OneVoice Movement

OneVoice activists gain media skills at the World Perspective Seminar in Spain

By Abeer al-Natsheh* 

Abeer al-Natsheh (far right) and six other OneVoice activists speak at Suffolk University in Madrid.

El Escorial, Spain, April 30, 2011—I traveled with three other OneVoice Palestine (OVP) youth leaders, Roza Helou, Maher Abdo, and Feras Njoom, to El Escorial, a city 45 km (28 miles) outside Madrid, on April 10 to participate in the World Perspective Seminar, hosted by Concordia International Group.

Sixteen youth leaders from different countries and cultural backgrounds had the chance to analyze the international news media. The seminars, led by N. Jamil Majid, taught us to be more discerning, objective, and cautious in our approach to the information we receive. We saw how different media outlets from diverse parts of the world can cover the same news and talk about similar issues in different ways.

The skills we focused on are especially important in the context of the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as we should not believe anything we read or hear solely because we find it in the media. We should, however, analyze thoroughly, find numerous sources, and look deeply into the context of various articles and reports, paying careful attention to each sentence. This kind of media analysis will enable us to know what is going on around us and will inform our positions and actions.

In order to increase the benefit of this seminar, we will conduct training sessions for other OVP youth leaders, so that they can also analyze local media, evaluating and comparing it to international media.

At the seminar, I met youth activists from different countries, who introduced me to their culture, from food to drinks to music. This exchange enhanced the experience for everyone, giving us more knowledge and opening our eyes to new things.

It also led to networking opportunities, where we spread information about OneVoice and learned from the experiences of the other participants that came from across the world. We went into detail about our work and our professions, educating our peers and getting a clearer picture of how they view the conflict in the Middle East.

Meeting with OneVoice Israel (OVI) youth leaders outside of the region for a week gave us all the opportunity to discuss ideas and views more freely. We spoke about each other’s narratives, religion, culture, and ways of life, touching on many taboo issues.

We also brought OneVoice to a wider Spanish audience. Four OVP and three OVI youth leaders spoke about OneVoice in front of Suffolk University students in Madrid on April 12 and the other World Perspective Seminar participants. Most of the university students study political science or Middle East affairs, while others were students who had an interest in the topic.

The six youth leaders and I gave an overview of OneVoice, detailing current activities, discussing future plans, and the obstacles we face on the ground. After our presentation, we also answered questions from the audience.

The meeting went well and reminded me of the successful International Education Program (IEP) tour of the United Kingdom that I participated in during November 2008. The seminar coordinator expressed interest in holding more meetings like this, which might even lead to an IEP tour in Madrid.

I also met a Spaniard, who expressed interest in interviewing OneVoice youth leaders on his local radio. He also wanted to stock his bookstore with information about the region and the conflict.

Many ideas were planted in this seminar, but only follow up and support can make it grow and be fruitful.

*Abeer al-Natsheh is a senior OneVoice Palestine youth leader.

Israelis debate impact of international recognition of a Palestinian state

New York, April 26, 2011—OneVoice Israel has been recently holding events to talk about the efforts by the Palestinians to gain international recognition of a unilaterally declared state, infusing this potential game changer into the Israeli discourse and pushing for a preemptive peace initiative.

OVI Executive Director Tal Harris held a two hour debate on what Israel’s reaction should be toward international recognition of a Palestinian state with Erez Tadmor, policy director of the ultra-rightist group Im Tirtzu, on April 6 in the southern border town of Sderot. The same day, OVI held a town hall meeting in Beersheba, north of Sderot, with Fatah leader Sufian Abu Zaida and Col. Itamar Ya’ar, former deputy head of Israeli National Security Council, to discuss the impact on Israel of such a unilateral move come this September at the United Nations General Assembly.

“The Israeli public will perceive any unilateral steps taken by the PLO as a threat, even if the steps lead toward a two-state solution,” said Harris. “OVI’s response is to gain momentum for a bold and immediate peace initiative, based on the 1967 borders, which would render unilateral steps unnecessary.”

