OneVoice Movement

Are you a student in Washington, D.C. passionate about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

New York, October 28, 2010–OneVoice is cordially inviting you to attend an exclusive training seminar for emerging student leaders in Washington, D.C. area.  The event will be held at Georgetown University, in ICC 101, on Saturday, November 6 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

This is a special opportunity to become involved in a grassroots movement already over 650,000 people strong, working toward peace.

You will learn about OneVoice’s vision and the unique way we approach conflict resolution. Professor Guy Ziv of the American University School of International Service will speak about the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Join the dialogue by attending our dynamic workshop and strategy session about campus activism.

Space is limited, so be sure to reserve a spot today by contacting China Sajadian. If you have any questions, please call (212) 897-3985 ext. 122. Lunch will be provided!

Download the invitational flier here: OneVoice D.C. Training Seminar Invitation - Nov. 2010

OneVoice works to amplify the voice of Israeli and Palestinian moderates, empowering them to propel their elected representatives toward a two-state solution that ends the occupation; ensures security and peace for Israel and Palestine; and solves all final-status issues in accordance with international resolutions.

 

Samaritan community invites OVP to join festivities

New York, October 27, 2010–Members of OneVoice Palestine (OVP) met with Samaritan community leaders to discuss the potential for town hall meetings and the creation of an OVP chapter in Kiryat Luza on Mount Gerizim, near the West Bank city of Nablus, on Monday.

The Samaritans, whose population consists of about 500, are the smallest minority community living within the occupied Palestinian territories.  As Jews living in Palestine in possession of Israeli, Palestinian, and Jordanian passports, the Samaritans have a vested interest in seeing an end to the conflict.

“We wanted to connect with them because like OneVoice they believe in the two-state solution," said Mohammad Asideh, president of OVP’s youth council, who attended the ceremony."They will become very strong supporters of our movement. The Samaritans are against violent conflict and strongly support direct negotiations.”

 The visit by OVP coincided with the feast of the Tabernacles, or Sukkot, a harvest festival that is celebrated in Samaritan culture by hanging assorted local fruits to create decorative designs on the ceilings of houses. Together, families sit and invite one another into their homes, bringing good luck and reflecting on their identity.

Asideh was joined by OVP Executive Director Samer Makhlouf, activist Mohammad Konne of Nablus, and other OVP members, were invited to join the festivities and were given religious and historical background of both the holiday and community. 

Makhlouf introduced OneVoice and its mission, which calls for the end of the Israeli military occupation and the establishment of a independent Palestine state living at peace with Israel. He also encouraged youths and community members present to support the efforts of the movement.

The Samaritan Legend Association announced their desire to work with OVP and to establish a chapter within the near future.  

The Samaritan religion is Abrahamic and falls outside traditional Judaism. According to their beliefs they are the direct descendants of the Northern Israelite tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.

This November Asideh will be participating in the fifth and final OneVoice International Education Program (IEP) of 2010. He will be accompanied by OneVoice Israel (OVI) youth leader Eliran Eyal, and will tour college campuses and institutions in Southern California and Colorado. Asideh and Eyal will educate students and community leaders in the United States, exposing them to voices from the Middle East living in conflict.

 

Our present leaders need to negotiate the future

By Danny Shaket*

Danny Shaket (left) addresses students at Gallaudet University with the help of a sign language interpreter 

I must admit, at first, I was very skeptical and cynical concerning my role on tour. I thought the events were more about photo ops than garnering influence, and I assumed Ahmad would be a radical nationalistic Palestinian. Yet as the tour got under way, I soon realized my presumptions were misguided.

Standing in the United States, talking about the conflict, reminded me of a saying by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon: “What you see from here, you don’t see from there.” Perspectives change depending on where they’re seen.

We were warmly accepted at prestigious think tanks and institutions such as the British and Finnish Embassies, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Buxton Initiative, the United States Institute of Peace, Congress, the State Department, and even the White House. We had very interesting debates and worthwhile discussions regarding how the people on the streets of Israel and Palestine—the people who matter most—truly feel. I’ll be taking home some really great ideas for future events that grew out of these meetings.

