OneVoice Signature Drive Launched by Foremost Palestinian, Israeli Leaders
Diplomatic efforts, including the recently unveiled Roadmap, need to be buttressed and supported by a clear mandate of legitimacy from the people on the ground in order to withstand efforts from violent extremists to derail any potential compromise.
OneVoice is poised to amplify the voice of the silent majority and help them achieve a historic grassroots consensus for conflict resolution.
We have a rare window of opportunity. Strengthening moderates is more crucial than ever. Monumental momentum is gathering as foremost Palestinian and Israeli leaders that are traditionally on opposite sides of the table join forces as OneVoice against extremism and for non-violent conflict resolution.
Below are some of the recent achievements of this formidable group in the Middle East.
***SIGNATURE DRIVE LAUNCHED: The First Stage of the OneVoice Campaign has commenced. Israelis, Palestinians, and supporters worldwide can now sign the Proclamation of Principles for Reconciliation online at http://www.silentnolonger.com
A site in Hebrew is also available online now: http://www.pe1.org.il/. As soon as the Arabic site is also online, you will receive an email designed to encourage others to sign up. In the meantime, please sign up yourself.
***PALESTINIAN TEAM COMMENCES SIGNATURE DRIVE ON THE GROUND: Under the leadership of Dr. Fathi Darwish, 15 Palestinian trainers began recruiting outreach team members and traveling across Palestinian towns, villages and refugee camps to gather signatures. In the Jenin refugee camp alone, 18 workshops were conducted and 45 field workers gathered signatures for this historic effort.
***ISRAELIS UNVEIL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN AT PUBLIC LAUNCH: Honorary Board Members including Likud MK and Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Michael Ratzon, Labor MK and former General Matan Vilnai, and Meimad Party leader Rabbi Michael Malcior participated in the official launch by the Israeli team of OneVoice. Executive Director David Leffler unveiled a multimedia public service campaign developed by Tzur Hachmon Ltd., a premier advertising firm.
***FOREMOST PALESTINIAN AND ISRAELI LEADERS JOIN ONEVOICE: In addition to the above Israeli leaders, prominent Palestinian businessman Yasser Abbas, head of PalTech, joined OneVoice’s Steering Committee. Abbas is the son of incoming Prime Minister Abu Mazen. Sheikh Taysir Tamimi, head of the Islamic Court, and Zahira Kamal, head of Women Affairs in the Palestinian Authority, joined the Honorary Board.
***FIRST ANNUAL BOARD MEETING HELD IN NYC: Dignitaries, global business leaders, and religious authorities gathered with the OneVoice Executive team on May 13th in the offices of Soros Fund Management to review and polish the initiative’s strategic plan and direction.
***MEDIA COVERAGE: OneVoice went public this May, with enthusiastic reporting from dozens of outlets, including Jerusalem Post, Voice of America, Associated Press, NBC, Jerusalem Report, and CBS. Mideast Regional Director Mohammad Darawshe was interviewed on the highest-rated radio shows in Arabic and Hebrew.
***VITAL STATISTICS***
Number of
BODY Members Web Access
Steering Committee 13 www.silentnolonger.org/wwa_steering.html
Honorary Board Advisors 17 www.silentnolonger.org/wwa_hon_advisors.html
Board of Trustees 16 www.silentnolonger.org/wwa_trustees.html
Council of Experts 7 To be Unveiled in July
Ad Hoc Advisory Council 239 http://www.silentnolonger.com/wwa_adhoc.html
Entertainment Council 26 http://silentnolonger.com/wwa_entcouncil.html
Staff/Core Volunteers 16/25 http://www.silentnolonger.com/wwa_team.html
Donors/Members 181 http://www.silentnolonger.com/op_support.html
Committed Volunteers 86 N/A
Exec. Supporters List 638 N/A
Gen. Supporters List 1087 N/A
Total Number Involved 2068 N/A
Member Organizations 22 http://www.silentnolonger.com/op_orgs.html
Proclamation Signatories2305 http://www.silentnolonger.com/wycd_resolution.html
People's Mandate Sign - Not Yet Developed
Number of Core Issues On Which
Broad Consensus Has Been Attained None Yet
If you have ever wondered how you can break the shackles of terror that extremists have placed on the minds of millions, if you have ever wondered if there is a way to rescue an entire region that has been hijacked by fear, intolerance and hatred, and if you have ever wondered if there is anything you can do to help, here is your answer. Here is a way for you to make a difference, a concrete way for you to empower moderates to seize back the agenda – and their lives. Join us in making history, now and today, with all your might. Your participation and support is essential. Silence, apathy, and inaction are a proxy for others to speak for you. Do all you can so that we all together, joining as OneVoice, will help channel the frustrations of millions into a powerful movement that will extend a mantle of legitimacy for a historic resolution of the conflict.
