OneVoice Movement

OneVoice Europe Educates Leaders of British Jewish Youth Movements

London, July 28, 2010−OneVoice Europe (OVE) recently educated the leaders of several British Jewish youth movements in the differing dialogues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as preparation for their annual summer camps.

Led by OVE Media Coordinator Joel Braunold, the sessions delved into the complexities of the conflict, the many views of the region, and what OneVoice is doing to bring an end to it all. Braunold presented to the Jewish youth groups Bnei Akiva UK, Habonim Dror, and Ljy-Netzer, and used the workshops as an opportunity to further strengthen OVE’s international community outreach.

“The UK Jewish community has some of the most active youth movements in the world and it’s important that the informal educators have a sense of differing narratives and what people on the ground are thinking,” said Braunold.

Hundreds of children, aged 12-16, will be attending the summer camps this year. OVE’s sessions reflect the work of the Youth Leadership programs in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory helping provide the young educators in the Jewish youth movements with the skills necessary to spread OneVoice's message of compromise and peace.

“The leaders are very grateful for OneVoice’s sessions as they are relevant to the children’s activities at camp,” said Sam Green, the national secretary for Habonim Dror UK.

This project is part of a larger campaign by OVE, providing educational resources to Muslim and Jewish communities in the UK and aiming to reduce the polarization and tensions that this conflict can often cause. In the coming weeks, OVE will continue to be an educational resource for both formal and informal educators and will be working with communities all over the UK, spreading the moderate voice of Israelis and Palestinians throughout the year.

OVP Youth Leaders Connect with Local Elders and Together Create Visions for 2018

New York, July 26, 2010-OneVoice Palestine (OVP) youth leaders gained inspiration and hope from local elders through a writing workshop held at The Elders Club in Bethlehem last Thursday.

 

The initiative, created after discussing OneVoice’s Imagine 2018 campaign, celebrated the tradition of story telling while linking the elders’ stories with the youth leaders’ visions of Palestine in 2018. Around 20 youth leaders participated in the event meeting with 69 elderly Palestinians aged 63 and up.

 
OVP youth leaders listen to and learn from local elders at a writing workshop in Bethlehem. 

 

“We will be the bridge that will link the past with the future through archiving the elders’ stories,” said Iyad Seliman, an OVP youth leader from Bethlehem. 

The youth leaders began by asking the elderly about their favorite stories from Palestine, what it means to be a Palestinian, and what their message is to the upcoming generations should a Palestinian state ever be achieved. 

“If I were your age I would be mobilizing in the streets asking our leader, their leaders and the leaders of the world to stop this mess,” said one school teacher. Many of the elderly concentrated on education emphasizing how it is the key for introducing the next generation of Palestinians to a better life.

After a few hours the youth leaders were energized and motivated. The elderly encouraged them to be agents of change and to believe in the land. 

“They were so positive. If someone is 90 years old and hasn’t lost hope, then why should I when I’m only 27?” said OVP Project Manager Dalia Labadi.

Each generation learns from their mistakes and this event not only inspired OVP’s youth leaders but also helped teach them what the elderly Palestinians at this club didn’t know growing up. Listening to their stories and honing their advice to be brave and bold in their actions may just help bring an end to the conflict. 

Ambassador Indyk: There is no alternative to the two-state solution

New York, July 22, 2010—Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, participated in a panel debate on Wednesday at The New York Times entitled, “The future of relations with the Muslim world”.

Hosted by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and Global Expert Finder and moderated by Roger Cohen of The New York Times, the debate focused on President Barack Obama’s role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and directly addressed OneVoice’s goal for a two-state solution. Beyond Ambassador Indyk, who is also a OneVoice board member, the panelists included Reza Aslan of CBS News, Columnist Joe Klein of TIME magazine, Professor Marc Lynch of George Washington University, and Dalia Mogahed of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies.

Ambassador Indyk affirmed his optimistic view that there will be peace negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians by the third year of the Obama administration, despite criticism from some of the other panelists. The president would have the support of Israelis if he visited Israel and addressed the people, Indyk remarked.

Mogahed stated that the president’s ratings in the Arab world have significantly gone down since his Cairo speech. In his speech, the president stated that negative stereotypes toward Muslims would be altered, but the current debate over the building of the Islamic Center near Ground Zero in New York cast doubt on whether there have been significant strides. “The sentiments towards the president are as bad as they’ve ever been,” added Aslan, who completely faults the U.S. for a lack of negotiations in the Middle East.

“It is the U.S.’s responsibility as the most democratic nation in the world to apply pressure and implement changes in the Middle East,” said Aslan. These changes, however, are in support of one-state, as he firmly argued against the two-state solution and voiced his suspicion over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s endorsement of it.

