OneVoice Movement

more patience with abu maazen

The first days of abu Maazen as the elected president of the Palestinians have been marred by a sequence of terrorist attacks and shelling on Israeli towns. This development has eroded the vast credit and hope Israelis were granting the new administration. But still, according to recent polls, most Israelis are ready for an extended grace period for the Palestinian leader. A considerable understanding exists that Israeli military steps are not helpful for Abu Maazen to combat Hamas and Islamic Jihad. What Israelis seek is a wide popular protest among Palestinians against terrorism, but they don't seem to get it.

Dr. Muli Peleg, One Voice Leadership Project

Getting out the vote in Ramallah

More photos are available in the new Palestinian Elections gallery.

Grassroots Notes on the Palestinian Elections:

Since political parties were prohibited from canvassing on election day, the Palestinian branch of OneVoice was the single organization getting out the vote across the West Bank and Gaza on Sunday, with OV vans blasting out music and canvassers walking into stores to encourage participation.  Hamas had issued a call to boycott the elections amidst concerns that despair and fatalism would discourage voters.  As of the early afternoon, less than 30% of registered voters had shown up at the polls.  By the end, about 70% voted, and Abu Mazen was elected with a strong mandate by 66% to 70% of them.  Below are some stories from the ground.

Walid Wahdan Broadcast a Commanding Message

Walid Wahdan, a Fatah activist who had been jailed for eight years, spoke with a commandeering voice from the loudspeakers atop a OneVoice van.  As the van navigated across the streets of Ramallah, he cried out in militantly non-violent tones: “If you want a democratic state accountable to you, go out & vote now.” 

Vans criss-crossed across Ramallah and across the West Bank and Gaza for 2 weeks of get-out-the-vote events, which included workshops on leadership and democracy, on nonviolent conflict resolution, and on community organization. 

On election day the vans distributed tens of thousands of flyers with statements like “Vote for independence, peace and democracy”, “Participate in the elections for your children’s future,” and “Democracy is everyone’s responsibility.” 

Nationalist music with a strong march-like beat awoke passersby.  Walid interjected: ‘this is a national day. If you want a better future you will go out & vote. Let your voice be heard.’

Kids jumped into the van and grabbed flyers which they flung into the air.  A caravan of cars joined behind honking their horns in unison with the music.

Walid joined OneVoice because “peace can only be achieved through the public” and because “it has to be done by the people.  They have to take their lives back.”

Yussuf: a Bedouin with a vision

Yussuf, a Bedouin from a refugee camp outside Jericho, noticed I was lost.  He asked where I was going and when I said Jericho, he said, “I am Jericho.  I take you.”  He literally parked his camel by tying a knot around its calf and jumped into my car.  After we got to Jericho, he decided to join the OneVoice event and said he would wear the OV pin wherever he went.  He mentioned he was voting for Abu Mazen because “the people want peace.”  He added: “Abu Mazen has 50 years experience and Barghouthi has 10.” His dream is for tourists to come back like “in the old days” and for the economy to improve.  “Everyone wants this.”

Ahmad Nadi Salameh turns from Hamas Student Representative to OV Activist

Hundreds of volunteers helped organize OneVoice events from Jericho to Jenin, from Gaza to Bethlehem, and in Ramallah. 

Among them was former Hamas student representative Ahmad Nadi Salameh. “I’ve lost many people to the intifadah and don't want to lose any more,” he explained when I asked why he had decided to join OneVoice.  “I am fed up with the extremist slogans.  We need a realistic plan for all the people in this region.”

As a non-partisan organization, OneVoice was the only group working to encourage participation in the elections on Sunday (as political campaigning was prohibited on election day).  Nisreen Shaheen, Deputy Director, explained that “elections offer a rare opportunity to get ordinary citizens power to be heard, which is our mission.  But since elections don’t happen every day, we have to be creative and assertive to keep focus on the will of the ordinary people throughout the year.”

Hamas had called upon Palestinians to boycott the elections.  Their appeal did not gain traction and 70% of registered voters came to the polls.