The Palestinian Authority plans to seek UN recognition for a Palestinian state in September, which has caused unease among many Israeli citizens and politicians. Over 100 countries currently recognize a Palestinian state, which was declared in Algiers in 1988 by the Palestinian National Council, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has recently predicted US support for Palestinian statehood, creating palpable anticipation on both sides.

Tadmor’s stance is reflective of the some Israeli leaders who warn of a “diplomatic tsunami” and who view the Palestinian bid for international support as an aggressive move that could force Israel’s hand on the ground. Harris countered with the suggestion of an immediate Israeli peace initiative to negate the need for unilateral state recognition, a position also popping up in the political discourse in Israel.

“We can’t focus on negativity; it is imperative that we look to the future and highlight the positivity and the potential within the facts,” said Harris. “I asked [Tadmor] ‘What is your vision? What are you promoting?’ You need to know because there is a narrow window of opportunity here that we can achieve peace and a better future, and we must take it.”

Harris debated with Tadmor precisely to reveal Im Tirtzu's lack of vision and clarity to the Sderot audience. Im Tirtzu has made headlines by attacking progressive, left-leaning organizations, most notably the New Israel Fund, and later widened its assault to include Israeli universities, accusing some of their departments of teaching anti-Zionist material. Critics have said the movement embraces a fascist ideology. OneVoice does not, in any way, condone the views held by the group.  

Harris felt like he received much support from the audience and reached audience members on an individual level. A settler, who regained a bit of hope, expressed his gratitude toward Tal and his desire to meet OneVoice Palestine youth activists.

“Erez Tadmor was a good speaker for [Im Tirtzu], but was not practical in a few instances,” said Ella Kraus of the OVI Sderot chapter. “On the other side, Tal represented OneVoice very well, and detailed the work that we do, speaking about a Palestinian partner on the other side.”

At the town hall meeting in Beersheba, Col. Ya’ar analyzed the current political situation, warning that this matter “can’t just [be] ignore[d]” and that UN recognition “has substantial ramifications on delegitimizing Israel, including a number of actions that will hurt the state of Israel in all fields; in its economy, the free movement of its citizens and will deepen the tear amongst the citizens and the unity of the state.”

Representing the Palestinian perspective, Abu Zaida emphasized the need to make progress. He explained that unilateral moves planned for September emanate from Palestinian disillusionment and continued political stagnation. 

“We are sick of negotiations, we want peace – not a peace process,” said Abu Zaida. “The move [for recognition] intends to delegitimize the occupation, not the state of Israel, as the world has long ago recognized Israel. We are turning now to the international community because the Palestinian public, and its leadership, feels powerless.”

OVI will continue to hold events across Israel, preparing the grassroots for a peace agreement, amidst reports of new plans and international pressure to reignite the peace process.

“Both sides are ripe and the leaders are desperate for an agreement,” said Harris. “We hope to see formal peace initiative very soon.”

OneVoice Palestine’s Antwan Saca reflects on TEDxRamallah

New York, April 22, 2011—OneVoice Palestine’s Antwan Saca attended the one day TEDxRamallah event in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on April 16.

Early that morning, Antwan gladly lined up for roughly two hours to gain admittance to the venue. The location originally was supposed to be in Ramallah, but the venue was still undergoing work, forcing the organizers to relocate to the state-of-the-art Convention Palace in Bethlehem. The move did not deter the mass numbers who attended from all over the occupied Palestinian territories.

Excited by the first ever TEDx event to take place in Palestine, OneVoice (OV) caught up with Antwan and asked him to offer his reflections on the event.

OV: Was it important for OneVoice Palestine to attend the event? Why?

ANTWAN: I went to TEDxRamallah to represent OneVoice and out of personal motivations. It’s important for OneVoice Palestine to attend TEDxRamallah because as a movement we work within civil society, at the grassroots level, encouraging each and every individual to play a role in defining their future. Similarly, the goal of TEDxRamallah was to inspire the civil society of Palestine. It is important that we support movements with goals that complement those of OneVoice Palestine.

OV: Was it important for you, personally, to attend TEDxRamallah? Why?

