OneVoice Blog, Empowering Israeli and Palestinian Citizens Against Violent Extremism

OneVoice Israel Helps Launch Surfing for Peace Initiative

Today in Tel Aviv OneVoice Israel partnered with surfing legend Doc Paskowitz and his sons to officially launch Surfing for Peace with a great event at Clara Beach.

During the summer OneVoice Israel was instrumental in helping Paskowitz with his mission to deliver surf boards to a group of Gaza surfers.  The two groups joined together again this evening for a night of music, featuring world class surfer Kelly Slater and some great music.

Here are some pictures from the event:

Press Release: President Abbas Affirms OneVoice Mandate Corresponds with his Platform

President Abbas Affirms OneVoice Mandate Corresponds with his Platform

Saeb Erekat Explains OneVoice Palestine’s Goals Align with President’s Vision for Palestinian State

Singer Ilham Al Madfai Denounces False Reports, Emphatically Supports OneVoice

www.onemillionvoices.org

Ramallah – 18/10/2007 – In a press conference today, Dr. Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator and Spokesperson of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, explained that President Mahmoud Abbas asked him to clarify that OneVoice Palestine is a non-governmental organization committed to upholding the vision of President Abbas. Dr. Erekat delivered his remarks in a press briefing on the recent visit of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the Middle East.

“The President would like to say that OneVoice organization is an NGO that has every right to work,” said Dr. Erekat. Erakat explained the organization had sent invitations to a OneVoice Summit under the auspices of the President without receiving an official endorsement, but added that the OneVoice “political program, after Abu Mazen read it, reflects the President’s platform and the Palestinian objectives.”

Erakat added, “[President Abbas] would like to reiterate his full support to those NGOs and civil society organizations that work for democracy, a culture of peace, and ending occupation on the basis of a two-state solution.”

Dr. Erakat explained that a lot of “misleading information” had been provided about OneVoice. He said contrary to what was widely spread, “[President Abbas] read the document of OneVoice and this document corresponds with his political program of ending the occupation that began in 1967 by having two states: a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital next to an Israeli state along the 67 borders and solving the issues reserved to the permanent status negotiations: Jerusalem, borders, refugees and settlements consistent with relevance to the security council international resolutions.”

Today, renowned Iraqi recording artist, Ilham al Madfai, also re-affirmed his support for OneVoice, contrary to reports circulating that he had pulled out of the October 18th Summit in Jericho. “I have been very clear to all those who have been calling that I regretted not being able to participate in OneVoice Palestine’s effort to raise the voice of the Palestinian people for an end to the occupation, and for peace in the region.”

Mr. Madfai added, “I call upon all boycott groups to stop threatening and intimidating artists and to respect the freedom of all.” Mr. Madfai explained he had received a lot of “threatening phone calls and warnings” from groups opposed to his visit but he cherished the day when all logistical and travel challenges, including procuring visas for al his crew and band, could be resolved to enable him “to sing with the Palestinian people and with the people of the world, a song of peace, justice, dignity, respect, and hope.”

OneVoice Palestine is part of a movement of ordinary citizens that now surpasses 600,000 signatories not just in Palestine and the Arab world, but with citizens in solidarity across America, Europe and Israel, who agree on the imperative of ending the conflict and propelling and supporting their Heads of State to immediately commence negotiations, uninterrupted till the conclusion of a two state agreement. The international movement does not take specific positions on the agreement that the Heads of State must deliver, emphasizing that is a duty of the political representatives, but it does empower citizens to propel and support their Heads of State towards the negotiating table. In efforts to mobilize the moderate majority in Palestine and Israel, the OneVoice Movement has trained over 3,000 Palestinian and Israeli youth leaders. Specifically, OneVoice Palestine has trained 1,800 Palestinian youth leaders and has offices in Gaza and Ramallah.

OneVoice Palestine’s Honorary Board includes the Chief Islamic Justice, Sheikh Taysir al Tamimi, the son of President Abbas, Yasser Mahmoud Abbas, Dr. Saeb Erakat, and a dozen more Palestinian dignitaries, scholars, and religious leaders. www.OneMillionVoices.org

President Abbas Affirmed Earlier Today That The OneVoice Platform is Consistent with his Political Program

In a press conference earlier today, October 18, 2007, in Ramallah, where Dr. Saeb Erakat was briefing the media about the Rice visit, he concluded with a clarification that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked him to give regarding the OneVoice Movement.

