Palestinian civil engineer Ali Bushnaq is leaving his "comfortable" day job to climb Everest, the world's highest and deadliest peak that has claimed more than a hundred lives.
He will not be alone. Climbing alongside him in this 29,000 ft trek for peace are eight other professionals from all over the world, including two Israelis.
From April to June, the team will brave chilly slopes, hypothermia, the possibility of loosing body parts to frostbite, and other dangers that could claim their lives in one swoop.
But it's worth it, Ali says of the climb. "Peace has been in the agenda for many years, but little improvement is happening," he says, "we are just giving it a push".
Proceeds from the climb will go to building a school and libraries for Nepal's mountain children.
The expedition comes at a time when there is peace deadlock in the world: Palestinian and Israeli tension in the Middle East, sectarian violence in Iraq, tension over Iran's nuclear ambitions, riots in France and elsewhere.
Climbing with Israelis, Ali admits it was "a little bit weird" at first, but past the stereotyping, he saw only real people who share his passion for climbing. "We even have the same taste in coffee!" he says.
Israeli mountain climber David Yifrah, for instance, saved the life of another climber suffering from cerebral and pulmonary edema. "I know him better now," he says.
Ali and his team mates - including one Buddhist and two Christian Americans, a Christian South African, a Hindu from India, and an atheist from New Zealand - have already scaled Kilimanjaro and Mount Shasta in California to prepare for Everest.
And no, they won't be at each other's throats. "We get along and we work together. We are doing what we enjoy - climbing. We hope to show the world that peace is possible and everyone can get along," he says.