ANTWAN: In the past, I’ve attended conferences that aimed to inspire and teach me, but they were always abroad or held by internationals. For the first time, I was able to attend a conference where my own people were telling the inspiring stories. It was a new experience for me to finally be inspired by Palestinians who are known to be successful and have lived in the same difficult situation as myself.

OV: Name a highlight that left an impression on you from the event. Why did it leave an impression?

ANTWAN: The highlight for me was listening to Suad Amiry's closing speech. Her story of how she became a writer by accident at the age of 55 emphasized her point that you should always do what you love in life. She studied architecture and founded the Riwaq Center for Architectural Conservation. Yet, at 55, she discovered that she had a passion for writing to inspire and encourage her people and bring stories about their humanity to the world. She was not afraid to follow her passion, even in the face of adversity. Without a doubt, her story inspired me to always follow my passion, especially in my quest to improve the situation for my people. I’d love to see more speakers like her.

OV: Was the event impactful for you? How?

ANTWAN: Now I have more confidence that there are great and inspiring Palestinian stories to share, not only on a political level, but from everyday people living in Palestine. I came away with a deep sense of belief that we, Palestinians, will end the Israeli occupation through nonviolent activism, and gain our internationally backed right to self-determination and statehood. I can’t wait for next year’s TEDx.

Dr. Howard J. Sumka New OneVoice Chief Executive Officer

As we reach out to wish you a happy and peaceful Passover and Easter, OneVoice is delighted to announce that Dr. Howard J. Sumka accepted the newly created position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), overseeing the movement’s offices in London, New York, Ramallah, and Tel Aviv.

Read the full press release»  

As the Middle East’s youth spur demands for democratic change, OneVoice is especially well positioned to seize and channel that momentum to propel political representatives toward a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

“I’m excited to welcome Howard to head our talented team,” said OneVoice Founder and Chair Daniel Lubetzky. “His leadership will enable us to leverage all of our strengths, as we address the enormous challenges and opportunities the region faces. We have very ambitious plans, and he has the management skills, track record, and strategic depth necessary to execute on them.”

OneVoice convened an executive search committee, composed of a cross-section of board members, for the extensive selection process. Howard’s selection was unanimous.

“To reach the full potential of the movement, we recognized the need to strengthen our senior leadership,” said Samer Hamadeh, PeaceWorks Foundation board member, who served on the executive search committee. “We therefore created the CEO position to lead our high caliber, but youthful, team and take their game to the next level.”

Prior to joining OneVoice, Howard completed a 25-year career with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). An expert in post-conflict reconstruction and development, he was the Director of USAID’s country missions in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and, most recently, West Bank and Gaza. He provided strategic leadership for programs in these complex multiethnic and multi-religious societies. Read Dr. Howard Sumka’s full biography»

Howard earned enormous respect from both his Palestinian and Israeli counterparts for his professional approach to solving the problems of the conflict and his empathy for the suffering on both sides. Most importantly, he is fully committed to the OneVoice vision of ending the occupation and achieving security and peaceful relations between Israel, Palestine, and all of their neighbors.

Join us this holiday week in welcoming Howard to our global movement. With your help, OneVoice continues to grow. More than 660,000 Israelis, Palestinians, and internationals have signed our mandate affirming support for the two-state solution. Thank you for your unwavering support. Together, we can steal back our future.

International Education Program highlights OneVoice consensus-building at University of Wisconsin events

Mohammad Asideh, right, discussing the conflict with University of Wisconsin students.

New York, April 15, 2011—Activists Mohammad Asideh and Shir Lachish alerted University of Wisconsin students on Monday and Tuesday to the parallel consensus-building OneVoice is accomplishing in the Middle East. 

Each day, Mohammad and Shir grapple with the final-status issues, such as borders and settlements, which preclude an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. In order to do so, they must mediate between various political factions and build trust within communities. The event in Wisconsin enabled them to highlight this aspect of their work.

 

The students at the University of Wisconsin campuses in Madison and Milwaukee have themselves suffered a lack of trust for years. In 2010, an Israeli Independence Day celebration in Milwaukee exploded into a violent altercation between Jewish and Muslim students. When visiting communities experiencing polarization over the Middle East conflict, OneVoice aims to refocus the dialogue on the important issues and amplify the voices of moderate Israelis and Palestinians to secure a two-state solution. 

