!
News
Following Governor Kelly’s veto of HB 2749 and the override votes, Kansas abortion providers challenge the abortion survey law. Forcing women to provide reasons and justification for getting an abortion is violating. Women should have freedom and access to their healthcare. The legislature needs young, progressive Democrats to help win this fight; I want to fight for and represent women’s issues and protect their access to healthcare.
Events
May 18: I got to spend some time with the Midwest Elks Lodge 1441 in Topeka a few weekends ago, supporting a scholarship fundraiser and eating some catfish! It was a beautiful day and a great event. Thanks to the Elks for having me and for raising money for such an important cause.
On Memorial day, I had the opportunity to join the ceremony at Mt. Hope Cemetery to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. As we commemorated another Memorial Day, we remembered all those who sacrificed their lives so that we may be free today.
This past weekend, I got to join the Lawrence Pride Parade! There was a great turnout and it was lots of fun. Thanks to everyone that showed up to celebrate the diversity & acceptance of those in our community!
Houses Renovation Updates
The tree in front of our house fell down and this weekend I planted a new one! Can’t wait to watch it grow over the next years in our new house.
Amir Grinstein: Israeli Palestinian conflict not either/or situation
From the Boston Herald:
Our world is plagued by conflicts, both domestically and globally, fueled by political, social, economical or religion tensions. One that has gotten significant attention is the Israeli Palestinian conflict, which seems to have reached a peak with the Israel-Hamas war and the protests on college campuses.
Although the Israeli Palestinian conflict is very complicated, in an era governed by social media and polarization, it is not surprising that it is often depicted in simplified terms, using unidimensional frameworks, and driving the public to adopt an “Either/Or” approach. You are either with the underdog or against it. The heroes in the story are either powerful or weak. You are either a pro-Palestinian (and anti-Israel) or you are pro-Israel (and anti-Palestinian).
This forced simplicity is detrimental as it is often motivated by ignorance, increases polarization, and is not helpful in finding a constructive path forward. Is there a better way to think about the Israeli Palestinian conflict that could lead to a deeper understanding of the complex reality and inspire more useful engagement with the issue? I came across an excellent book and mindset that opened my eyes to the value of embracing conflict and tensions, and the paradoxes that underlie them. “Both/And Thinking,” by Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis, discusses paradoxes – competing but interwoven views that are a source of sustained conflict.
These paradoxes surround us in our personal and professional lives. As paradoxes create discomfort, uncertainty, and stress, we often want to solve them as quickly as we can. The easiest way to solve a paradox is to adopt an Either/Or approach – choosing one clear path and to fully stand behind the decision to regain a sense of control and minimize cognitive dissonance. Although an Either/Or approach may lead to short-term relief, this approach narrows our options, limits opportunities, listening and learning, is less creative and collaborative, and is likely to have a negative long term effect. Alternatively, a Both/And approach requires us to grapple with the paradox and identify a less linear, not unidimensional, learning-based and more creative path forward.
The Israeli Palestinian conflict is full of paradoxes. Between the old and the new. Between the extreme and the moderate. Between security and autonomy. Between hope and reality. Between the short term and the long term. Between anger and empathy. What can we learn on the Israeli Palestinian conflict and how can we address some of these paradoxes if we adopt a Both/And thinking? Who are the indigenous people in the story?
The Either/Or approach of the conflict views the Palestinians as the indigenous people and the Jewish Zionists – the national movement of the Jewish people – as “settler colonialists.” The Both/And approach would review history and religion to reveal that they connect both Jews and the ancestors of the Palestinian people to the land of Israel/Palestine. Further, for many centuries, much before the establishment of Zionism in the late 19th century, Jews lived in the holy land, emptying the concept of “colonization.”
Still, after the 1967 war, Israel did occupy the West Bank (among other territories) where the majority of Palestinians live. This territory is still under dispute, and the very small group of Israelis that have decided to live there are often viewed as “settlers”; their strategy is often debated even within Israel. So, both the Jews and the Palestinians share “the old” and are here to share “the new”. Does the story depict white privileged vs. non-white under privileged?
The Either/Or approach of the conflict has borrowed the “white=privilege” framework from other social justice battles like that of the civil rights movement. It is first valuable to note that the “white=privilege” framework is simplistic and is not able to capture many instances (you can be white and poor or non-white and successful). The Both/And approach will reveal a more nuanced reality. First, most Israelis are not “white” and, in fact, many come from Arab countries.
Interestingly, during 1948, when Israel was established and the Palestinian refugee crisis began, roughly the same amount of Jewish refugees had to flee their homes in the Arab world – about 800,000 people. So, both the Jewish and Palestinian people’s history is associated with being refugees and neither is “white.” Who should we criticize?
