Combatants for Peace are former Israeli and Palestinian fighters who no longer see each other as enemies. They forswear violence and advocate together for an end to the Occupation. Abir's father, Bassam Aramin, was formerly a Fatah fighter who spent 7 years in an Israeli prison.  He now heads the Al Quds Association for Democracy and Dialogue.  In 2007, he received the Bremen Peace Award for reconciliation work in the Middle East and the Eliav-Sartawi Award for Middle Eastern Journalism by Search for Common Ground.  Yonatan Shapira, military refuser, was formerly an Israeli fighter pilot in the elite Black Hawk Pilot Squadron. In 2003 he authored  "The Pilot's Letter", refusing to participate in attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Elik Elhanan, military refuser, served as a soldier in an IDF combat unit from 1995-98. In 1997 his sister was killed by a Palestinian suicide bombing in Jerusalem.  He speaks all over the world and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Middle East Studies at Columbia University.

 

The Rebuilding Alliance is a non-profit organization that rebuilds homes and communities in regions of war and occupation, as well as advocating for government policies based on human rights and international law.  The Rebuilding Alliance is coordinating outreach and fundraising for "Abir's Garden: a Safe Place to Grow"  and encouraging constituents to call their elected representatives to ask their help to assure that those responsible for Abir's death are brought to justice.