>Below is the transcript of his words in English, which correspond almost verbatim to his words in Arabic [brackets provide differentiation]:

I want to say one another thing, there was supposed to be an event today by an organization called OneVoice and the President asked me in my press conference to clarify the following:

This organization sent invitations under the auspices of the President without consulting him [the Arabic transcript also adds that the organization has apologized for this]

Nevertheless the President would like to say that OneVoice organization is an NGO that has every right to work and that its political program, after Abu Mazen read it, reflects the President's platform and the Palestinian objectives, and Abu Mazen would like to reiterate his full support to those NGOs and Civil society organizations that work for democracy, , culture of peace and ending occupation on the basis of two states solution.

And he said, contrary to what was widely spread, he read the document of OneVoice and this document corresponds with his political program of ending the occupation that began in 1967 by having two states: a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital next to Israeli state at 67 borders and solving the issues reserved to the permanent status negotiations: Jerusalem, borders, refugees and settlements consistent with relevance to the security council international resolutions.

Ilham Al Madfai Refutes Statement Made by Boycotters of OneVoice Palestine, Reaffirms Support for the Movement’s Cause

October 18, 2007 - Renown Arab musician Ilham al Madfai today refuted the allegation made by a boycotting group that he had refused to join the concert “One Million Voices To End the Conflict” organized by Souhtuna Falestin/OneVoice Palestine in Jericho.  An article by Najib Farraj had indicated that Madfai had “stressed his withdrawal from the festival because of the lack of clarity in the political slogans and objectives of this festival.” 

Madfai categorically denied stating anything of the sort.  “I have been very clear to all those who have been calling that I regretted not being able to participate in OneVoice Palestine’s effort to raise the voice of the Palestinian people for an end to the occupation, and for peace in the region.”

Madfai added, “I call upon all boycott groups to stop threatening and intimidating artists and to respect the freedom of all.”

Madfai explained he had received a lot of “threatening phone calls and warnings” from groups opposed to his visit but he cherished the day when all logistical and travel challenges, including procuring visas for al his crew and band, could be resolved to enable him “to sing with the Palestinian people and with the people of the world, a song of peace, justice, dignity, respect, and hope.”

OneVoice Palestine, Souhtouna Falestin, is part of a movement of ordinary citizens that now surpasses 600,000 signatories not just in Palestine and the Arab world, but with citizens in solidarity across America, Europe and Israel, who agree on the imperative of ending the conflict and propelling and supporting their Heads of State to immediately commence negotiations, uninterrupted till the conclusion of a two state agreement. 

The group has faced attacks from organizations that oppose a two-state-solution.

OneVoice Palestine’s Honorary Board includes the Chief Islamic Justice, Sheikh Taysir al Tamimi, the son of President Abbas, Yasser Mahmoud Abbas, Saeb Erakat, and a dozen more Palestinian dignitaries, scholars, and religious leaders.  It has trained 1,800 Palestinian youth leaders and has offices in Gaza and Ramallah.

OneVoice Press Release: TEL AVIV ONEVOICE SUMMIT CANCELLED IN SHOW OF SOLIDARITY

TEL AVIV ONEVOICE SUMMIT CANCELLED IN SHOW OF SOLIDARITY, Adams Reaffirms His Support

Fringe Extremists Threatened Palestinian Staff, Performers
"A setback for 600,000 Moderates"

EXPERIENCE THE IMPACT OF ONEVOICE ON CIVIL SOCIETY IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL: WWW.ONEMILLIONVOICES.ORG

Jericho/Tel Aviv, October 15, 2007—In a show of solidarity with OneVoice Palestine, the OneVoice Movement, and artists and celebrities engaged with them, have decided to cancel the OneVoice Summit due to take place this Thursday in Tel Aviv. Security threats late last week prompted the cancellation of a parallel OneVoice Summit planned for Jericho.

Fringe groups waged a slanderous campaign to incite threats against OneVoice staff and supporters claiming that a survey OneVoice release five years ago represented a policy document on final status negotiations.

