For the first time in 33 years, the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur and the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha fell on exactly the same day. Charles Sennott, co-founder of GlobalPost and head of The Ground Truth Project, joined Boston Public Radio on the line from Jerusalem to discuss how the quiet peace of the day was a victory for a city that has recently been home to more violence than celebration.
"Today was an extraordinary day to feel all the positive energy of Jerusalem," Sennott said.
He continued: "I really felt like I got a unique sense of the hope of Jerusalem, the positive energy that could come through if they can ever figure out this peace process."
"If they can ever realize that both sides are going to have to achieve their goals -- you're going to have to have a situation where the Israelis accomplish the security that they desire, and the Palestinians get the viable state they need."
But despite the day of celebration, Sennott said the leadership's unwillingness to negotiate with more moderate partners on both sides may compromise a lasting peace.
"Everyone I talk to, Israeli and Palestinian alike, if I were to take away a majority sense -- it's just this feeling they've been let down by their leadership on both sides," Sennott said.
To hear more from Charles Sennott -- including his take on the fight against the Islamic State -- tune in to the full interview on Boston Public Radio, above. To read more from Sennott on his experience in Jersualem during Yom Kippur and Eid al-Adha, read his blog here.