“There is no alternative to the two-state solution, and any other solution is dangerous,” said Indyk. The ambassador attacked Aslan’s view and ended the evening by expressing his trust in the Obama administration’s ability to push for two states for two peoples in resolving the conflict.

Klein remarked that there must be more humanity between the people on both sides in order for peace negotiations to occur. He added that talks should not be limited to Israel and the West Bank, but also encompass the centrality of Gaza to the conflict.

“Change is coming,” said Indyk. “President Obama has made mistakes on the way, but he is on the right course.”

The blog was written by Alisha Deluty, OneVoice US Intern, who attended the debate.

OneVoice Youth Leaders Attend Middle East Simulation Conference in Germany

New York, July 21, 2010−OneVoice youth leaders participated in the Middle East Simulation (MES 2010), a conference uniting students from around the world to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Darmstadt, Germany last weekend.

OneVoice Israel Executive Director Tal Harris speaks with students about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the MES 2010 conference in Germany.

Fifty students attended the international event where they simulated the roles of the regional and global actors involved in the conflict. Participants demonstrated the hard realities of how states, political parties, and regime interests surface when negotiating a resolution. OneVoice emphasized the two states for two peoples formula as an end to the conflict, highlighting the advantages of living side by side in peace and security.

"The concept of engaging with multi-national students was very enlightening, also coming to realize the realities of the different countries involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," said OVP Youth Leader Antwan Saca.

 OneVoice Palestine Youth Leader Antwan Saca speaks at MES 2010 conference.
 
Playing out the negotiation process led the students to create a resolution (Download Final Resolution) that showcased their specific viewpoints as youth. It emphasized the values of equality and justice without the distortions world leaders sometimes suffer from due to the hard realities on the ground. In addition, the conference gave the OneVoice youth leaders a perspective that is necessary to enable them to represent the movement internationally.

"Such a simulation not only provides a great intellectual opportunity to get acquainted with the narrative, history and interests of the various actors in the conflict, but it also provides a profound emotional opportunity to feel what it’s like to negotiate and make speeches on behalf of a different nationality," said OVI Executive Director Tal Harris.

OVP and OVI Address the Core Issues at Town Hall Meetings in Israel

New York, July 19, 2010−OneVoice Israel (OVI) invited OneVoice Palestine (OVP) to participate in town hall meetings in the Israeli cities of Beersheba and Hadera on Saturday addressing Jewish and Israeli-Arab teens about OneVoice and the two-state solution.

Hosted by The Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs International Teen Leadership Institute (JITLI), both OVI Executive Director Tal Harris and OVP Public Relations Editor Ezzeldin Masri spoke to the youth about the core issues such as settlements, refugees, and Jerusalem. Highlighting the two states for two peoples formula, OneVoice was able to present both the Israeli and Palestinian perspective to the audience.

“The experience gave me a chance to deliver a message on behalf of the Palestinian people to the Israeli people,” said Masri.

Speaking openly about how the status quo unsustainable for the Palestinian people, Masri expressed the Palestinians' desire to build a state based on the 1967 borders. When the issue of refugees came up, he revealed personal stories about how his grandfather was forced to flee Safed, a city in the upper Galilee region. “I would like Israel to accept responsibility for what happened to the Palestinian refugees,” said Masri.

The teens asked many questions, ranging on everything from what life is like in Gaza to whether Hamas would accept a two-state solution. Not only did Masri answer the questions, but he also helped the teens see the situation from his Palestinian eyes. Speaking about the humiliation of check points and Palestinian human rights made the meeting a unique experience for the youth in attendance who rarely if ever heard the other side's story.

“There is a strong narrative of mistrust here in Israel, but when you see a Palestinian from Gaza, an honest man, shed light on the complex issues… it brought a very powerful aspect to this town hall meeting,” said Harris of OVI. 

 

OneVoice Israel lends support to Knesset members in launching two-state solution lobby

Tel Aviv, July 19, 2010—OneVoice Israel (OVI) lends support to Knesset Member Yoel Hasson (Kadima) in launching the first Knesset Lobby for the Two-State Solution on Monday to promote an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that addresses all final-status issues.

This is the first time a Knesset lobby, akin to a congressional caucus in the United States, is being formulated to advance a direct political solution with the Palestinians. The lobby is united in calling for an Israeli peace initiative based on two states for two peoples that ensures the state’s long-term regional security and prosperity.

“We are now realizing that giving up the Jewish people's prerogative on the whole of Israel is hard, but it's the only real choice we have,” said Hasson. “The dangers facing Israel require us to take a bold and creative initiative in the spirit of compromise and a two-state solution to ensure a Jewish and democratic identity for Israel.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his “vision of peace” supporting “two free peoples living side by side in this small land, with good neighborly relations and mutual respect” in a foreign policy speech delivered at Bar-Ilan University in June 2009. The lobby will work hard to turn the vision into a reality and foster a commitment for sincere negotiations with the Palestinians.

