OneVoice Movement

OneVoice youth leaders hold panel discussion at the Woodrow Wilson Center

New York, September 30, 2010—OneVoice Israel (OVI) youth leader Danny Shaket and OneVoice Palestine (OVP) youth leader Ahmad Omeir participated in a panel discussion on Wednesday at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, titled “Envisioning the Two-State Solution: Young Political Leaders from Israel and Palestine.”

Dr. Haleh Esfandiari, director of the Middle East program, moderated the event as Danny and Ahmad addressed 40 academics, journalists, and members of various think tanks and non-governmental organizations. Reporters from the U.S.-funded Arabic television station Alhurra TV attended the event and interviewed Ahmad and Danny.

Ahmad Omeir (left) engaging Dr. Haleh Esfandiari (middle) and Danny Shaket (right) at the Wilson Center.

As the youth leaders shared their personal stories of growing up in the conflict, Shaket spoke of the bombing of his hometown of Netanya during the second intifada, which began in September 2000, while Omeir described how he witnessed the death of his friend. Neither Danny nor Ahmad made assumptions about the other one’s life. 

“We live different lives,” said Danny. “We are working toward the same goal of peace, but I will never understand Ahmad’s experiences.” 

This honesty and willingness to listen to the narrative of the other side was most effective in reaching the audience, as they remained attentive throughout.

“This kind of event touches people’s heart," said Professor Elavie Ndura-Ouedraogo of George Mason University and fellow at the Wilson Center. "The conversations shaped and inspired by personal experiences are not always known and familiar to the broader audiences.”

Despite the pain they endured, Ahmad and Danny were encouraged to become involved with OneVoice so they could help bring about a change within their respective societies.

“OneVoice encourages people to integrate dialogue and discussion,” said Ahmad. He stated that both Israelis and Palestinians are working together in parallel, but from the nationalistic aspirations of their respective people.

Ahmad and Danny emphasized that one of the biggest struggles that both sides face are from the extremists. “The conflict is not between Israelis and Palestinians," said Danny. "It is between the extreme groups on both sides.” It is for this reason that there is the need for the type of dialogue that OneVoice advocates among moderate Israelis and Palestinians. 

“It’s heart-warming to see young leaders take the lead and take charge in shaping a future where we validate every human being in which we live,” said Professor Ndura-Ouedraogo, as she displayed the appreciation of the audience for Danny and Ahmad’s work.

OneVoice Mid-Atlantic IEP tour commences as youth leaders speak at the Institute of Peace and George Washington University

New York, September 30, 2010 - OneVoice’s 2010 Mid-Atlantic International Education Program (IEP) tour commenced officially in Washington D.C. on Tuesday. 

The tour’s first stop was to the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) where OneVoice (OV) youth leaders Danny Shaket and Ahmad Omeir, as well as staff, met with Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen, Stephanie Schwartz and Rachel Brandenburg, all of whom work on the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The discussion touched on the topic of youth leadership and its importance in building leaders of tomorrow. In discussing the target audience of OneVoice Palestine (OVP) town hall meetings, Omeir explained that while they reach out to everyone, their focus is on a younger community because of their strength.

“The younger are tougher” Omeir said.

Shaket also stressed the importance of youth but pointed out that young Israelis have to serve in the army for four years, making it difficult for them to be engaged in the process. He explained that after the army, many Israelis travel and the conflict becomes more distant and irrelevant.  He said that this is why OneVoice Israel (OVI) works largely at university campuses, and that their youth leaders are generally older.

Later in the day, Omeir and Shaket traveled across Washington D.C. and engaged approximately 80 members of the George Washington University community, at an event co-hosted by OV and GW Interfaith Action, in the Marvin Center. 

 OV's China Sajadian addressing students at George Washington University on the IEP tours first day.

Both Shaket and Omeir spoke candidly about their first-hand experiences with regional conflict.  Shaket spoke of the uncertainty and sense of insecurity that runs the lives of Israelis. As a soldier, he spent time in the West Bank, and afterward realized that the, “Conflict is not as much between Israelis and Palestinians as it is between extremists and moderates”.

“I needed to engage civil society on my own side” he said.

Omeir talked about “how intense it gets to be”, as a Palestinian.  He spoke about the time his dad came home one day with razors to shave his beard so he wouldn’t get stopped by soliders, and about the despair he felt after his close encounter with the death of a friend.