The Either/Or approach of the conflict has led people to be either critical of, and put all blame on Israel or critical of, and put all blame on Hamas and the Palestinians. The Both/And approach suggests that most of the time, the reality is more multi-layered. Israel is rightly perceived as the stronger actor, with a successful economy and strong military. Viewing itself as part of the Western developed world by holding similar values, Israel is disproportionally singled out for some of its actions in the context of the conflict.
Although mistakes have been made, and some of Israel’s policies and actions can be criticized, there is no logical reason to de-legitimize the country. Further, on Oct. 7, the country faced a brutal attack by Hamas, catching it off guard militarily, socially, and politically. On the other side, the Palestinians, deserving a state to reflect their self-determination, have not established effective institutions and governance systems to be able to avoid the fate of “failed nation.”
At the same time, in the West Bank, the lives of Palestinians are far from being easy, also because of Israeli policies. Finally, the extreme, jihadist branch of the Palestinians – Hamas – has demonstrated hate, evil and corruption, and is as far as can be from the values liberals in the West hold dear. Their Oct. 7 attack and strategy of hiding within and under civilians have led to a huge tragedy for Gazans. Overall, a Both/And approach could lead one to be both pro-Israel (or at the minimum empathize with Israelis) and pro-Palestinian (or at the minimum empathize with Palestinians), and at the same time be anti-Hamas.
Moving away from an Either/Or approach and adopting a Both/And thinking will not solve the conflict. But it might allow for more people to become open to learn more and listen, accept that reality is often more complicated than portrayed in social media, and be engaged with others in a more useful way. It can also enable us to reframe some of the questions we ask around the conflict. Rather than “Who is the one to blame?” or “Who is the victim?” we can start asking questions such as “How can we combine tradition and modernity in the Middle East” or “How can we create realistic hope”?
This is an opportunity for learning, in the context of the current conflict, but more broadly, a Both/And thinking can serve us well as individuals, organizations and societies, helping us address the many conflicts and underlying paradoxes around us.
13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture
The Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC) is the world’s largest celebration of indigenous Pacific Islanders. The South Pacific Commission (now The Pacific Community - SPC) launched this dynamic showcase of arts and culture in 1972 to halt the erosion of traditional practices through ongoing cultural exchange. The 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture, will convene in Hawaiʻi, 6–16 June 2024. “Ho‘oulu Lāhui: Regenerating Oceania” will serve as the theme of FestPAC Hawaiʻi 2024, honoring the traditions that FestPAC exists to perpetuate with an eye toward the future.
Human Rights Foundation
This week, our community of human rights defenders and democracy advocates reunited in Oslo, Norway, for the 16th annual Oslo Freedom Forum. Over three days, attendees heard talks from leading activists and industry leaders, explored interactive art and tech installations, and discussed the struggle for freedom through exciting panels and workshops.You can re-watch all theater talks at oslofreedomforum.com and on our YouTube page. Share these links with your family and friends so they can hear these incredible stories for themselves.
This year’s theme, Reclaim Democracy, emphasizes the pivotal role every individual — speaker and participant alike — plays within the global movement for liberal democracy and basic human rights. We encourage you to continue your involvement beyond the Oslo Freedom Forum, supporting activists and exchanging valuable tools, knowledge, and resources in the struggle for freedom.
Adam Schiff for Senate in Boston June 6
RefugePoint first quarter report 2024
Highlights from our 2024 First Quarter Report include:
In February, RefugePoint staff traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with staff from the National Security Council, the State Department, and the World Bank, among others, to discuss refugee self-reliance. Our aim is to help more refugees pursue livelihoods wherever they are and achieve economic and social inclusion.
RefugePoint helped 4,419 refugees access pathways to relocate to safety, including resettlement, family reunification, employment, sponsorship, and other pathways, from 100 locations in 26 countries worldwide.
RefugePoint staff interviewed this family in order to submit their case for resettlement at a refugee camp in Rwanda. Photo: Chris Jensen
Our staff conducted and reviewed child protection assessments for 432 refugee children.
98 clients reached a point of self-reliance and graduated from our Urban Refugee Protection Program in Nairobi, Kenya.
Our staff trained 138 individuals from UNHCR and partner organizations on topics ranging from child protection to resettlement and other pathways.
Helping refugees settle in the U.S., one family at a time, by Sasha Chanoff, WBUR (Cognoscenti)
Darren Kew named new Dean of the USD Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
Convisero mentor Darren Kew joins as the new Dean at the University of San Diego. Below is an except from their press release: https://www.sandiego.edu/news/detail.php?_focus=92248
The University of San Diego is pleased to announce the appointment of Darren Kew, Ph.D., as the new Dean of the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, effective July 1, 2024.