OVI conceived the idea of the lobby and brought it to Yoel Hasson to establish and chair the group. A Knesset lobby consists of parliamentarians joining forces to influence legislation or decision-making on a particular issue. The movement does not have a direct role in the lobby’s decisions or actions.

“A lobby focused on making the two-state solution a reality is incredibly important,” said OVI Executive Director Tal Harris. “As a grassroots movement, our role is to connect the people to the political process. We call on all Israelis who know that two states for two peoples is the only right and appropriate solution to stand up and be part of the process.”

OVI will work to connect the lobby’s members with the Israeli public through round-table discussions, advocating for the two-state solution. OVI will also organize conferences, tours, and other activities for the lobby to enhance its impact in Israel and internationally.

The initiative holds neither a leftist nor rightist agenda, but rather the protection of the ideals that formed the basis for the creation of the state of Israel. The only way to maintain the Jewish character and majority in Israel, guarantee security, progress Israel’s growth, and reach a just solution with the Palestinians is to promote a peace agreement based on the two-state solution. This represents the will of the majority of the Israeli public and serves the nation’s best interests.

Lobby Chairman Yoel Hasson is a member of Kadima, the largest political party in Israel, and is serving his second term in government, where he chairs the Knesset’s State Control Committee. He is a member of OneVoice’s board of advisors.

OneVoice is an international mainstream grassroots movement that aims to amplify the voice of Israeli and Palestinian moderates, empowering them to seize back the agenda for conflict resolution and demand that their leaders achieve a two-state solution. The movement has independent Israeli and Palestinian offices working in parallel to appeal to the national self interests of their own societies with credentials enabling them to unite people within each society across the religious and political spectrum.

OVP Holds Meeting in Bethlehem in Support of Indirect Negotiations with Israel

Ramallah, July 15, 2010−OneVoice Palestine (OVP) organized a public meeting in Bethlehem city on Sunday in support of President Mahmoud Abbas’ decision to engage in American facilitated indirect negotiations with Israel.

Sixty citizens from Bethlehem and its neighboring villages attended the meeting and listened to the former Palestinian Minister of Prisoner Affairs Ashraf Ajrami speak. A staunch advocate of negotiations as the best means to achieve the aspirations of the Palestinian people, he spoke about the need for supporting the president’s decision.

Palestinians attended OVP's meeting in Bethlehem which encouraged dialogue in support of President Abbas' decision to engage in indirect negotiations with Israel.

OVP’s Executive Director Samer Makhlouf described the movement’s initiatives of supporting the president, such as publishing an advertisement in the Arabic-language daily Al-Quds and conducting civic education through the movement’s town hall meetings.

During the meeting, Ajrami explained that negotiations are the Palestinians’ only strategy to end the occupation and establish a state. He added that non-violent popular resistance to the Israeli occupation will strongly help the Palestinian negotiators and will get the people involved in the political process to make their voices heard.

Ajrami detailed the three main reasons why President Abbas refuses to start direct negotiations: lack of progress in indirect negotiations, particularly in regards to borders and security arrangements; the Israeli government’s desire to start negotiations from point zero with no reference to previously reached understandings; and the absence of a timeframe for the conclusion of negotiations.

Members of the audience asked Ajrami questions, most of which carried a pessimistic tone, expressing the Palestinian civil society’s lack of faith in Israel’s intentions. Confidence and trust building on both sides is integral to any form of future talks.

The meeting was guided by OneVoice’s Imagine 2018 project. Asking citizens to envision what a future Palestinian state may look like and what it will take to get there gives reason to support President Abbas in negotiations. OneVoice seizes the opportunity to mobilize and inspire the Palestinian public by encouraging them to support their leadership during negotiations toward a two-state solution.

OVP Supports Palestinian Economy at Demonstration in Ramallah

Ramallah, July 3, 2010−OneVoice Palestine (OVP) activists participated in the Supporting the National Economy Campaign demonstration in Ramallah last Saturday in support of the Palestinian economy.

OVP activists participating in the Supporting the National Economy Campaign in Ramallah 

The demonstration encouraged people to buy Palestinian products instead of ones from Israeli settlements in an effort to boost the Palestinian economy and support the building of a Palestinian state. Over 100 youth attended alongside OVP and other NGOs, including the Palestinian Political Youth Council and the Palestinian Youth Organization Network.

The issue of settlements continues to be a hot topic in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. OneVoice’s work aims to end the occupation and establish an independent, viable Palestine living in peace and security with Israel.