“All that time the only thing I could feel inside me was anger, that there is no hope” he admitted.

Incidents like these ultimately led Omeir to join the OV movement.

“I don’t want the same thing to happen to my other friends, or my children if I have any. I’m going to go for something pragmatic.  And this is the two-state solution” he said.

Questions asked by students in the audience centered on the goal of a two-state solution.  Some expressed disappointment in a lack of support for a one-state solution. Omeir clarified that the majority of Palestinians do not support it.

“In town hall meetings one privilege we have is to use it as a reality check. The one-state solution does not answer nationalist aspirations” he said.

Both Shaket and Omeir stressed their ultimate desire for safety first and an end to conflict.

“I don’t look for peace. Seriously, I couldn’t care less. I’m looking for an agreement” said Shaket.

Via e-mail, Jared MacDonald director of outreach of GW Interfaith Action responded to an inquiry of the event.

“On a campus such as that of GW, with people as literate and engaged in current affairs are they are, hearing from two activists give testimony over their experiences on the ground in Israel and Palestine--and having an interactive discussion with them thereon--is not something that could casually be passed up by many” he wrote.

 

Jordanian Foreign Affairs Minister Judeh is realistic about the success of the current negotiations

New York, September 28, 2010— Jordanian Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Judeh led a discussion about the current direct negotiations on Monday at The Century Foundation entitled “Reviving direct Middle East talks: More hope than change in the peace process?”

The event was hosted by Michael Wahid Hanna of The Century Foundation and moderated by Dr. Alon Ben-Meir, senior fellow at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and director of The Center for Strategic Development. Judeh expressed his belief that the current direct negotiations between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be successful.

“One does not have to be optimistic or pessimistic,” said Judeh, stating his belief.  “One has to be realistic.”

The foreign affairs minister conveyed the imminent need for a two-state solution that will establish a viable Palestinian state and a secure Israel.  He also emphasized the importance of a moratorium extension on behalf of the peace process.  The moratorium, he felt, is a necessity as it demonstrates a concerted effort from the Israeli government in ending the conflict.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we reach the finish line and cross it.  Words must result in actions.” said Judeh.

He cited the commitment of President Barack Obama from the very beginning of his administration, the desire of leadership on both sides to end the conflict, and unanimous international consent, as reasons why this round of peace talks will be the most successful.  

“Peace in the Middle East is peace of mind globally.  We are all stakeholders in the efforts to arrive at a peaceful resolution,” said the foreign affairs minister .

Judeh also stressed the importance of ground level action in continuing to keep things calm in the region. He said that conflict resolution is much easier to achieve on a political level when conflict on the ground is at a minimum. When asked by a OneVoice staff member what message he has for those on the ground whose efforts are dedicated to building such stability, he expressed gratitude to the youth leaders of OneVoice Israel (OVI) and OneVoice Palestine (OVP).

“Keep doing what you’re doing.  Your efforts are most important.  Palestinians and Israelis working together is exactly what we need.  Together you will fuel the fire and get politicians to listen and to act,” Judeh acknowledged.

 

OVP celebrates World Peace Day

Watch the video and photographic essay of OVP's World Peace Day:  Download Peace Day

New York, September 23, 2010—OneVoice Palestine (OVP) celebrated World Peace Day in Asad Eltoufula Park in Nablus in conjunction with the Generations for Peace organization on Tuesday.

 
Palestinian children at Asad Eltoufula Park.

200 children from the Governorate of Nablus attended the event as 200 balloons containing a message of peace were released into the air.  The event was coordinated by OVP Outreach Coordinator Abdallah Hamarshe and OVP youth leaders Mohammed Aseeda, Ahmed Shoole, Thurya Agbar, and Malka Samara. 

 
OVP youth leaders celebrating World Peace Day.

 
 
Children release balloons with messages of peace.

The event occurred simultaneously in other places throughout the world, including Lebanon, Zimbabwe, and north and south Sudan.

According to the United Nations web site devoted to World Peace Day, the event held annually on September 21, is a global call for cease fire and non-violence. The day was established in 1981 by the UN General Assembly and is observed on the third Tuesday of September.

Additionally, the UN General Assembly has proclaimed 2010 as the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.

