By: Sami Jamil Jadallah
Many will understandably ask: “Why another peace institute when so many already exist?” This is a fair question that deserves a clear answer about our project and mission.
The Islamic Peace Institute does not claim we will solve all conflicts with a magic wand or bring universal peace and reconciliation. We cannot and do not intend to compete with leading international peace institutions that have operated for decades with hundreds of millions in funding—yet we see their limited results daily in the Middle East, South Asia, Central and Latin America, and even in Europe’s heart.
What We Will NOT Do
We are not focused on solving the Israeli Palestinian-Arab-Muslim conflicts. Many organizations have engaged with this conflict for over 70 years with absolute failure. The October 7 attack and subsequent destruction in Gaza, along with escalating settler violence in the West Bank, demonstrate this clearly.
If major international organizations—the UN, Arab League, EU, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation—could not stop a war that has consumed hundreds of thousands of Palestinian lives after 657 days, the Islamic Peace Institute cannot tackle this conflict. While we acknowledge the horrific October 7 attack on Israel and the loss of civilian and military lives, we must also recognize 37 years of occupation and 17 years of total siege on Gaza. Both Israeli and Palestinian hostages deserve attention, but this remains outside our core mission.
When Israelis are genuinely ready for peace, we may consider involvement. Until then, this conflict lies beyond our scope.
Our Core Mission
Our focus centers on conflicts within Muslim-majority countries and Muslim communities in non-Muslim nations. We will address historical grievances and ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, North Africa, and the Sahel.
We will examine:
- Institutional and historical marginalization within Muslim countries
- Well-funded institutional Islamophobia facing Muslim communities in Europe, the US, Africa, Australia, and India
We reject the absurd notion that Israel qualifies as a guardian of Druze or Kurdish populations in Syria.
Our Approach
We cannot solve all long-lasting issues, but we commit to addressing the historical grievances that fuel these conflicts. Our goal is deploying “Peace Ambassadors” in conflict areas as permanent field staff, working toward sustainable solutions rooted in understanding these deep-seated problems.
This focused approach distinguishes us from existing institutions and justifies our establishment as a specialized organization serving underaddressed communities and conflicts.
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