When a Palestinian peace activist who spent a decade in Israeli prison decides to share his life story, asking an American Jewish ally to write his biography might seem like an unusual way to go. But Sulaiman “Souli” Khatib has devoted his adult life to promoting understanding between Israelis and Palestinians, and working with such a partner was a deliberate choice.
Khatib’s story, “In This Place Together: A Palestinian’s Journey to Collective Liberation,” is told with the help of Oakland writer-editor Penina Eilberg-Schwartz, 34. Khatib, 49, co-founded Combatants for Peace, a group of Palestinian activists and former Israeli soldiers who have joined forces to end the conflict.