OneVoice Movement

OneVoice Hosts Building Bridges for Peace

Dr. Patrick Magee and Jo Berry of Building Bridges for Peace met students at OneVoice Israel event at the University of Haifa. They travelled to Ramallah the next day to meet with OneVoice Palestine activists. 

On March 13, Dr. Patrick Magee, a former IRA member, and the daughter of one of Magee’s victims, Jo Berry, spoke about the role of forgiveness and conflict resolution at an event co-sponsored by OneVoice Israel and Haifa University.

The event enabled Pat and Jo, founders of Building Bridges for Peace, to share their unique story and relay back to the students the importance that understanding and dialogue played in their reconciliation. Indeed, a key theme throughout the talk was empathy, for it is only through understanding of where someone else comes from that we are able to learn of the circumstances which shaped the views and opinions of others. 

This point was emphasized by Jo when she said, given a change of circumstances, she could have easily grown up to be a member of the IRA. She stressed that actions are determined by circumstances, not by any innate characteristics within us. It was only through knowing Pat, and the struggles and injustices he faced growing up in the Northern Ireland conflict, that she could understand how and why he turned to violence, and in turn why her father lost his life. 

Pat and Jo have traveled to many countries to share their story, but this was their first visit to Israel and Palestine.

“Everybody wants peace, every conversation we’ve had here has been about that,” Pat observed. “There’s a solution already there, it’s just creating the conditions for people to come around the table and thrash it out. There’s so much fear. Fear drives people to apathy and drives people to extremes.”

Some students present in Haifa found the idea of Pat's and Jo’s reconciliation incomprehensible, even wrong, though many others wanted to better understand. As such, some frank exchanges between the students and the speakers took place.

Pat was also keen to emphasize that one must not lose hope.

“There’s a list of seemingly endless problems, no solutions in sight, and then this miracle happens,” Pat said after a question about seemingly intractable conflicts.

The students asked Pat and Jo a variety of questions, ranging from how their families received the partnership, to how their experiences and what they have learned could be applied to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In response, the message was clear, in that it emphasized the need to be open, patient, and to empathize – to imagine one’s self in the place of the other.

Jo also had some practical advice to end on: “I recommend you get involved with OneVoice, they do fantastic work.”

***

Pat and Jo with OVP activists in Ramallah.

The next day, OneVoice Palestine youth leaders met with Pat and Jo in Ramallah.

Pat and Jo had a chance to discuss the conflict, occupation, and suffering, as well as see the impact of the settlements and separation wall. They shared their stories with youth leaders in an event OVP’s activists described as “inspiring” and “a powerful example of reconciliation.”

Within the duration of this visit, Jo spoke of her commitment to peaceful resolution, mediation of conflict, and about Building Bridges for Peace. She was inspired by the youth leaders’ work in the West Bank and Gaza and their commitment to non-violent activism. Pat spoke about his journey, his 14 years in prison, and Jo’s efforts for achieving reconciliation with him.

OVP youth leaders shared observations about the need for justice, an end to the occupation, and solving all final status issues in line with international resolutions as pre-requisites to real reconciliation with Israel in a meaningful sense.

The youth leaders listened intently to Pat’s story, and then explained how there is another internal reconciliation that Palestinians are concerned about: the schism between the West Bank and Gaza, and how important healing this divide will be in order to achieve a sustainable peace agreement with the Israelis that will end the occupation, build the Palestinian state, and bring peace to the region.

Over the course of two hours, Pat and Jo shared with the youth leaders the concept of creating a legitimate partnership in times of conflict. They also answered questions by the youth on peace building and the obstacles generated by mistrust and frustration on both sides of the conflict.

“I can only imagine their journey for reconciliation,” said OVP activist and Project Manager Malaka Samara. “In times of conflict, it is important to hear the other side and give an opportunity to create a legitimate partner to end the conflict for the benefits of both sides.”