Both efforts coincide with OneVoice’s Imagine 2018 campaign which calls on the people to create their visions for the year 2018 in Israel and Palestine.

 
Children with OneVoice Palestine flags.

“The youngsters must take responsibility so that an independent Palestinian state is established in the near future,” said OVP Public Relations Director Ezzeldeen Masri as he spoke about OneVoice’s Imagine 2018 campaign and discussed the current direct negotiations.

 
OneVoice Palestine youth

OVI hosts panel discussion on prisoner exchange with message from Noam Shalit

New York, September 23, 2010—OneVoice Israel (OVI) hosted a panel discussion about prisoner exchange moderated by OVI Executive Director Tal Harris, at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque in Tel Aviv on Sunday.

Initiated by the OneVoice Bar Ilan University chapter, about 65 people listened as the event began with a video message from Noam Shalit, father of missing soldier Gilad Shalit. 

 
 Gilad and Noam Shalit from before Gilad was captured in 2006.

“In 2018 Gilad will be home,” said Noam Shalit, delivering his vision to OneVoice’s Imagine 2018 campaign. 

Noam Shalit, currently living in a demonstration tent next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s house, called on Israel to do more to release his son and stressed that Hamas is also not acting in the interest of the Palestinian people. August 28 marked the fifth birthday Gilad Shalit spent in captivity.

Video of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

The meeting included panelists, Yoram Binur, Israeli Channel Two Arab issues correspondent, and Rami Igra, former head of the Mossad Prisoners and MIA’s department, in a debate about the future of political prisoners. 

OVI's Harris called for focusing less on the past and more on the future, and emphasized the role of the Imagine 2018 campaign.

OneVoice announces IEP Mid-Atlantic region tour dates!

 

New York, September 23, 2010– OneVoice is pleased to announce our International Education Program tentative tour dates in the DC, Virginia, and North Carolina region.  This IEP tour will feature Danny Shaket and Ahmad Omeir, traveling together as community leaders, and representing the moderate majorities of their people.

They will engage American students on the tough issues involved in the Middle East conflict. While the regional leaders have difficulty swimming through the complicated issues, Ahmad and Danny bravely address such topics as Jerusalem, settlements, refugees, religion, borders, and the hopes and frustrations of youth in their individual communities.

In addition to their university speaking events, Ahmad and Danny will discuss their work as community leaders in the region at a public briefing at the Wilson Center, hosted by Dr. Haleh Esfandiari. They will also have a closed-door meeting for the House of Representatives staff, hosted by four prominent members of Congress, and will be engaging in a lively panel discussion at Peace Café, hosted by Iraqi artist Andy Shallal.

Ahmad and Danny encourage youth both in their communities and in the U.S. to take an active role now to ensure a brighter, safer, and more positive future. To promote the vital role of ordinary citizens in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, OneVoice is launching a multiplatform campaign, Imagine 2018. Using videos and other media, Israelis and Palestinian will share their visions of the year 2018 if a peace agreement is signed versus maintaining the status quo or worse.

Please contact Rachel Steinberg at Rachel@onevoicemovement.org for more information.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

 Tuesday, September 28

7:30 pm: George Washington University, Sponsored by GW Interfaith Action, Sigma Iota Rho, Student Alliance for a Free Israel, and Students for Justice in Palestine

Location: Marvin Center

 Wednesday, September 29

9-10 am: Public briefing at the Wilson Center, hosted by Dr. Haleh Esfandiari.

Please see here for RSVP and information: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.event_summary&event_id=633031

 Thursday, September 30

12:30-2:30 pm: Gallaudet University

 5 pm:  Georgetown University event, co-sponsored by Georgetown Conflict Resolution Association and International Relations Club

Location: ICC, 7^th Floor Conference Room 

 8 pm: American University, sponsored by OV@AU

Location:  EQB Lounge (Old SIS Building Lounge)

Sunday, October 3

9-11 am:  Peace Café at Busboys and Poets

For more information: http://www.busboysandpoets.com/events.php

 

VIRGINIA BEACH

Monday, October 4

7:00 pm:  Old Dominion University, Sponsored by Hillel

Location:  Webb Center, Virginia Beach Room

 

NORTH CAROLINA

Tuesday, October 5

7-9 pm:  UNC-Greensboro Event, co-sponsored by Hillel and Muslim Students Association

Location:  Student Union

Wednesday, October 6

12:00 pm: Brown Bag Lunch event at High Point University

5:00 pm:  Elon University

OVP encourages high school students in Salfeet to visualize Palestine in 2018

New York, September 21, 2010—OneVoice Palestine (OVP) staff and volunteers visited eleven high schools last Thursday in Salfeet in conjunction with the Governorate of Salfeet and the Ministry of Education.

