Who We Are
Combatants for Peace is a grassroots movement of Israelis & Palestinians
who believe in:
Nonviolence
We believe in nonviolence as a tactic and a way of life. Nonviolence is not just the absence of violence but a form of peaceful creative resistance that has the power to transform both ourselves and our reality. Even when faced with violence - both direct and systematic - we always choose nonviolence, trusting that it will guide us toward a long lasting peace rooted in justice and equality.
Co-resistance
As a bi-national movement we are committed to co-resisting oppression, united as partners in our joint nonviolent actions. We acknowledge the difference in power dynamics between Israelis and Palestinians and leverage our privileges in working together to co-resist injustice.
Collective Liberation
Collective liberation emphasizes that the struggle for peace, security and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis is interconnected. We acknowledge that both communities are impacted by the systems of oppression, and that a true peace can only be achieved when all parties are free from the chains of occupation, discrimination, and inequality.
Peace rooted in justice & equality
We believe that peace means building a reality based on justice and equality, and not simply an end to conflict or accepting the status quo. We support political imagination that furthers a solution based on justice and equality for all people between the river and the sea. Our work focuses on both grassroots initiatives and political advocacy that maintain this vision.
Shared Humanity
We recognize the pain and human suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis. We refrain from comparing or competing about "who is suffering more" because we know that pain is not a contest—every human life is valuable. As a movement that puts human lives at the center of its activity, we insist on keeping our hearts open to the suffering of both peoples and our minds open to the perspectives of both Palestinians and Israelis.
It is not “us” or “them,” but “us and them.” Both peoples have a past and a future in this land, and both are deserving of dignity, security, and peace. We commit to rejecting narratives that dehumanize the other and stand together in solidarity with the shared belief that no one should be exposed to violence, oppression, or injustice.
Personal Transformation
We believe that transformation occurs on multiple scales—individual, collective, and systemic—and that real, lasting change begins on the individual level. By focusing on personal transformation, we aim to cultivate empathy, trust, and partnership, which are essential elements for building sustainable societies.
We believe in resisting the one-sided narrative that dictates violence as a necessity and an inevitably. We believe that change is possible- that people can change themselves and the reality they live in. This is one of the main foundations of our movement founded by former Israeli and Palestinian combatants, who have undergone this personal transformation from enemies to allies.
Building a different reality
Lasting change is a longterm commitment that requires patience and dedication.
200+
Alumni from our educational youth programs
20
Years of nonviolent co-resistance work with Israeli & Palestinian activists
300,000+
Supporters of our Joint Ceremonies
Our Mission
Combatants for Peace is a grassroots movement of Israelis and Palestinians working together to end the occupation and bring peace, freedom and safety for all people between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean sea.
Committed to joint nonviolence since our inception, we use civil resistance, education and other creative means of activism to transform systems of oppression and build a free and just future based in collective liberation.
Our Story
During the peak of the violence of the Second Intifada, a small group of Israelis from elite military units signed a letter refusing to serve in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This courageous act caused an uproar in Israeli society and even reached the Palestinian media. When a group of former Palestinian fighters heard about the letter, they were interested to meet these Israelis who were against the occupation.
Through many difficult and emotional meetings, a transformational journey began to unfold and trust started to build. These former fighters and soldiers once committed to armed battle decided to join forces to nonviolently co-resist the occupation and build a better future for both their peoples. This lead to the creation of the movement Combatants for Peace in 2006.
Today, we are a movement of Israelis and Palestinians of different backgrounds who support a shared vision for ending the occupation and all systems of oppression, and creating an alternative reality based on peace, safety and collective liberation for all people between the Jordan river and the Mediterranean sea.
Disturbing the Peace
In a world torn by conflict -in a place where the idea of peace has been abandoned-an energy of determined optimism emerges. When someone is willing to disturb the status quo and stand for the dream of a free and secure world, who will stand with them? Disturbing the Peace is a story of the human potential unleashed when we stop participating in a story that no longer serves us and, with the power of our convictions, take action to create new possibilities.
Disturbing the Peace follows former enemy combatants - Israeli soldiers from elite units and Palestinian fighters, many of whom served years in prison - who have joined together to challenge the status quo and say "enough." The film reveals their transformational journeys from soldiers committed to armed battle to nonviolent peace activists, leading to the creation of Combatants for Peace.
There is Another Way
The sequel to the documentary “Disturbing the Peace”, “There is Another Way” tells the story of a group of visionaries who refuse to surrender to violence and injustice, and in doing so show that another path is possible - for them, for us, and for all humanity. As we are all faced with essential questions about who we are, will we choose collective liberation, where the needs, rights, and safety of all are prioritized - in which our humanity comes first, knowing that no one is free until everyone is free.
Combatants for Peace, nominated for two Nobel Peace Prizes, is an extraordinary bi-national group of former enemy combatants - Israelis and Palestinians - working together during an ongoing armed conflict. Faced with the devastation and escalating violence of October 7th and the war in Gaza, the very core of the movement must face great challenges and show that there is another way. The first question they have to face is their own belief…is this possible?
Contact us.
Want to participate in our activities and become a member of our joint nonviolent movement? Contact us with your questions and join the movement today.