With Israel’s coalition government formed, Maya Peretz reflects on OVI campaign

Jerusalem Coordinator Maya Peretz hangs posters near the Knesset and the entrance to Jerusalem. The campaign called for Yair Lapid to keep his promise to promote the peace process and not go into a coalition with Habayit Hayehudi.

The Israeli government’s coalition formation period is over, leaving surprise winner Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid with Habayit Hayehudi’s Naftali Bennett, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Likud, and Tzipi Livni of HaTnua to officially lead Israel’s 33^rd government.

While the outcome is not what OneVoice Israel would have wanted, it is important to understand and acknowledge the effort OVI’s youth leaders dedicated to their campaign and how much work is still needed to bring the two-state solution and an end to the conflict to the forefront of Israeli policy.

Maya Peretz, the Jerusalem regional coordinator, was caught by surprise after the election and during the run-up to this announcement.

“[Yesh Atid] was supposed to be the biggest party representing the moderates in Israeli society and [Habayit Hayehudi] has very nationalistic views, which among other things calls for no compromises when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Maya explained. “I think that because of this surprising move it is also very difficult to predict what direction this government will go.”

For two months, OVI engaged in a vigorous social and traditional media campaign to keep the pressure on Lapid during the coalition process. They particularly targeted his promise to restart negotiations with the Palestinians as a condition for his joining a coalition, as well as his call to take the money from the settlements – putting a partial freeze on construction – and investing the money in Israel’s middle class.

OVI postered messages all over Israeli streets criticizing Lapid’s alliance with Bennett and submitted op-eds, letters to the editor, and ads to national media. Youth leaders canvassed outside the Knesset and Lapid’s house. They even danced the Harlem Shake in a satirical video aimed at the Lapid-Bennett alliance.

Key highlights included an opportunity to meet with Robert Serry, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, to discuss the immediate need for a two-state solution, as well as Dr. Patrick Magee and Jo Berry, founders of Building Bridges for Peace.

During this campaign period, OVI also inspired a wider online conversation on several pages.

Maya believes that Lapid’s alliance with Bennett deserved every ounce of creativity emanated by OVI’s campaign.

“Sometimes it’s very hard to find activities that can really change reality and promote the two-state solution,” Maya said. “These actives felt like we were doing something with this issue and that we were responding to the current political reality. We wanted to make sure that he stood behind these statements, but we found that the bond with Bennett is causing him to betray exactly that.”

Maya suggests that the mood on the Israeli street is that Lapid’s coalition with Bennett resulted in support because its unexpected nature, as well as refusing to give in to initial pressures from Netanyahu.

Although the two claim they differ on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Lapid and Bennett share the same ideas in other areas of Israeli society, including drafting the Ultra-Orthodox into the military and the status of Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel.

This is yet another challenge for Maya. As the Jerusalem coordinator, she is a vocal advocate for the sharing of Jerusalem between Israel (West Jerusalem) and a future Palestinian state (East Jerusalem), something that isn’t an easy task sans election years.

“The fact that the Knesset is placed in Jerusalem makes it very relevant to these [unique] activities,” she said. “Jerusalem is one of the core issues of the conflict and has its own symbolic significance, which makes it a lot more important and meaningful to be active there in general.”

So what’s next for OVI in the coming months?

“I think we should focus on empowering the moderate voices in the government and reestablish our Two-State Solution Caucus,” Maya suggested. “We need to use it to pressure the policymakers of Yesh Atid from inside the government, all while ramping-up the pressure from outside the Knesset with our youth activists from all over Israel.”

Robert Serry, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, speaks about the need to act now for the two-state solution with audience members at Tel Aviv University. Serry criticized the potential policy of the new coalition of enhancing settlement construction, thereby adding to OVI’s momentum toward combating the potential consequences of Bennett's party membership in the new government.

  

OVI Ballot Campaign: a Q&A with Ori Ben-Ner

With Israeli election campaigns winding down before the January 22 vote, OneVoice Israel just wrapped up its own non-partisan election campaign. Traveling around the country was a ballot – not to elect a politician – but to vote on what everyday Israelis believe to be the top issues. 