OVP staff and volunteers talking to high school students about the movement.

In Salfeet, as well as the neighboring villages of Kefl Hares, Yousef, Marda, and Rafat, OVP introduced the students to the movement.  They distributed 320 backpacks with the OneVoice logo printed on them, as well as an Imagine 2018 booklet.  OVP expressed a sense of urgency for ending the conflict and replacing the sense of despair with hope and optimism.

 
OVP Imagine 2018 Booklet

 

“Think about the prospect of living in a free and sovereign state,” said OVP’s Director of Youth Development Abdallah Hamarsheh, as he asked students to imagine what an independent state of Palestine would be like.

 OneVoice’s Imagine 2018 campaign focuses on just that, helping people in the region to visualize the future they want and life after the conflict has ended.  This was exactly the message that OVP staff brought to the students as they urged the students to send OVP their visions of Palestine in 2018. OVP reminded the students that such a future of an independent state of Palestine is possible and the Palestinians have never been so close to obtaining an independent state as they are now.

“Think outside of the box and imagine that the current direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations will be successful and an independent Palestinian state will be established,” said OVP PR Director Ezzeldeen Masri. 

OVI and OVP youth leaders co-host discussion with the Olive Tree Initiative

New York, September 21, 2010–Youth leaders from OneVoice Israel (OVI) and OneVoice Palestine (OVP) co-hosted a workshop with the Olive Tree Initiative (OTI), at the Jerusalem YMCA, on Thursday.

The Olive Tree Initiative was founded at UC-Irvine shortly after a OneVoice International Education Program (IEP) tour came to campus in 2007.  While not the only reason, Dr. Daniel Wehrenfennig, co-founder of the Olive Tree Initiative, admits that the inspiration gained from hearing OV youth leaders speak contributed to their desire to start the student-led initiative.

The group, which consisted of 27 students and three faculty members from the University of California’s Irvine, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz campuses, spent two-and-a-half weeks in the region, and wrapped up their journey with the meeting between OneVoice’s representatives. This was OTI’s third perennial trip to Israel and Palestine.

According to Wehrenfennig, UC-Irvine is among a growing number of US and international institutions that experience tensions between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian groups on their campus.  The founding mission of OTI is to respond to these situations with firsthand knowledge of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict gained through visiting the region and hearing the diverse views and experiences of academics, politicians, religious authorities, community leaders and activists.

Together, OVI, OVP, and OTI members formed a circle and opened the discussion to whatever questions the students had for the youth leaders.  The conversation focused around the issue of trust between Israelis and Palestinians that led to a meaningful and dynamic exchange. Through a commitment to dialogue, OVI and OVP leaders were able to turn an otherwise polarizing topic into something that left OTI students and faculty feeling as though they had made great progress in understanding the central issues to both the conflict and its resolution.

Members of OVI, OVP, and OTI sitting together to share their questions and comments in a meeting on Thursday.

“The discussion was really interesting. It showed us what we are doing is right because we are learning that what students are talking about is central to important issues” said Wehrenfennig.

OV youth leaders were impressed with the level of commitment OTI members have to their program and their enthusiastic interest in the region.

“I felt the students who participated in the talk came away deeper insight. They were familiar with general themes, yet unaware of perspective.  They had a very complex understanding of what is happening, but not necessarily the why” said Oded Appel, a OV coordinator from the Ben-Gurion University chapter

From the perspective of both OVI and OVP, the main goal of the discussion was to guide the Olive Tree students on their own fact-finding missions and to help them build a better understanding of what is going on with moderates working toward the goal of a two-state solution and an end to the occupation.  Ahmad Omeir was one the OVP youth leaders present and participating, and thought the workshop was a success.

“The meeting was worthwhile. We created a forum for debate and discussion and I feel as though the students from the Olive Tree Initiative came away with a better grasp on what we are doing on the ground level and why it is so important for those around the world to help each other” Omeir said.    

