First of all, if there is going to a peace agreement then on Israel’s part it will have to be supported and negotiated by people who have taken part in violence in leading roles and have the deaths of many people on their conscience. Not just Palestinian lives, but also Israeli lives through their previous role in upkeeping the occupation and the ensued violence as a result. 

So, complaining about Samer Issawi’s previous activity is rather hollow. If one demands only perfect saints to be involved until one is ready to support non-violent protests, then that moment of support will never arrive. Even Gandhi had his faults. Instead one should support what is at hand now, as through support non-violent protests can succeed and show that they can work as an alternative to armed resistance and open a path out of violence and in the end, from the occupation itself.

But for non-violent protests to succeed, they need strong outside support.