Youth leader and OVI’s coordinator for the region of central Israel, Ori Ben-Ner, talked about his experience at OneVoice, the ballot campaign, and what the elections mean for Israel’s future. 

OneVoice: Why did you join the Movement? 

Ori: I joined OneVoice for two reasons. First, I believe that this conflict is the main and most urgent problem that Israel is dealing with and that we need to solve it ASAP. The second reason is more personal – I don’t think that I can continue living in Israel, morally speaking. The conflict leaves me with no other choice because I like my home and country and wish to build my life here. The work at OneVoice gives me hope. 

OV: Why did you want to get involved in the ballot campaign? 

Ori: The main reason that I wanted to get involved in this specific campaign is its basic idea. This campaign symbolizes my main beliefs on the subject of the conflict: you simply can't maintain an ongoing and harmful conflict while expecting the economy to flourish and the citizens to feel secure. 

OV: What cities or campuses were you located, and what did you say to people as they approached the ballot?

Ori: We did this campaign at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan and at Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya. We also put up the ballot at bars in Herzliya and again in Tel Aviv University and in crowded streets and markets in Tel Aviv, while other activists did the same in numerous towns and campuses across the country.  I mainly asked people about the issue that most concerns them in the upcoming elections. About 90 percent of the people answered something that fits one of our voting slips. After they voted for their issue, we explained why it has to do with the two-state solution and we give them a flyer that explains it as well. 

OV: What were the reactions of these people, and were there any confrontations or good discussions? Did they see the connection between the issues and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict right away? 

Ori: I think that the biggest advantage of this campaign is the fact that it is a great platform for discussion. Most people actually stayed listened to us, and read the information we gave them. I believe that it has to do with the fun and active platform with which we approached them. We had some great discussions at Bar-Ilan, a university with a large percentage of religious/right-wing voters. After they voted, we confronted them with our information and about the settlements, conflict, and occupation. Obviously, there were many students that started to argue or shout, but some religious and right wing students actually stayed for long discussions and were very open to hearing our views.  Regarding the connection between the issues and conflict, it definitely takes some convincing. Many people are aware of the connection, but most citizens here need some explanation. 

OV: What is the general feeling in Israeli society toward the elections?

Ori: I believe that people are mostly apathetic to the upcoming elections. Most people feel that the politicians aren’t dealing with their basic and daily problems. I believe that the politicians are trying to back away from the two-state solution because they feel that they can lose voters by promoting it. This is exactly what our campaign deals with. I do believe that any day that passes without negotiations and efforts to end the conflict brings us closer to deeper stagnation, violent acts and uprisings, and a dysfunctional future.

AP: Voter turnout push could challenge Israeli leader

By Amy Teibel, Associated Press, January 13, 2013

JERUSALEM (AP) — With large numbers of Israelis expected to sit out next week's election, centrist activists have launched a last-ditch appeal to get out the vote, hoping to defy what appears to be a guaranteed victory for a hard-line bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This grassroots effort could be the moderate camp's only chance. Moderate, secular voters tend to turn out in smaller numbers than ideologically motivated hard-liners. Reversing this trend, experts say, is the surest way to take on the government's handling of major issues like stalled peacemaking with the Palestinians, Iran's nuclear program and a troubled economy.

Polls published in Israeli newspapers over the weekend projected Netanyahu and his traditional right-wing and religious allies winning between 64 and 71 seats, enough to secure a majority in the 120-member parliament, compared to 49 to 56 for centrist and Arab parties.

Pollster Camil Fuchs says those numbers reflect current trends. "But a four to five percentage point change in turnout could change things," he said.

The get-out-the vote campaigners, including television personalities and local celebrities, present their efforts as non-partisan, but many are perceived to be aligned with Netanyahu's opponents.

Netanyahu's opponents say the stakes are especially high in the current election. Critics point to the deadlock in peace efforts with the Palestinians, his repeated run-ins with President Barack Obama and Iran's suspect nuclear program. Without a strong alliance with the U.S., they say, it would be difficult to halt the Iranians or rally international support for Israel's positions toward the Palestinians.