Omeir and his Israeli counterpart, Danny Shaket will be coming to the U.S. as a part of OneVoice’s newest IEP tour. They will speak directly to students at various universities in the Washington D.C. area this October, in order to continue the dialogue with those who are without the opportunity to travel to the region.

 

PBS Newshour interviews OV Founder and President Daniel Lubetzky

New York, September 15, 2010—OneVoice Founder and President Daniel Lubetzky spoke about the inception of OneVoice Movement with special correspondent for PBS Fred De Sam Lazaro during his recent visit to Israel and Palestine in August.

The PBS clip tracks the history of Lubetzky’s “not-ONLY-for-profit” business corporation, PeaceWorks LLC, pursuing both peace and profit.  Lubetzky discussed his initial partnership with the Israeli entrepreneur Yoel Benesh in 1992.   Lubetzky first presented his idea of PeaceWorks to Yoel Benesh by explaining to him that trading with Israel’s Arab and Muslim neighbors does not only benefit peace, but it is also good for business.  Based on Lubetzky’s belief of solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through economic ventures, Benesh agreed to buy the supplies for his sundried tomato spread, for example, from Israel’s Arab and Muslim neighbors and in return Lubetzky would sell the products in the United States.

In the fall of 2000, Mr. Lubetzky set out to find more creative ways to amplify the voice of moderates in the Middle East, culminating with the creation of the PeaceWorks Foundation’s OneVoice Movement in 2002.  In the clip, PBS focuses on OV’s work in Israel and Palestine as youth leaders travel throughout the region gaining the people’s support and filming their visions for OV’s initiative Imagine 2018.

At a meeting of OneVoice volunteers and supporters in the Palestinian city of Nablus, Lubetzky emphasized that most people don’t see the “humanity of the people” on both sides because the media does not show it.

“Large majorities on both sides are moderates who support a two-state solution, but each views the other as lacking the leadership to carry out a peace treaty…We are swimming upstream and it makes it very difficult for the vast majority of moderates who would benefit from one another to express themselves,” said Lubetzky.

 

A capital summer: OVDC interns speak up!

Washington D.C., September 13, 2010−OneVoice D.C. (OVDC) interns Stephanie Schey and Wade Smith had a productive summer promoting the importance of campus activism in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and preparing for the upcoming International Education Program (IEP) tour this September.

 
OVDC interns Wade Smith         and Stephanie Schey         with Smith's senator, Scott Brown.

Meeting with senators, staff from the offices of U.S. representatives, and other entities engaged in Middle East issues, Schey and Smith discussed the polarization on college campuses and the work OneVoice is implementing on the ground in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in moving toward a two-state solution. As the president and vice president of OneVoice’s chapter at American University (OneVoice@AU), they are now preparing to host OVI Youth Leader, Danny Shaket and OVP Youth Leader, Ahmad Omeir, on the IEP tour’s stop at their university.

 

“Both our youth leaders have expressed a strong interest in engaging with American students and generating a buzz on campus,” said Schey. “I think in order to effect change it is imperative to create a movement driven by students. It is often difficult to reach older generations who were raised with a certain mindset but if we are able to reach enough of this generation and encourage them to become involved then peace can be attainable.”

Schey also highlighted meetings they had with other groups working toward peace in the Middle East such as Friends of the Arc and Seeds of Peace. Connecting with other organizations that are reaching for the same goal provides a feeling of optimism, especially to young leaders like Schey and Smith. 

 
Schey with her Congressman, Rep. Rodney Freylinghuysen

As OVDC interns, both were given the opportunity to meet with congressional offices to show the uniqueness of OneVoice’s message in addressing the two-state solution. All the offices they met with, regardless of their position on the conflict, were interested in what they had to say. 

“As a nonviolent, youth-driven movement, it is in this area that OneVoice truly shines,” said Smith. “Our message of supporting the moderate majority allows us to speak with all members of Congress and grants us an identity that resonates with Democrats and Republicans alike.” 

 
Smith with Rep. Rodney Freylinghuysen

With the new school year underway, Schey and Smith look forward to hosting OV youth leaders Shaket and Omeir at American University on September 30. Together as American, Israeli, and Palestinian youth, they will educate and inform other students about the conflict and promote two states for two peoples.