Rami Elhanan
Rami is one of the two protagonists of the story and is central to the novel's developing connection between him and Bassam. He is an Israeli and we see that he is willing to overcome many barriers to find common ground with the 'enemy'. Rami fought for Israel in their army, however, he stopped and is now a veteran turned graphic designer instead and wishes to lead a more settled, traditional family life. Sadly, his world is shattered when he loses his daughter but it is in forging a friendship with Bassam that he begins to truly heal.
Smadar Elhanan
Smadar is the daughter of Rami and Nurit, and was tragically killed at the age of thirteen in a suicide bombing that took place in 1997, in Jerusalem. When Smadar was killed, she had previously been purchasing new books for school and is, therefore, an important reference to the position of women and their access to education in Israel. Her death is a hugely significant moment in her family's life, but particularly her father's and we see this impact as the novel unfolds.
Nurit Peled-Elhanan
Nurit is a strong-willed woman, who is independent and passionate about what she does. This fiery spirit was passed down to both of her children, Smadar and Elik. Her father is a general in the Israeli army, and yet she became a protester for peace and a lack of violence, in contrast with the exposure she was given through her insight into her father's life. While she is not looked at in detail by McCann, we know that she campaigns for the improvement of fundamental human rights and it a Hebrew professor at a university.
Bassam Aramin
Bassam is the father of Abir and is the other main protagonist in the novel. He similarly breaks down his existing presumptions to form a friendship with an unlikely person, an Israeli, a person that from a young age he has been brought up to hate and despise. Bassam is Palestinian and was born in a cave before being forced to flee by Israeli soldiers and he was later jailed at the age of 17 as he planned to make an attack against the country of Israel. After coming out of prison 7 years later, he created a non-violence movement between Israelis and Palestinians called the Combatants of Peace.
Abir Aramin
Abir is the ten-year-old daughter of Bassam, who was unfortunately killed when a border police officer from Israel shot her with a rubber bullet. She draws a similarity to Smadar in the sense that she was committing an innocent act when she was killed, in this case, she had found a bracelet made of sweets and was just about to buy it. Her death inspires Bassam to take peaceful actions and to meet with Rami.
