FILM PARTICIPANTS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
SULAIMAN KHATIB
Raised in the village of Hizme in northeast Jerusalem, Suliman joined the “Fatah” movement when he was 12 years old. At the age of 13, he was arrested for attacking two Israelis served 10 years in Israeli prison. Suliman is a Co-Founder and current Director of Combatants for Peace.
CHEN ALON
Chen served for four years in the Israeli army and then for 10 years as an operations officer in the reserves. Later, he signed a petition initiated by soldiers and officers refusing to serve in the occupied territories–the “Courage to Refuse Letter.” He is a Co-Founder of Combatants for Peace. Chen is a theatre director, facilitator and lecturer at Tel Aviv University.
JAMEL QASSAS
Jamel was born in the Deheisha refugee camp outside of Bethlehem. His brother was killed by the IDF during the 1st intifada. He went to jail 13 times for his participation in the 1st intifada. He is a member of The Parents Circle – Families Forum as well as Combatants for Peace. He works in construction and continues to live in Deheisha with his wife and children.
AVNER WISHNITZER
Avner was born and raised in Kibbutz Kvutsat Shiller. Between 1994 and 1998 he served as a combatant in the elite unit Sayeret Matkal. In late 2003 he was part of a group of soldiers and officers in that unit who publicly refused to serve in the occupied territories. Avner is a co-founder of Combatants for Peace. In 2010 he was awarded the Goldberg IEE Prize for Peace in the Middle East, together with CFP co-founder Bassam Aramin. He is a professor of Ottoman History and resides with his family in Jerusalem.
SHIFA AL-QUDSI
Shifa al-Qudsi From the West Bank town of Tulkarem, as a 24-year-old beauty technician, Shifa was recruited to blow up a supermarket in the nearby Israeli town of Netanya. Before she could complete her mission, Shifa was arrested and later convicted. She served a six year sentence in prison. There, Shifa realized that many Israelis wanted peace as well. She joined Combatants for Peace after her release from prison. Shifa still lives in Tulkarem in Palestine.
MAIA HASCAL
Born in Nofit village in northern Israel, Maya is a social worker who volunteered for reserve duty after finishing her mandatory service in the Israeli Defense Forces. Following a traumatic event, as she became increasingly aware of the effects of the Occupation on both the Palestinians and Israeli soldiers needing to enforce it, she realized a different path must be taken. Maia joined Combatants for Peace in an effort to resolve this situation through non-violence.
MOHAMMED OWEDAH
Mohammed was born in Silwan, East Jerusalem. As a teenager, he was involved in illegal violent anti-occupation activities and served time in prison. Mohammed lives in East Jerusalem and is now a social worker and activist for peace.
ASSAF YACOBOVITZ
Assaf served as an officer in the Israeli Airforce. After taking part in Operation Cast Lead (the first Gaza War) he joined Combatants for Peace. Assaf is a psychologist who lives in Tel Aviv.