“There’s the important issue we need to address: What the people want,” Mohammad, of OneVoice Palestine, illustrated.

 

OneVoice works to empower the peace-seeking majority within Israel and Palestine in an effort to achieve a mutually-agreeable two-state solution. The work is not easy; in order to motivate elected leaders to reach peace, a level of consensus must first be achieved. The first step toward doing so is promoting a sensible pragmatic approach to final-status issues. 

“That’s one of the reasons why we do our town hall meetings,” said International Education Program Manager Rachel Steinberg. “We’re building consensus not only for compromises, but for final-status issues.” 

The group in attendance came with a solemn understanding of the daunting task OneVoice has undertaken. The Wisconsin students were aware that there is more to a solution than security and specifically voiced their concern and interest in the struggle for resources, with water disputes being the most notable. It is not simply the news-making security issues that prevent a solution; access to water and future economic opportunity are vital concerns of both the Israelis and Palestinians. 

“As Palestinians, we are very pragmatic about negotiations,” said Mohammad, reflecting on the difficult final-status issues. “We must invest in the future by solving the conflict.”

Q&A with Palestinian actor Said Zarzar

Said Zarzar performs his play "The Dream of Said" before a young audience in Bethlehem.

New York, April 15, 2011—OneVoice Palestine (OVP) collaborated with Inad Theater and Said Zarzar, a young professional actor, to launch an original play, entitled “The Dreams of Said, the Storyteller.” OVP and the theater company plan to bring the play to young audiences across the West Bank, inspiring them to dream big and define their future. 

The play, loosely based on the classic fairytale "Sleeping Beauty," takes an unexpected turn when the princess wakes up in the year 2018, seven years after Israel's occupation has ended and a peace agreement signed between both nations.

The first performance took place in the West Bank village of Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, on April 2, enthralling 100 young teenagers. OneVoice (OV) caught up with Said shortly after his first performance to ask him a few questions.

OV: How long have you been involved in storytelling as an artist? What drew you to OneVoice's storytelling project?

SZ: I've worked in theater as an actor for roughly five years and before that I participated in open days and workshops for children, which incorporated well-known stories. Stories have played a big role in my life. When I was asked to create “The Dreams of Said, the Storyteller,” I felt the positive energy inside me as an actor telling me to accept.

I started writing the script along with Inad Theater Director Khaled Yousef Massou. It was amazing because once Khaled and I started writing, we never stopped. The ideas were taking us to a different world and I started to live in the world I created, really putting myself into the script. And now, after this experience, I can say, I love being a storyteller. I feel like I’m helping children to dream of a better future.

OV: What is your vision for Palestine’s future?

SZ: While some of my thoughts on Palestine's future might be negative and pessimistic, they are outweighed by my big dreams for a better Palestine. I believe that my dreams can become a reality, which was a main focus of the script. If I close my eyes now and imagine Palestine in 2018, I'd like to see the separation wall torn down and no more checkpoints scattered across the occupied Palestinian territories. I imagine myself driving to Jerusalem to visit my relatives and praying in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

I wish to see new generations of Palestinians growing up in a healthy, non-violent community, where they can have a normal, creative childhood, which any child in the world should have. I wish them a better childhood than the one my generation had.

OV: How does storytelling play a role in Palestinian state building?

SZ: Storytellers around the world can allow people to dream and help them to get back the hope of a sovereign, free Palestinian state. I believe in dreams. They are like a thread between fact and fiction, and our role is to believe in those dreams of what our beloved country, Palestine, could be, and work to make them a reality.

OV: What is the relevance of remembering the past, while looking to the future?

SZ: In my opinion, wallowing in the past is distracting. We could cry forever over the past, but never build our state for the future. It is too easy to dwell on the past, sitting in our houses, talking about 1948, and what happened, and how ugly it was, but then we will forget what's more important: our future. Yes, our history is painful and devastating, but do we want it to continue? Of course not! This is why I use history as a base for the script only; to show how we can turn the difficulties we have faced into a better future.