The OneVoice Peoples' Summits, the first effort of its kind, offered an unprecedented opportunity for the Israeli and Palestinian people, in parallel, to propel and support their leaders in the quest to resolve the conflict in the wake of the Arab Peace Initiative and in the build up to the November Annapolis Conference. The Summits, and the work of OneVoice, are not an attempt to define the content of those negotiations, but to demand progress thereon.

OneVoice Palestine President, Dr. Fathi Darwish, has vowed to go on with the mission, "We are heartened by this show of solidarity. Now more than ever, we are determined to fulfill the OneVoice mission. I think that most Palestinian and Israeli moderates want to send a message, one message from both sides: We are fed up with the situation. We are facing a fringe minority of loud extremists, but they cannot stop our struggle to end the occupation through a two state solution—the only solution for two peoples."

Gil Shamy, Executive Director of OneVoice Israel, summarized the OneVoice approach, "The public does not have the power to implement resolutions, but it has the imperative to hold their leaders accountable—and to demand immediate, ongoing negotiations until an agreement is reached."

Over the past six years, OneVoice has gathered the support of over half a million Israelis and Palestinians. The organization remains committed to achieving their goal of uniting all moderates in the region and empowering the process from the grassroots.

A campaign of lies against OneVoice was launch by radical groups, including PFLP, who oppose the goal of Israel and Palestine living side by side. This then evolved into an intimidation campaign against those due to take part in the OneVoice Summit.

Nisreen Shaheen, of OneVoice Palestine, confirmed, "These lies are completely unfounded and the Palestinian people are being deceived by fringe movements whose existence is premised on the conflict. OneVoice is standing behind the President's platform."

Daniel Lubetzky, President of the PeaceWorks Foundation that helped conceive the OneVoice Movement, added "We are very heartened by the steadfast support of all the dignitaries and celebrities, like Bryan Adams, who committed to stay on board and join us as soon as we can re-group to fulfill our vision—for him to perform both in Israel and Palestine. This was a setback for 600,000 moderates. But our work will not cease till we achieve our mission of breaking the shackles of extremism and seizing back the agenda for moderates to live in peace."

In the meantime, as a response to the postponement, the group has already aligned a partnership with Yahoo! to highlight the power of the people. "We invite people across the world to join us on October 18, 2007 at 7pm Jerusalem time (1pm EST) at video.yahoo.com/onevoice to experience something they have not seen before," said Lubetzky.

About the OneVoice Movement:
The OneVoice Movement is a mainstream nationalist grassroots movement with over 584,000 (as of 10/13/2007) Israeli and Palestinian members, and 3,000 highly-trained youth leaders. It aims to amplify the voice of the overwhelming but heretofore silent majority of moderates who wish for peace and prosperity, empowering them to demand accountability from elected representatives and work toward a two state solution. OneVoice counts on its Board over 60 foremost dignitaries and business leaders across a wide spectrum of politics and beliefs, joining as OneVoice against violent extremism and for conflict resolution. Learn more by visiting our website at www.onemillionvoices.org.

OneVoice Statement – Lies and Threats Savaging Truth, Palestinian Cause and Opportunity for Change

12 days ago a slanderous press release was launched by a fringe group that sparked rumors that OneVoice Palestine exists to negotiate away the rights of refugees and international law. OneVoice’s teams here come together to categorically deny this and expose the fact that some Palestinians have been misled by a sinister campaign of hate, coupled with vicious threats of violence from extremists that have spiraled out of control.

OneVoice is a civil society movement to empower the conflict resolution process from the grassroots. We have no power to affect the content of negotiations, but we do have the power to tell the leaders and international community that we will no longer accept a failure to deliver real progress. The OneVoice Mandate calls on our heads of State to commence immediate negotiations, uninterrupted until the conclusion of a vaiable Two State agreement in order to amplify moderate forces in the November negotiations. That is the power of the grassroots and without a mobilized grassroots constituency we leave our leaders open to attack and without the strength to deliver real answers.

Of course the people have demands, whether they be to end the occupation or to deliver security, OneVoice, however, does not have a political platform other than to endorse negotiations for a Two State solution and stands only to support the leaders and demand that the will of the people serve to energize the process. Its Palestinian offices in Gaza City and Ramallah, run by nationalist Palestinians for nationalist Palestinians, exist to do exactly this.