The mixture of formal meetings with policymakers and speaking to students enabled us to stay energized. At college events, Ahmad and I were so happy to find out that students in attendance were not simply there to see “the miracle” of a Palestinian and an Israeli standing together. They were genuinely interested in what we had to say. The audience was eager to form their own opinions of the actions on the ground instead of being told what to think by scholars and academics. They had challenging questions and some felt compelled to express to us how we were being portrayed in the media.

On tour, it was understood by Ahmad and I that our role was to convey the message that Israelis and Palestinians each have their own interests in ending the conflict. We want a divorce, albeit amicably. Ahmad and I quickly acknowledged that it is futile to argue over the past, that our present leaders need to negotiate the future, and that it is our responsibility to get them to sit at the negotiation table. By putting our past where it belongs, Ahmad and I really connected on a human level. I hope to cooperate with him now that we are back in Israel and Palestine.

The Gallaudet University event was very emotional for us. It was the first school for the advanced education of the deaf and hard of hearing in the world. I specifically remember one member of the audience named Joseph. He was a tattooed man with a goatee and long hair, born, symbolically, in 1967. His question was very direct, perhaps owing to the emphatic nature of sign language; “I’ve heard about this conflict since I was born—why the hell don't you finish it already?” He thought his comment offended us, when really he reinvigorated our conviction to end the conflict.

As a representative of people who genuinely want to see an end to the bloodshed in Israel and Palestine, Joseph lifted our spirits and reaffirmed that we must be more stubborn than those who want to perpetuate the violence and feed off the blood and tears. Both Ahmad and I were filled with the sense that the work we’d undertaken was not only right, but also the only way to tear down the walls of indifference, cynicism, and skepticism on both sides.

*Danny Shaket is a senior OneVoice Israel youth leader. He recently participated in OneVoice’s International Education Program’s 10-day speaking tour of Washington, D.C., Virginia, and North Carolina and met with top U.S. policymakers. 

Addressing today’s students to influence tomorrow’s policymakers

By Ahmad Omeir*

Ahmad Omeir (left) speaks with students at Gallaudet University for the deaf.

I’d previously wondered if the one to two hours we’d spend with an audience on a college campus would lead to anything beyond superficial discussions. I didn’t expect them to be this well-informed and ask such direct, poignant questions. The level of engagement by the students that attended the events impressed me, and many became interested in opening OneVoice chapters at their universities.

Of all the places we toured, Gallaudet University, a leading liberal arts institution for the deaf and hard of hearing based in Washington, D.C., left a special mark on me. A student asked me why, given all our efforts on the ground, we hadn’t achieved an agreement, and why we expect America to help us where we’d failed as two peoples?

Such tough questions to grapple with pushed us to examine, and sometimes revisit, our answers. Danny and I came on the tour with the understanding that the differences in our narratives and the pain shouldered on both sides needs to be overcome to achieve peace. It’s a complicated conflict, with deeply entrenched prejudices, mistrust, and fear, and we need help untangling the mess.

Time and time again, the students across all our campus events wanted to delve into the roots of the problem. They seemed oversaturated by news of day-to-day developments on the ground and wanted to learn more about the history. I wanted to focus on the work we are accomplishing in our communities, which is seldom covered in the news, and the importance of taking concrete steps today that reinvigorate the conviction on both sides to end the conflict.

The chance to share with students the sentiments on the Palestinian street and raise their awareness of the issues gained further urgency when we realized many Senate and congressional staffers were recent graduates themselves. They could well be drafting U.S. policy on the Middle East within the next year or two, and reaching out to them now may have a positive effect on the region tomorrow.

On the Hill, our mission was to counteract the growing tide of fatalism and apathy among U.S decision makers. The determination and deep commitment that Danny and I expressed on behalf of the thousands of youth we represent seemed to reenergize the sense of hope among the officials we met. I’d like to think we left them with a couple of novel ideas to help Israelis and Palestinians get back on track.