"We believe that the Israeli settlers and the settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) represent the main obstacle to the vision of peace based on the two states for two peoples formula," said Ezzeldin Masri, director of public relations at OVP.

OVP also used the demonstration as an opportunity to promote the Imagine 2018 campaign asking participants to share their visions of the region in 2018 if a peace agreement were signed versus the status quo or worse.

Boycotting settlement products is different than boycotting Israel altogether. Focusing on supporting the Palestinian national product helps in accomplishing the two states vision. A strong Palestinian economy is integral to the future Palestinian state and this campaign was the government’s way of showing their dedication to state-building.

OVP activist Obadah Ishtayeh conducting interviews for OneVoice's Imagine 2018 campaign.

Focusing on Positive Change, not Fear

By Tal Harris

If we focus our eyes we may discover a renewed basis for hope to end the conflict through negotiations.

In the famous Bar Ilan speech just over a year ago Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced the two principles necessary for establishing a Palestinian state that does not endanger Israel.

According to the first principle, "the Palestinians must recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people". To that Abu Mazen answered, in front of the leaders of American Jewish communities and organizations, "I will never deny the Jewish right to the land of Israel". He then reconfirmed his words to the Arab media backing them up with verses from the Koran.

The second principle of Netanyahu's speech states that, "in any peace settlement the Palestinian territory must be demilitarized with solid security arrangements for Israel". Shortly after the opening of proximity talks reports in Israel and around the world began to proliferate that the Palestinian Authority supported the establishment of a Palestinian state without an army and instead with a large international force that would gradually replace the IDF in the West Bank. It should be noted that such a military force replaced the IDF in a similar manner in the Sinai as part of a peace treaty with Egypt.

Three months prior to the conclusion of proximity talks, in addition to the construction freeze in the West Bank, we have every reason to be fearful and cynical about the chances of success. We are not different from the skeptical public on the Palestinian streets. We are however committed to seeing the opportunities inherent in the discourse with the current Palestinian leadership, especially given the large overlap between Netanyahu's principles to solve the conflict in a two-state solution and senior PLO members’ on the same issue. Even if it’s not right to expect that us, Israelis, do not fear at all we must nevertheless operate in the minimal rationality that is needed and not sink into total despair.

It is hard these days to find an Israeli who is not cynical about today's relatively low profile proximity talks. Some of us just assume that Netanyahu is playing with the Palestinians and are afraid of a third intifada if the latter decides Netanyahu isn’t doing his part. Some of us are afraid that after years of demonstrations by ‘Peace Now’ Netanyahu will be the one who obtains the agreement. Most of us fear the Palestinians' double game they're playing against us and against the west. 

Apparently this fear is not without basis because even when we feel the whole world is against us the current leadership in Israel shows us that there is a pretty good hold on reality to that. Focusing on threats and turning a blind eye to opportunities for positive change in the Middle East could end tragically and with a reminder of the Israel - Egypt accord in the seventies. When Sadat succeeded Nasser in 1970 Israel felt stronger than ever. Sadat's conciliatory approach toward Israel at the time was ignored by both Israel and the United States. Only after he proved to be a real threat to Israel did we begin serious peace talks with him. This case must not be repeated against the Palestinian moods, which like Egypt in the seventies changes with global climate, like the stock market, and with the passage of time. We must not cling to our fears mainly because of our fear of believing and disappointing again but instead make them our sole compass. We must also read the news headlines at the edge of the newspaper.

The Jerusalem Post Highlights OVI's Tal Harris as the Only Israeli speaker at Debate in Jordan

New York, July 9, 2010—OneVoice Israel (OVI) Executive Director Tal Harris was featured in The Jerusalem Post today for solely representing the Israeli perspective at Jordan’s Four Star Debate last weekend.

The conference invited several experts from both the Israeli and Palestinian sides to speak but due to sickness and other circumstances only Harris was able to attend on behalf of the Israeli perspective. Bringing together American and Arab students, the event focused on enhancing their debating and leadership skills while asking the central question of whether the US should support a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and Palestine.

Despite the unbalanced Israeli representation Harris spoke on behalf of OVI and was able to accurately and comprehensively present the Israeli point of view.

“It was unfortunate that the others could not make it but Tal Harris was extremely articulate and I don’t think our students got the sense that it was unbalanced,” said Tab Boyles, director of events at the National Center for Policy Analysis and the organizer of the debate.

Harris felt strongly about participating in the event as it was an opportunity to engage the international community and encourage youth to be positive and active participants in the conflict. OneVoice Palestine also joined with OVP Youth Leader Antwan Saca in attendance. Educating youth on the conflict takes the next generation one step closer to a two-state solution and peace in the region.