OV: How has the audience response been so far? Are you happy with the reactions?

SZ: I feel very proud of the play and the responses thus far. The students were very interested in the whole play. More importantly, I've seen the dreams and wishes in their eyes, and know that some scenes truly touched their hearts. After my first performance, we had a discussion workshop with the students, and one of the girls made me cry. We brought her on stage and asked her about her dreams of Palestine in the future. Unable to retrain her emotions, she said, “I hope to be able to go to the sea with my family, freely." She then broke into tears.

OV: How can this activity help people find their role in ending the conflict?

SZ: We must transfer the positive energy to the younger generation. Palestine’s youth holds the key to a better future. All they have to do is to believe in their dreams and live them.

Shir Lachish and Mohammad Asideh allay misconceptions of a two-state solution

Shir, left, and Mohammad, center, with DePaul students.

New York, April 12, 2011—Freeing themselves from the toxic campus milieu, a small group of action-oriented DePaul students joined OneVoice youth activists Shir Lachish and Mohammad Asideh on Friday in dispelling fears and misconceptions of a two-state solution.

On a campus rife with mistrust, the contingent willing to brave the cold April rain and repair the cold community relations showed a shrewd understanding of the conflict and found a source of guidance and encouragement in Shir and Mohammad. The students and youth activists broached the issues DePaul faces, namely fear and misunderstanding. By sharing their own experiences, Shir and Mohammad helped the DePaul students find avenues through which to change the campus culture.

“Fear doesn’t help us progress,” Shir, of OneVoice Israel, affirmed.

The students in attendance, many of whom were members of the campus Hillel, brought forth concerns that members of their community have expressed regarding a two-state solution and named specific causes of polarization on campus. One student pointed to a propensity of his community to focus on the past as a polarizing force. In response, Shir stressed that in order reach a lasting peace we must put past grievances aside and resist the temptation to compare suffering.

Mohammad took the opportunity to share his own experience with that barrier. “Through my education, I’ve come to have a clearer understanding of the history,” he explained. “I use it to create awareness in my community. Instead of focusing only on the history, I make connections between history and the future.”

Another issue raised was the commonly held misconception that an independent Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution will be a haven for Palestinian extremists. This issue, according to the student in attendance, was a major factor in keeping many away from the gathering Friday. At OneVoice, we seek to break the patterns of mistrust that fuel such misconceptions and build mutual respect. OneVoice’s Imagine 2018 campaign envisages not a future of extremism, but a future of freedom and prosperity.

“This [current situation] is a haven for extremists,” Mohammad contended. “But when you talk about a solution, when you talk about independent states, you talk about people who want to live a good life, people who are seeking opportunities.”

OneVoice Palestinian activists speak directly to Israeli students in Beersheba

New York, April 8, 2011—OneVoice Palestine and OneVoice Israel banded together at Ben Gurion University (BGU) on April 1 giving the movement’s Palestinian activists an opportunity to speak in an intimate university setting with Israeli students.

In traveling from the West Bank to Beersheba in Southern Israel, Palestinian activists Antwan Saca, Ahmad Omeir, and Malaka Samara spanned over 100 km (62 miles), but bridged a divide greater than any measurement can convey. The event at BGU gave OneVoice Palestine (OVP) the platform to speak directly to Israeli students, bypassing the media to present its vision for ending the occupation and establishing a sovereign Palestinian state.

“They saw my face,” OVP’s Ahmad Omeir said. “They have a face for a Palestinian now, not only what they read in the news.”

An endeavor of this nature was a new experience for Malaka and one she relished. “I got the chance for the first time,” she explained, “to tell Israeli students that we have the right to our confiscated land, our independence, our dignity.”

Despite covering a range of contentious issues, a level of respect was maintained by all sides. In this current period of elevated tension, OneVoice events such as the Beersheba panel discussion are of the utmost importance, tempering the common reflex to chastise the other side.

OneVoice is providing avenues for people to discuss the issues frankly and candidly. “For me,” Ahmad revealed, “sharing openly with my counterpart, the youth sector in Israel, is very important as it breaks down the barrier of denouncing the existence of the other side and their right to exist.”