Dr. Kew holds a Ph.D. from Tufts University and brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and international relations. He is a professor and former Chair of the Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security, and Global Governance, and Executive Director of the Center for Peace, Democracy, and Development at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Additionally, Dr. Kew has advised democracy and peace initiatives to the United Nations, USAID, US State Department, and several NGOs, including the Carter Center and the Nobel Peace Prize-nominated Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, Nigeria.
An author and researcher, Dr. Kew's work focuses on the relationship between conflict resolution methods and democratic development in Africa, particularly in Nigeria. His research interests encompass a wide range of topics including civil society, international security, culture, religion, and nation-building. He also recently spent several months doing comparative research in Northern Ireland on a Fulbright award at Queens University, Belfast.
The 2024 Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony
About the Ceremony
The Joint Memorial Day Ceremony, organized by Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle – Families Forum, is the largest Israeli-Palestinian jointly organized peace event in history. The Joint Memorial Ceremony provides a unique opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians to grieve together and stand strong in demanding an end to the occupation and ongoing violence. The ceremony occurs yearly on the eve of Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day). In Israeli mainstream culture, the ceremonies that are most often held to honor this day serve to reinforce cultural narratives of pain, victimhood, and hopelessness. The Joint Memorial transforms this narrative by bringing Palestinians to the Memorial alongside Israelis to mourn side by side and model another way forward.
It was an honor to be together online yesterday for the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Day Ceremony. We are grateful to the thousands who joined us from all over the world. There were over 200 satellite ceremonies in Israel and Palestine, approximately 175 in the US, and many more in South Africa, France, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, Afghanistan, Spain, the UK, Australia, Japan, Ireland, Canada, and more.
As many of you know, despite our efforts to safeguard the event, the Combatants for Peace YouTube channel appears to have been hacked and we are investigating what happened. Despite this, Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle-Families Forum were able to broadcast via Facebook and regained access to YouTube.
AFCFP board president, Gili Getz, reflected on the ceremony: “Drowning in darkness and despair, we came together to mourn with the families of Israelis and Palestinians who lost members to violence. We gathered in Beit Jala because our Palestinian partners do not have permits to travel to Tel Aviv to be at the ceremony. It is clear that they are trying to keep us apart. Despite these obstacles, our faith is in each other, and our path is grounded in humanity. We all call this land home, and we believe supremacy, violence, fanaticism, occupation, and oppression are not the way. They will not keep anyone free or safe. The movement holds a sacred space for me. It gives me light, hope, and air. It is difficult for both societies to accept this path, but it’s a path that we believe in. We are a reference point to all who seek another way: the path of peace rather than separation and hate. We should all be able to thrive in this sacred land together. I’m filled with deep gratitude to all the hard work, care, and love so many Palestinians and Israelis put in to make this happen during these extremely challenging times. And to our supporters all over the world who watched the ceremony in solidarity at hundreds of events.”
Immediately following the Ceremony, AFCFP and American Friends of the Parents Circle - Families Forum hosted a powerful conversation with bereaved Palestinian, Musa Juma’a and bereaved Israeli, Maoz Inon. You can watch the recording here.
Presenting the "Halas Deal" for the Biden-Harris Administration
To review the full presentation, please see the link here: https://www.halasdeal.com/english
Vinyl Revival with Bob Schuman
Mona Mowafi
Mona Mowafi is Co-founder and President of RISE Egypt, a global nonprofit that is leveraging its network of top experts, investors, and researchers to accelerate entrepreneurship for development in Egypt. Its mission is to find, support, and scale enterprises that create positive social impact, are financially sustainable, and address policy challenges of national significance. Mona was also Co-founder and President of Egypt NEGMA from 2011-2013, and was Chair of its 1st Annual NEGMA Conference and Impact Egypt! Social Innovation Competition. She has received numerous awards for her work including a global health research award by the Global Health Council in 2011, the Judith O’Connor Award for emerging nonprofit leaders from Boardsource in 2012, and a national leadership award by Americorps Alums in 2014 for her ongoing commitment to global development through service-learning. She has published widely in her field and has frequently lectured on the role of people-driven development in Egypt. Mona holds a doctorate in Social Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health, where she currently remains affiliated as a Visiting Research Scientist.
Jenna Sirkin
Jenna is a principal research scientist who uses qualitative, implementation science, survey, econometric, and community-based participatory research methods. Her scholarship focuses on Medicaid/Medicare financing and delivery, state health policy, behavioral health access and integration, care delivery transformation in primary care and safety-net systems, and community health and well-being.
Her portfolio for the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) includes mixed-methods evaluations of state payment and delivery models, such as the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization Model, the Pennsylvania Rural Health Model, and Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program. Her work with agencies, foundations, and local organizations examines the effectiveness of evidence-based models for care delivery, access, and coordination across community-based settings. She also has a portfolio of work focused on professional well-being and factors associated with access to care.
