OneVoice Blog, Empowering Israeli and Palestinian Citizens toward a Two State Solution

OVI completes 2 films for Imagine 2018

OneVoice Israel recently completed production on 2 films for OV's Imagine 2018 project.

Thanks to the help of Directors Rani Blair and Eran Riklis, some of the best actors in Israel were recruited to be part of the short films, including Yona Elian, Aki Avni, Clara Khoury, Oshri Cohen, Ali Nassaer, and Abdallah Akkal.

On Sunday 24 June, OVI and its production team filmed "Tel Aviv-Damascus Express," under the direction of Rani Blair. The story is about two young people, an Israeli and a Palestinian, who are traveling together on a train from Tel Aviv to Damascus for the first time.

The following day, under the direction of Eran Riklis, OVI filmed "A Soldier and a Boy." Abdallah Akkal, who played the boy, and Aki Avni, who played the soldier, both brought their real families for one of the scenes of the film, in which an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian boy meet at a picnic.

The two children who wrote the original stories on which the films were based were invited, and were amazed to see their ideas come to life. All the actors and directors involved in the filming agreed to join OneVoice, together with OneVoice's international Entertainment Council.

OV Youth Leaders meet with Jason Alexander

Jason Alexander recently met with OV Israeli and Palestinian Youth Leaders in Jerusalem. He discussed a number of topics with the Leaders, including the chances for a two state solution under the Obama administration, the general political atmosphere around OneVoice and its efforts, and the recent protests in Iran. The Leaders were encouraged by Jason's enthusiasm for their work, and interested to hear his insights.

Jason also took part in an event around OneVoice's Imagine 2018 project, which included some of the artists to work on the films, and the children who wrote the original stories. The atmosphere was very positive and productive, and a discussion ensued over whether or not humor can help people break taboos, and whether it can help change public opinion.

Roundup from speaking tour in Washington DC

As part of our effort to make the data from our poll come to life -- building real momentum toward a two state solution from the grassroots up to governmental leadership -- OneVoice brought its pollsters Nader Said, Mina Zemach, and Colin Irwin to Washington DC this week to address the policy-making community in Washington DC.

The 3-day speaking tour kicked off with a "Peace Café" hosted by Busboys and Poets, a well-known public venue in DC. There were over 50 people in the audience.

 On Monday, OV was hosted by Senator Kerry’s office in a closed-door Senate briefing for staffers, including the Chiefs of Staff and Legislative Directors for over 20 US Senators.

We later spoke at the House of Representatives, in an event co-sponsored with J-Street, IPF, ATFP, AAI, CMEP, and Brit Tzedek v'Shalom. There were over 100 people from the Hill and the media. Our pollsters spoke on a panel with Drs. Jim Gerstein and James Zogby.

The final events were hosted by the Woodrow Wilson Center and the New America Foundation -- two of the leading policy institutions and think tanks in DC -- on the polling results as well as the Town Hall Meeting methodology that OneVoice is using to facilitate urgent conversations on the ground around some of the toughest issues at the heart of the conflict.

OneVoice will continue to work to bridge the gap between the grassroots and policy-makers, and to "say what needs to be said" in order to work toward a two state solution.

OV Brings Grassroots Support for Two States to DC

As the United States assertively reengages in Mideast peace efforts, and in the wake of President Obama’s historic address from Cairo, OneVoice is bringing Nader Said, Mina Zemach, and Colin Irwin - the public opinion experts who conducted OneVoice’s poll finding continued grassroots support for a two state solution - to Washington DC for a series of public speaking engagements on Capitol Hill and within the policy-making community from Sunday 14 June – Tuesday 16 June.

We are holding the following events:

SUNDAY 14 JUNE

• 7pm: Peace Café at Busboys & Poets

MONDAY 15 JUNE

• 10.30am: Closed-Door Senate Briefing (this event is not open to public)
• 1.00pm: United for a Two State Solution: Brown Bag & Briefing at the House of Representatives
• 3.00pm: Two State Majority: Event at Woodrow Wilson Center

TUESDAY 16 JUNE

• 12.30pm: Where are the Israeli & Palestinian Publics on Peace? Event at the New America Foundation

This is a crucial time for the OneVoice Movement. It is imperative that we work to connect the support on the ground for a two state solution which allows both peoples to live in peace, security, freedom, independence, and dignity with the political will at the top level to broker the process.

Obama's Historic Speech In Cairo

President Obama’s speech in Ciaro reinforced many of OneVoice’s values and our goal of a two state solution. As Obama stressed the importance of a two state solution, he vowed to pursue this goal with patience and persistence. OneVoice is thrilled with the philosophy and drive behind Obama’s speech and we feel that this historical moment brings with it much hope for the future.

Obama did recognize the difficult history of the conflict and the struggle that exists today for both Israelis and Palestinians. However, Obama expressed our need to move forward with the peace process because “whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared.”

In order to move forward, Obama stressed the need to stop blaming the other side, and instead to see the conflict from all sides. “It is easy to point fingers” he said, “but if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security."

Obama also spoke of the need to speak openly about the conflict. These words resonate with OneVoice’s initiative to ‘say what needs to be said.’ Obama stated, “I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground.”

With Obama’s words as a beacon of hope, OneVoice continues to push forward with our goals for 2009 through Educational Programs, Town Hall Meetings and Leadership Training Seminars in both Israel and Palestine as well as around the world.

OneVoice in the Washington Post

On Obama's speech in Cairo yesterday, the recent OneVoice poll, and saying what needs to be said in order to achieve a two state solution.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/06/one_voice_for_a_two-state_solution.html