Dalal Erakat and Leadership Council Self-Organized Jericho GOTV Fest

Dalal Erakat and other OneVoice volunteers organized the first public event in the streets of Jericho.  Dalal is a member of the OV Youth Leadership Council.  She took the initiative to start this event, and insisted that it could be executed in spite of extremely tight budgets.  She and other members of the Leadership Council organized 26 volunteers and pulled off an event that according to people living there is “the first of its kind.” 

Jericho, one of the most ancient cities in the world, is a sleepy city with 30,000 people including all suburbs.  The entire city was carpeted with OneVoice signs appealing on people to vote.  A folkloric dance was organized.  Kids collected balloons and leaflets from the street (efficient environmental effort).

Mouafak Alami explains the impact of TV PSA with Sheikh Tamimi, Father Hanna, and Richard Gere

Mouafak Alami is the OneVoice coordinator in Gaza.  He was in charge of events across Gaza to rally people to vote.  Considered by many to be the stronghold of Hamas, Gaza nevertheless delivered about 75% of its votes to Abu Mazen.

Mouafak commented he was surprised at the enthusiasm of Palestinian youth in joining OneVoice.  He attributed this in part to the Public Service Announcement that aired on Palestinian National TV during the days prior to the election.  The PSA includes a message from Sheikh Taysir al Tamimi, the Chief Palestinian Islamic Justice, telling Palestinians that voting is their “national duty and religious obligation.”  Father Attallah Hanna from the Greek Orthodox Church also called on people to participate in the elections in order to build a free and democratic Palestine.  And Richard Gere, the actor and humanitarian, gave a warm encouragement to the Palestinians explaining the world was with them on this historic day and they should go out and vote (with the last clause in Arabic). 

Mouafak explained that while Sheikh Tamimi’s ad awoke traditional Muslims, the PSA shocked the youth: “It woke them up to the reality that everything is possible.  They are very isolated and for them to see such a Hollywood star give them encouragement gave them hope and energy.”

Israeli Honorary Board Strengthened; Internet Campaign Launched

In the meantime on the Israeli side, the Honorary Board was expanded with some impressive additions that confirm the OneVoice movement belongs to all people across all political beliefs.  Most recently, Knesset members Gila Finkelstein of the National Religious Party (Mafdal), Nissim Dahan of Shas, & Collette Avital and Ephraim Sneh of Labor joined the Honorary Board, which already includes Knesset members Matan Vilnai (Labor), Mickey Ratzon and Gilad Erdan (Likud), Taleb el Sanea (Arab Democratic Party), Rabbi Michael Melcior (Meimad) and Eti Livni (Shinui).  Israeli businessman Dov Lautman also joined the Board, which also includes Ben Gurion University President Avishay Braverman, Archbishop Butros Muallem, and Rabbi David Rosen, President of the World Conference on Religion and Peace.   The Israeli Board of Trustees that currently includes business leaders Dari Shalon, Idan Ofer, and Yoav Shoham will also be announcing several new members later this month.

OneVoice Israel ran an internet campaign on ynet and nrg, two of the most popular Israeli web portals, with surprising success.  In less than a week, over 12,000 Israeli citizens participated in the campaign, with over 3,000 of them joining as members.  The Israeli Leadership Council met to begin planning January and February activities, including local and national outreach efforts.

OV Media Coverage Dec 23-Jan 10

Arab, Israeli and international media covered the OneVoice campaign in hundreds of stories.  See some articles at: www.OneVoiceMovement.org -- on the archives or in the ticker scroll up window.

International press included AFP, BBC News, SKY News, Brazilian TV, AP (with hundreds of pick-ups), Reuters, JTA, CNN, MSN, FOX, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, and dozens of national newspapers and TV newscasts.

Arab Media coverage included Palestinian National TV, 13 Palestinian local TV stations, LBC, Future, Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabya, NTV, Abu Dabi TV, and Iranian television. Al Quds, Al Ayam, Al Bawaba, and dozens of others.

Israeli media included Yediot Aharonot, Ma’ariv, Jerusalem Post, Ha’aretz, Ynet, NRG, Channel 1 News, Channel 2 news, IBA News, Channel 3 News, Channel 33 News, IDF Radio, Kol Israel Radio, Nana, Walla and several others.