Several policymakers expressed interest in Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s state building initiative and inquired about Palestinian civil society’s contribution in the undertaking. I took the chance to highlight the active role Palestinian civil society has played in aiding the Palestinian government’s efforts. At Young Entrepreneurs Palestine (YEP), where I serve as acting executive director, we’ve introduced policy changes and offered assistance to young Palestinians starting their own businesses. In doing so, we instilled in them the necessity of achieving a viable, independent, and secure Palestinian state to safeguard their livelihood.

I came away from the tour feeling reinvigorated and eager to redouble the effort to build grassroots momentum for a two-state solution.

Israelis and Palestinians have a personal responsibility to the end the conflict, and at OneVoice, my fellow youth leaders not only rise up to the challenge, but also motivate those around them to get involved. Our job is difficult, and we need the continued support and engagement of the international community, and specifically the U.S., to end the Israeli occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state, leading to a permanent agreement that guarantees security and peace for both sides.

*Ahmad Omeir is a senior OneVoice Palestine youth leader. He recently participated in OneVoice’s International Education Program’s 10-day speaking tour of Washington, D.C., Virginia, and North Carolina and met with top U.S. policymakers.

OneVoice Europe launches new membership program

New York, October 25, 2010–OneVoice Europe (OVE) launched a new membership program to encourage supporters of OneVoice to join the movement.

Download OneVoice Europe Membership Form

“This membership drive gives supporters a chance to contribute toward our grassroots movement in a meaningful and impactful way," said John Lyndon, executive director of OneVoice Europe. "Members will be joining a worldwide community of people who want to play their part in ending this conflict once and for all.”

OneVoice Europe, launched in May 2006, has been engaging with communities, opinion makers, and politicians in the UK and beyond to ensure the voice of the moderate majority is heard in Europe.

To get in contact with OneVoice Europe, please e-mail: europe@onevoicemovement.org.uk.

OneVoice showcasing short films at the UK Jewish Film Festival

London, October 25, 2010—OneVoice Europe (OVE) invites you to the UK Jewish Film Festival's special screening of short films from our ambitious Imagine 2018 program at 6:45 pm on Monday, November 8, at the Tricycle Theater in London.

OneVoice filmed thousands of Israelis and Palestinians giving their vision and answering these questions: what will it take to get there and what is your role in achieving this vision. The event will highlight what film can contribute in empowering people to define their aspirations for peace whilst giving a voice to their hopes and fears.

The UKJFF is showcasing a selection of these OneVoice films, including several from high profile decision makers in the region, as well as two short films by acclaimed Israeli filmmakers.

Soldier and Boy
Director Eran Ricklis I Script Shay Noilander
An Israeli soldier and a young Palestinian boy have an encounter.

Tel Aviv–Damascus Express
Director Rami Blair I Script Chen Asulin and Nadav Kugen
Studying in another country can be stressful for parents when their children are leaving home.

The screenings will be followed by a panel discussion with journalist Martin Bright and an opportunity for some members of the audience to record their own ‘Imagine 2018’ visions, allowing them to become part of the process that reflects the changing role of film in today’s digital Internet age.

Tickets: £10.50 (US$16.50)—Order your ticket by calling the Tricycle box office on +44 (0)207-328-1000 

Q+A with new IEP youth leaders Mohammad and Eliran

New York, October 21, 2010--Eliran Eyal and Mohammad Asideh met for the first time this month following their selection to represent their constituencies on OneVoice’s upcoming International Education Program (IEP) speaking tour of Southern California and Colorado. Next month, the pair will share the stage during a wide array of events with only each other to rely on. Eliran Eyal, 29, an actor and OneVoice Israel youth leader, hails from Ramat Gan, a town east of Tel Aviv. Mohammad Asideh, 23, president of OneVoice Palestine’s youth council, lives in the West Bank City of Nablus. They got together for a brief introductory interview on Wednesday and revealed their excitement for engaging American audiences. 

                     

                    Mohammad Asideh (left) and Eliran Eyal.

Why did you join OneVoice?