She was formerly at Abt Associates, adjunct faculty at Northeastern University and associate director of the Brandeis University Council on Health Care Economics and Policy. She engages with community members, policymakers, and implementation partners throughout the design, research, and dissemination process. She brings international development experience and is co-author of Breaking the Poverty Cycle: The Human Basis for Sustainable Development as a Rotary Fellow in Mexico City.
Alexander Busse
Mr. Alexander Busse serves as General Partner at NXTP Ventures. He also serves as Board Member at Worcket and previously served on the board of Kangu. Prior to NXTP, Alex worked in various investment funds and financial institutions and most recently worked at New York-based private equity fund, Conduit Capital, investing controlling stakes in private companies across Latin America and the Caribbean. He holds a BA from Tufts University in Boston and a master's degree from Columbia University in New York.
Alex Zerden
Alex Zerden is the founder and principal of Capital Peak Strategies LLC, a FinTech, digital asset, and emerging technologies advisory firm.
As a regulatory lawyer, economic policymaker, and financial diplomat, Alex brings fifteen years of public and private sector experience at the intersection of financial services, national security, and law with a focus on financial regulation, anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), economic sanctions, anti-corruption, financial enforcement and oversight investigations, economic crisis response, and public-private partnerships.
Alex began his career representing U.S. and international victims of terrorism. He has worked across the U.S. government to protect the financial system from abuse and promote economic growth, including at the Treasury Department, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), White House National Economic Council, House of Representatives, and Senate. From 2018-2019, Alex deployed to Afghanistan to lead the Treasury Department office at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
Alex has published extensively on issues involving AML/CFT, economic sanctions, anti-corruption, cybersecurity, and FinTech, including with the American Banker, Atlantic Council, Lawfare Blog, Center for American Progress, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Blog, and has been quoted and interviewed in media outlets including Al Jazeera, BBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business News, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.
Alex received his B.A., cum laude, from Tufts University, and his J.D., summa cum laude, from the American University Washington College of Law. He is also a Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Term Member and a former CNAS Next Generation National Security Fellow.
Ken Vacovec
Kenneth J. Vacovec, the founding partner of the firm, practices in all areas of tax law including tax planning for businesses and individuals, estate planning, representation before Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities, international tax planning for individuals and businesses, international estate planning, and tax compliance.
Ken, who is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, has extensive experience in advising clients on the tax aspects and planning opportunities for structuring domestic and cross border transactions and business relationships involving U.S. and foreign individuals and businesses. He graduated from Tufts University (BA 1969), Suffolk University Law School (JD, cum laude, 1975) and the Boston University Law School (LL.M in Taxation, 1976).
Ken is a member of the bars of Massachusetts and the United States Federal District Court of Massachusetts and the United States Tax Court. He has been an active participant in the Massachusetts Bar Association, most recently as President (1996-97). He is currently a Trustee and President of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation and a Trustee and executive Vice President of Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. He is also a member of the Boston Bar and American Bar Associations where he was a Massachusetts Delegate to the ABA house of Delegates 1996-2001 and is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is a member of the International Fiscal Association and member of the United States Branch Council.
He is the National Reporter for the IFA world congress Oslo Norway 2002 Reporting on U.S. Tax Residency.
Ken speaks regularly on tax topics before both business and professional groups. He was one of the original seminar presenters for Massachusetts Partners for Trade.
Publications
Co-author of U.S. Foreign Tax Credit for Corporate Tax payers IBFD Bulletin special Issue IFA 55 Congress San Francisco, CA. USA.
Co-author, “Taxation in the United States,” International Taxation of Employment Manual, F.T. Law and Tax (U.K.), 1995;
Tyler Peppel to guest lecture at Sai University
Convisero mentor Tyler Peppel presented at the Global Challenges colloquium.
Voices of Grief Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony
Immediately following the 19th Annual Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony, we will gather online to hear from bereaved Palestinian and Israeli peacemakers who are transforming their losses into catalysts for hope. Come hear from Musa Juma’a and Maoz Inon.
Sunday, May 12th
2:30 PM EST (9:30 PM Jerusalem, 7:30 PM London)
(Simultaneous translation to English, Arabic, and Hebrew will be available)
Speakers
Musa Juma’a was born in Jerusalem, and studied and graduated in its streets. He is a 37-year-old doctor and writer who has family in both the West Bank and Gaza. Musa’s aunt and 8 of his cousins were recently killed in Gaza. Musa is working to end the occupation and believes peace cannot be separated from freedom.
Maoz Inon is an award-winning Israeli social entrepreneur, peace activist, and the founder of several tourism initiatives within Israel and the Middle East. Since his parents were killed on Israel on October 7, 2023, Inon has become a leading voice for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.