“I think the people were very receptive to the Palestinians,” OneVoice Israel’s Gabriel Avner added.

“The atmosphere was full of acceptance and understanding from the Israeli side,” Malaka agreed. “It would be great if every Palestinian could get the chance to have this experience, then we can affect the majority of the Israeli side, and then we can effect positive change on their political leaders.”

It is events such as OneVoice’s Beersheba panel discussion that sow hope in the hearts of people across the region. From this discussion, we can build trust and develop the rapport it will take to reach a two-state solution.

”As a youth leader,” Antwan Saca explained, “I never gave up hope in breaking the siege between nations, if policymakers mess things up, that does not mean the two societies should give up reaching out and showing that there is a partner for a real and comprehensive deal.”

Tal Harris calls Israelis to join the cause for peace

New York, April 5, 2011—In the face of impassioned cries for reprisal and reactionary anti-peace rhetoric, Executive Director Tal Harris has propelled OneVoice Israel's message of pragmatism to the forefront of the debate.

On Friday, March 25, in Tel Aviv, Tal was featured in a peace camp conference hosted by Peace Now, using the platform to spread the forward-thinking, solution-oriented attitude necessary to achieve a lasting peace.

Tal called upon the Israeli public to craft a common vision for the future and to maintain that vision through periods of tumult.

Speaking to the crowd and the public at-large, Tal urged Israel to coalesce in support of a two-state solution, addressing that in order to do so, small ideological gaps must be bridged. Additionally, he warned that Israel must prepare itself for adverse and unforeseen circumstances that could arise.

Tal advocated that in the event of an escalation of violence or a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood, Israel must measure its response, temper its indignation, and press onward to reach an agreement.

OneVoice youth leaders bring NorCal students to the discussion table

Rachel Steinberg, IEP Manager (front and center), Bahsar (brown jacket), and Tomer (back, second from right) with students on the IEP NorCal tour.

New York, April 4, 2011— At universities across Northern California, students flocked to OneVoice International Education Program (IEP) tour events this March, eager to challenge the status quo, challenge the youth leaders, and challenge themselves.

OneVoice activists Tomer Avital and Bashar Shweiki gracefully fielded an array of questions from students spanning the political spectrum, encouraging the attendees to check their premises and imagine a future of promise. The young men described the work they’re doing on the ground and pushed those in attendance to join the effort to end the conflict. Students who came jaded left with a sense of hope.

“We have to start thinking rationally and reasonably,” implored Bashar Shweiki of OneVoice Palestine.

Discussions were facilitated at numerous events on the tour, perhaps most notably at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz students came prepared, bringing critical issues to the table. In a true testament to the OneVoice mission, Tomer and Bashar were able to frankly discuss contentious issues like settlements and borders while maintaining a respectful attitude toward all parties.

“My goal was to challenge them to create dialogues and initiatives to reach a two-state solution and to not depict one side versus the other,” said Tomer, of OneVoice Israel. “American students should act as role models for us in the region, and not fuel extremists.”

Another stop on the tour was in Berkeley, when the OneVoice team stopped at the University of California, a public high school, and Jewish day school. The schoolchildren, though they had only ever known the Jewish perspective of the conflict, were particularly receptive and keen to hear Bashar’s story of life as a Palestinian. Bashar endeared himself to the children, telling them, “We are not here to compare suffering. If we do, we will never stop, never reach a solution, and another generation will inherit our conflict.”

At Stanford University, as one student explained, there has been marked polarization on campus, with one organization advocating for divestment from Israel and another vociferously contesting such a move.  Tomer and Bashar clarified why such efforts only hurt the situation and asked the students to make a positive impact. Americans can help, says Tomer, by “setting an example of cooperation.”

“I’m interested in ending the conflict and I want to do something for my future and for my children’s future,” said Bashar, leaving the audience with some inspired words as the Stanford event came to a close. “You have to decide between resisting in the violent way or you have to think rationally and decide what the best way to end the conflict is. And the best way is the non-violent way.”