23,000 Palestinians & Israelis Join OneVoice Mov't Against Violent Extremism

***  Twenty Three Thousand Palestinians and Israelis Join Grassroots Movement
***  Gaza-based OneVoice Activists Risk All—Recruit 8,000 Members!
***  Experts to Meet at Rockefeller Summit, Define Pillars for Conflict Resolution
***  WEF Founder, UK Chief Rabbi, Palestinian, Israeli leaders join Honorary Board
***  Action Item: SIGN THE PROCLAMATION
***  Vital Statistics
***  Restatement of OneVoice’s Mission and Vision

*** TWENTY THREE THOUSAND PALESTINIANS & ISRAELIS JOIN OV!

OneVoice committed to recruit 10,000 members to join the movement during the summer.  The goal was exceeded, with 23,000 people as of late August signing on to the Proclamation of Principles and pledging to participate in the movement.  This was accomplished with no advertising or publicity – just through our member networks and grassroots organization.  Scores of volunteers, field workers, and trainers participated. 

Israelis from Labor, Shinui, Shas, Likud and Meretz, among others, participated.  Membership drives included Galil-Elion, Givat Shmuel, Haifa, Hertzliyah, Holon, Kfar Saba, Kfar Kasem, Lod, Mahanot Haolim, Male Gilboa, Ramat Efal, Ramat Hasharon, Shoham, Tiberias, and several Kibbutzim.  Over 1000 Druze and 1000 Arab-Israeli citizens also joined in.

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*** GAZA-BASED OV ACTIVISTS RISK ALL—RECRUIT 8,000 MEMBERS!

In Gaza alone, 8,000 Palestinians joined the movement, in spite of the volatile situation during August.  Members agreed to actively stand up against violent extremism, amidst an atmosphere of charged resentment against target assassinations, recognizing that this movement provides them the most concrete prospects of ending the occupation and for achieving peace.  Three training sessions were conducted in Gaza for 15 field workers.  Dozens of workshops were conducted in the various towns of the Gaza strip: Gaza City, Jabalia camp, Beit Lahia, Beit Khanoun, Khan Youness, and Rafah.

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*** EXPERTS TO MEET AT ROCKEFELLER SUMMIT, DEFINE PILLARS FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION

On September 21st, the OneVoice Council of Experts, including foremost Palestinian and Israeli scholars, will gather at the Pocantico Estate of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund in Upstate NY, under the auspices of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, The Sol Goldman Charitable Trust, and the Nathan Cummings Foundation, to synthesize ten proposed pillars for conflict resolution.  These ten substantive proposals will be shared with millions of Israelis and Palestinians in a historical extra-political plebiscite this fall, allowing them for the first time to vote on a vision for how to resolve the conflict and participate in broad-based negotiations to achieve a popular consensus for conflict resolution.

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***  WEF FOUNDER, UK CHIEF RABBI, PALESTINIAN, ISRAELI LEADERS JOIN HONORARY BOARD

Foremost dignitaries have joined the distinguished list of members serving on the PeaceWorks Foundation’s OneVoice Honorary Board.  Some of our new members include:

Dr. Fathi Arafat, Former President, Palestinian Red Crescent Society
Avishay Braverman, President, Ben Gurion University
Gilad Erdan, Likud Member of Knesset
Stanley Gold, CEO, Shamrock Holdings
Eti Livny, Shinui Member of Knesset
Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of United Kingdom and
Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and President, World Economic Forum

You may also view the bios of original members of the Honorary Board at http://www.silentnolonger.com/wwa_hon_advisors.html 

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*** ACTION ITEM: SIGN THE PROCLAMATION

If you haven't signed the proclamation already, do so now.  Your voice counts.  Demonstrate your support towards non-violent conflict resolution.  Strengthen moderates in order to isolate violent extremists.  Sign up Now:
Arabic: http://www.onevoice-palestine.org/procla.html
English: http://www.silentnolonger.com/wycd_proclamation.html
Hebrew: http://www.pe1.org.il/proc.html

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***VITAL STATISTICS***
 
   Number of
BODY   Members  Web Access

Steering Committee 13  www.silentnolonger.org/wwa_steering.html 
Honorary Board Advisors 22  www.silentnolonger.org/wwa_hon_advisors.html
Board of Trustees  22  www.silentnolonger.org/wwa_trustees.html
Council of Experts 12  TBA
Ad Hoc Advisory Council 248  http://www.silentnolonger.com/wwa_adhoc.html
Entertainment Council 31  http://silentnolonger.com/wwa_entcouncil.html
Staff/Core Volunteers 22/33  http://www.silentnolonger.com/wwa_team.html
Donors   241  http://www.silentnolonger.com/op_support.html
Committed Volunteers 132  N/A
Exec. Supporters List 785  N/A
Gen. Supporters List 1256  N/A
Member Organizations 28  http://www.silentnolonger.com/op_orgs.html
Signatory Members  23,114 http://www.silentnolonger.com/wycd_resolution.html
Total Number Involved 25,871 est N/A

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***OUR VISION***
We can and will amplify the heretofore silent voice of the overwhelming majority; we can and will empower moderates to seize back the agenda from violent extremists and to support diplomatic progress. Hard work lies ahead. But we will not waver, for too much is at stake. Our goal is to achieve consensus for conflict resolution at the grassroots level, with a People's Mandate containing ten key points of agreement based on security, dignity, respect, and the right to build a better future for the next generation of Palestinians and Israelis-supported and signed on to by the broadest segment of the population we can reach, through a variety of innovative platforms. See www.silentnolonger.org/wwd_work.html.  In addition, we seek to mobilize citizenry to stand as guardians for diplomacy and prevent violent extremists from derailing diplomatic efforts at conflict resolution.

The potential of this movement is nothing less than historic in magnitude. Our methodology provides a concrete path towards constructively unleashing the power of the people, bestowing upon them the responsibility and the ability to take back their lives-to make a difference with their united voice. With the challenges our civilization is facing, it is imperative that this initiative succeed. Make the pledge to get involved, and be a part of the solution.