Eliran: I attended my first meeting about two years ago. At the time, I was writing a play about Gilad Shalit and a friend of mine involved with [OneVoice Israel’s] Beer Sheva chapter recommended I go to a town hall meeting for research, since some of the same issues I was writing about would come up in the discussion. At the meeting, I felt for first time in my life like I wasn’t being lied to about the Palestinian people. I saw that they wanted the same things I wanted and that the majority were not geared toward violence. I decided to join OneVoice over say, Shalom Achshav [Peace Now], because at OneVoice you know you have a partner on the other side.

Mohammad: I made a conscious effort to join OneVoice because I liked the way it spreads its ideology. Being part of OneVoice has a negative connotation in certain circles in Palestine and is sometimes seen as perpetuating normalization, but it does the opposite. As head of the youth council, I see the way town hall meetings in Jenin, Nablus, and Bethlehem work to engage young people about important topics like nationalism. Having 30 youths in a room talking about issues is the healthiest way to support progress.

What do you both personally hope to accomplish and take home with you from the tour?

M: The IEP tour is important because it gives me the chance to project being a Palestinian in a good light. I can also spread awareness about our issues to Americans. The American people would be strong supporters if they knew about all the pressure we are facing.  On a personal level, I hope to learn and hear how others think--Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus--about the situation.

E: In general, my goal will be accomplished if after the session, I have students coming up to me saying, “You’re not alone, we’ve also been living a lie. You’re not all fighters and killers… seeing you two together, I know now there’s a chance for peace.” A week after we leave, I would love to see more active participation from the students, to see them make a bigger noise about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Do you foresee any challenges working together on tour?

M: People stereotype Jews and Muslims, Arabs and Israelis. I don’t know what people will ask me. I’m not expecting any problems, but no matter what, we will support each other on stage.

E: I will definitely support you. If any pro-Israelis get up and shout at you, I will speak up and I hope you’ll do the same.

M: We will support each other, but we shouldn’t expect to have problems.

In light of the stalled nature of these latest negotiations, do you feel any sort of pressure about being on tour, or are you anxious about reactions you might encounter from the audience?

E: I do feel pressure. I’m afraid people will shout and not give me a chance to speak.  I don’t mind if people call me names, I’m pretty sure they will. I understand people are frustrated, I just wish to have a chance to speak my mind. 

M: I fear the result if these negotiations really fail. After the last failure, there was the second intifada (uprising) and thousands were killed on both sides. Palestinians are afraid if the direct peace talks fail again. It will be a new war in the Middle East. At OneVoice, we are very supportive of negotiations as the best way to end the conflict.

OneVoice is a movement that has a message largely promoted by moderates. What does being a moderate mean to you?

E: Being a moderate is using rational thought to promote change. As an artist and actor in Israel, I see real art as something that gives you a different perspective. It’s not always for entertainment. Israel uses so much of its budget on defense and security, when it could be promoting and enriching our culture through the arts and theatre, something that really helps people.

M: A moderate is someone who is patriotic and defends Palestinian rights. A moderate wants to live in an individual state, have freedom of education and movement, and a better life without violence. Thinking in an extreme way causes problems for all people. A moderate thinks about solutions and for the future of the people, not its history.

Eliran and Mohammad are tentatively scheduled to appear at: the California State Northridge, Occidental College, San Diego State University, Santa Monica College,  University of California Irvine, Los Angeles and San Diego campuses, and the University of Denver. This will be the fifth and final OneVoice IEP One tour of 2010. Since the IEP’s inception in April 2005, 14,000 students have attended 300 OneVoice regional tour events; and there have been more than 30 tours on over 100 U.S. college campuses. 

OV youth leaders emphasize focusing on the future at Gallaudet University

 
OV youth leaders Danny Shaket (left) and Ahmad Omeir with sign language interpreters at Gallaudet University.

New York, October 12, 2010—OneVoice youth leaders Danny Shaket and Ahmad Omeir stressed the importance of the future in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at Gallaudet University, the only liberal arts university for deaf students in the world, in Washington, D.C. on September 30.

