By Joel Braunold
OneVoice Europe have been meeting with key decision makers and opinion formers in both Westminster and Brussels and recently put on an event for the UK Parliament.
On December 2, in the Palace of Westminster, OneVoice Europe brought two members of the OneVoice Movement to speak to a captivated crowd, in conjunction with the pressure group Progress. Nisreen Abdallah, our former Youth Leadership Program director in OneVoice Palestine, and Eran Schafferman, a senior youth leader from OneVoice Israel, spoke about their involvement in the movement, and explained what the OneVoice Movement is doing on the ground to end the conflict.
The event was hosted by John Mann MP, chair of All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Anti-Semitism, and Muhammad Sarwar MP, chair of Muslim Friends of Labour.
Mann stated that the OneVoice Movement has the support of his entire committee, and that the work the movement does is of critical importance in the region. Sarwar spoke of the OneVoice Movement’s “noble” work, and explained how it was one of the very few organizations that people from all political parties in Westminster are behind - a remarkable feat considering how toxic and divisive the conflict can often be.
The event brought together over sixty people from both houses of Parliament -from all the main political parties- as well as members of the diplomatic and nongovernmental community. Most of those in attendance were well used to discussing the conflict, but many remarked about how refreshing it was to have the voice of the grassroots present, encouraging moderation and pragmatism and instilling hope.
John Lyndon, executive director of OneVoice Europe, chaired and introduced the event, before Nisreen and Eran spoke in-depth about the work that OneVoice Palestine and OneVoice Israel are engaged in; from training the next generation of leaders, to engaging with communities across both their societies, building consensus and breaking taboos.
John Mann and Muhammad Sarwar both spoke before and after questions and answers, endorsing the movement and stressing how important it was to listen to the majority of voices calling for an end to the conflict, rather than the vocal minority seeking to escalate it. John Mann urged the OneVoice Movement to be “the makers of history”.
Outside of formal events, OneVoice Europe has been traveling to Brussels and briefing all three branches of the European Union: the Council, Commission, and Parliament.
In the Council, OneVoice Europe met with the staff of Javier Solana, the European Union’s High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy.
In the Commission, which forms the executive branch of the European Union, , OneVoice Europe met with the Vice-President of the European Commission Günter Verheugen, who is now looking for ways in which he can help the movement in its mission to end the conflict.
In the Parliament, we have met with representatives of the major political parties, as well as with the office of the President.
As the largest external economic player to both Israeli and Palestinian societies, the European Union can play a major role in bringing an end to the conflict. OneVoice Europe is building a platform for the silent majority to be heard in every part of the European Union, strengthening the consensus behind two states, and showing solidarity with our staff and volunteers in the region.
Please help us to continue engaging top world leaders by considering a substantial year-end gift to the OneVoice Movement.
Joel Braunold is the political and media outreach coordinator at OneVoice Europe.
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Posted by: Carlos | August 30, 2010 at 03:07 AM