Palestinian political leader Faisal Husseini (born 1940) began his career in the 1960s with the Palestinian Liberation Organization when it was known for its terrorist activities. He managed to shed that image over the years to emerge as an advocate for peace in the region. After spending the turbulent 1980s in and out of jail and under house arrest for being a member of the PLO, Husseini has gained acceptance in the peace process as a moderate negotiator.

As a senior official in the Palestinian National Authority headed by Yasir Arafat, Husseini champions compromises between Palestinians and Israel, hoping that one day Palestine can coexist as a state and hold Jerusalem as its capital. Extremists on both sides denounce his work and offer death threats, but he has persisted. He even visualizes that Israel and Palestine can someday join forces with other Middle Eastern nations to form a regional...