Sami Awad is trying to encourage peace in areas of conflict.
Dr Awad, a Palestinian Christian and the founder and executive director of the Holy Land Trust, was in Dunedin this week as guest speaker at the Dunedin Abrahamic Interfaith Group's annual peace lecture.
The Holy Land Trust is a not-for-profit organisation which was founded on strong principles of non-violence as the catalyst to end all conflict and establish comprehensive peace in the Holy Land.
During the lecture, which was attended by about 250 people, Dr Awad shared his journey towards becoming a peacemaker, his family history and the realities of life.
Peace was not just about reaching an agreement, it was about engaging with one another and making each other feel equal, Dr Awad said.
"We all can do something to allow that to move forward.''
A lack of mutual trust between groups, especially between Israelis and Palestinians, was preventing a viable peace process.
Dr Awad said it was important to break the stereotypes surrounding religion and believed religion could be the solution to conflict, not the problem.
He encouraged people to engage with their communities, work together and put themselves in other people's shoes.
"Do they feel equal? If not, what can we do about it?''
While Dr Awad was in the country, he held workshops and seminars in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch before finishing his two-week trip in Dunedin.
He loved New Zealand and said the people were very "hospitable and nice''.
"The people are amazing.''
JESSICA.WILSON @thestar.co.nz