Ahmad and Danny were accompanied on stage by interpreters who simultaneously translated their words into sign language for 70 students and professors.  Assistant Professor of Government at Gallaudet Dr. Marta Vrbetic introduced Ahmad and Danny and emphasized the importance of international involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In her welcoming remarks, Vrbetic said, “It is about what we can do to help the resolution of this conflict,” not just for the people in the Middle East but for the people in the U.S. too.

Ahmad and Danny shared stories of their personal experiences, which were followed by questions from the students about how peace is possible if Israelis and Palestinians cannot agree on past issues.  One student remarked that peace doesn’t seem sustainable in the region and wondered why Palestinians and Israelis cannot just come to an agreement.

The youth leaders explained the need for each side to have their own narrative, while simultaneously working toward a final agreement.   “For me it was important that I participate in the change.  What I’m doing isn’t giving up.  It’s creating hope for my future children,” said Ahmad.

Ahmad with sign language interpreter.

Professor of Philosophy and Religion Kirk VanGilder stated how significant this event was for the students at Gallaudet.  “Although our international students bring a wide range of experiences with them from some of the world's conflict zones, we don't always have the opportunity to bring those experiences into a forum of discussion that lets the rest of our community be engaged in learning how others have lived.”

The atmosphere of the event was of mutual respect and admiration.  The youth leaders and the audience members shared feelings of being a part of communities that face daily challenges.  The event opened a dialogue amongst the students at Gallaudet of how they can help end the conflict and bring about a peaceful resolution by looking towards the future and not back at the past.

 
Danny with sign language interpreter.

Both Danny and Ahmad cited this tour stop as their most memorable.  As a result of the expressive nature of sign language, students asked direct questions that were much more straightforward than the youth leaders had previously received.   “We were able to respond by really saying what was in our hearts and minds and get out all of our emotions from the past few days.  We were happy to be able to bring the voice of the majority to those who usually do not have a voice that’s heard,” said Danny.

 
 
 Students (and interpreters) asking Ahmad and Danny questions.

Read about the event in Gallaudet University’s newspaper The Buff and Blue.

OVP receives debate training in West Bank

New York, October 11, 2010–Forty OneVoice Palestine (OVP) community leaders participated in an advanced two day training session on the basic skills of debating led by a Debate Mate team in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday and Friday.

OVP Youth Council Delegate Mohammad Aseedah engaging with community leaders during the training session.

According to their Web site, Debate Mate is a London-based company which uses debating to develop the verbal intelligence of young people, as well as communication, teamwork and leadership skills, in the areas where it is most needed. OVP members were taught “the art and skills of debating” and were also invited by the Debate Mate team to witness a live debate on the pros and cons of torture.

The Debate Mate training sessions went over extremely well.  OVP Director of Public Relations and Development Ezz Masri reports that OVP activists felt that “this was some of the best training ever received through OVP. We were taught a very simple and clear method on the skills of debating and now feel more comfortable to participate in public debates.” 

OVP members were split into two groups according to language proficiency. Masri and youth leader Malaka Samara were on hand to help with training and offered instant Arabic translation.

On behalf of OVP, Executive Director Samer Makhlouf thanked the Debate Mate team for the valuable time they invested in Palestine. Margaret McCabe, founder and chief executive of Debate Mate manager thanked OVP for their serious participation and promised that she will continue to cooperate with OVP in the future.

OVP and Debate Mate members gathered together for a picture.

OneVoice featured on WANGO's Web site

New York, October 7, 2010–The World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (WANGO) listed OneVoice as a “featured NGO”.

OneVoice is excited to partner with WANGO for the Imagine 2018 campaign.

WANGO is “a global organization whose mission is to serve its member organizations, strengthen and encourage the non-governmental sector as a whole, increase public understanding of the non-governmental community, and provide the mechanism and support needed for NGOs to connect, partner, and multiply their contributions to solve humanity's basic problems,” according to its Web site. 

WANGO holds annual conferences in an effort to advance world peace.