And so, an organization of around 600,000 Palestinian and Israeli signatories, board members from Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat, Jibril Rajoub, and Islamic Chief Justice Sheikh Taysir al-Tamimi to Arab-American Institute President Dr Jim Zogby and Founder George Salem, is being targeted by absolutists with no intention of ending the conflict, who are defrauding the people out of their right to peace, and into being a part of their battle. They must not be tolerated and we implore all of you who are confused by the lies and seek further clarification to look at the OneVoice track record and materials yourselves.

The opportunity is not lost: 600,000 people have already spoken and will not lose the hope and momentum we are building in the wake of the Arab Peace Initiative and the upcoming November Summit.

We will stand by President Abbas and tell him that he can and must deliver something for the people and that we will support him every step of the way when he does because these enemies of peace will attack him too as they did attack Chairman Arafat’s ‘peace of the braves’ and all other efforts toward a just solution that will bring about Palestinian independence, an end to the occupation and peace with its neighbors including Israel based on the terms that he as the Palestinian head of state agrees upon.

These enemies who use intimidation, fear and manipulation to protract the conflict through absolutist ideologies do not have any actionable proposals that will fulfill the wish of the Palestinian people. They have enchained the people for far too long.

Cancelling Jericho Event

The OneVoice Movement regrets that the Jericho Summit that was to be hosted by OneVoice Palestine on October 18th as part of its One Million Voices campaign is postponed due to security considerations.

This is a serious setback to the 600,000 Palestinian and Israeli signatories to the OneVoice Mandate, and to the millions of moderates in the region and worldwide who recognize the imperative of ending the conflict through a two-state solution.

The global responsibility of amplifying voices of moderates to help them seize back the agenda for conflict resolution is only further highlighted by this development. The OneVoice Summit in Tel Aviv and echo events worldwide will continue as planned, as will the overall campaign, One Million Voices To End The Conflict, across Israel and Palestine.

OneVoice Blogger Meet Up - thanks for coming!

Whew, has it already been almost two weeks since the blogger meet-up here in New York? Time has been flying, but I think I finally have a minute to tell you what happened.  While we spent the night talking about OneVoice, blogs, ending the conflict in Israel & Palestine, the real theme of the night was serendipity.

The stars aligned on September 24^th and Craig Newmark and Arianna Huffington were both in town from California.  They acted as hosts for the evening and spoke alongside Daniel Lubetzky about the importance of our grassroots movement.  Sharoz and Harris from Think Tank 3 let us use their store-front think space for the night and even got Duvel to donate a few cases of beer.

We were joined uncharacteristically early in the night by about 30 people including bloggers, supporters, friends and staff.  We’ve been trying to collect all of the posts and photographs of the night and wanted to share the posts with you.  Did I miss you? Leave a comment and let me know that you’ve posted.

Dan Sieradski, the founder of Jewschool and blogger at Orthodox Anarchist, took beautiful photographs that will give you a sense of the evening.  Esther Kustanowitz wrote about it on the blog for ROI120, a conference that Leah Jones from Edelman attended this year and Dan, Aryeh Goldsmith and Will Levin, the Jewish Robot, attended in the summer of 2006. Etty from NuYorker and Adam from NuYorker and Heeb Magazine also joined us.

Miriam, who is also a OneVoice staffer, was there to represent the group blog Mideast Youth and Nadia Gergis came from the group blog Arabisto. (Nadia came on her birthday while she was on vacation in New York.  Serendipity again at work!) Another group blogger who joined us was Michelle Haimoff from The Panelist who shared some of David Neubert’s photos.

Those are the posts we’ve seen so far.  Thank you again for everyone who showed up, I know I haven’t included our whole guest list here.  As we see more posts, we’ll let you know here. 

Yahoo! agrees to provide LIVE WEBSTREAMING for OneVoice Summits!

If you can't be there with us in Tel Aviv & Jericho, you can still tune in to see the Summits live, courtesy of Yahoo!

The site will be up soon, at: www.Video.Yahoo.com/OneVoice

Join us!