Netanyahu's Likud Party has fielded an especially hawkish slate of candidates who reject concessions to the Palestinians. The rise of "Jewish Home," a pro-settler party that could play a major role in the next coalition government, could further affect peace efforts. Jewish Home's leader, Naftali Bennett, and many inside Likud have advocated annexing parts of the West Bank.

Reflecting his hawkish line Monday, Netanyahu told Israel's Channel 2 TV that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas does not want to negotiate. "We don't have to say that we don't have a future here because Abu Mazen doesn't want to negotiate with us," Netanyahu said, referring to Abbas by his nickname. Abbas blames Israel for a four-year stalemate in peace talks.

The Palestinians claim all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, for their hoped-for state. Israeli moderates warn that Israel's continued control of these territories and their millions of Palestinian residents threaten Israel's status as a Jewish democracy.

Despite the pressing issues, turnout in recent elections has been just over 60 percent. Fuchs said turnout among supporters of Netanyahu and his allies is generally higher than among the rest of the population.

According to pollsters, turnout is especially low among several key groups — political moderates, people under 30 and Israeli Arabs. These constituencies all tend to favor Netanyahu's opponents.

Political parties are conducting classic get-out-the-vote campaigns, with automated phone calls, parlor meetings, transportation to polling stations and specific appeals to groups, like women and young voters.

Other groups not directly affiliated with specific parties are also getting out the message.

Click to read the rest of the article.

OneVoice Israel targets ballot issues in Israeli election campaign

OVI youth leaders and students at the ballot stop at Bar-Ilan University on Dec. 26, 2012.

With elections to Israel’s Knesset slated for January 22, one cannot help but notice the political buzz around the country.  According to some, these elections are counted as the most important in the state’s history, with sharp divisions between many of the candidates and parties on what is the best way forward for Israel at this critical juncture.

Domestic, foreign, social, and cultural issues are on the minds of candidates and voters alike. Not knowing why to vote and what issues are most pressing can greatly influence the outcome of the election and the future of the state.

Luckily for voters, OneVoice Israel (OVI) is setting the record straight. Since the end of December, OVI’s “traveling ballot” campaign made stops at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan (Dec. 25-26), Sapir College in Sderot (Dec. 26), IDC-Herzliya (Dec. 30-31 and Jan.8), Hebrew University and Jerusalem (Jan. 2, 4, and 7-9), and many other cities and campuses.

The campaign is an effort to talk about the current issues and educate students and community members about what can help mitigate Israel’s problems. The message behind the campaign is simple – every issue, be it security, socio-economic, the national character of Israel, and others – is tied to the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Ever since the forefathers of the state declared independence in 1948, the issue of peace was on the agenda,” said Tal Harris, executive director of OVI. “For the first time it seems that the elections are about a lot of other issues – social justice, security, and others. Peace is left out of the agenda for most parties.”

“In a context in which more than 70 percent of the Israeli public accepts a territorial compromise of Two States for Two Peoples, but is equally skeptical about the prospects to achieve it, the disastrous effects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be easily ignored,” he continued. “That is why our youth leaders are now campaigning to remind people about how the conflict impedes, for example, our economy, and to mobilize Israeli citizens to vote with the two-state solution in mind.”

At each stop, the ballot becomes a focal point in city centers and campuses, allowing citizens to vote for what they believe is the most important issue on the agenda. To date, hundreds of people cast OVI’s ballots. More stops are on the schedule, including Haifa University, Jerusalem Market, and Tel Aviv’s Nahalat Bynyamin street market.

“The people that came up to my ballot box in Beit Berl were very interested and happy that we were doing this – many gave us their contact information,” said Adva Vilchinski, director of OVI’s youth leadership program. “They understood that the only way to promote whatever he or she voted for is by promoting the two-state solution.”

Town hall meetings across the country, set up and led by OVI activists, are also conveying the same message from the people directly to the candidates for the 19^th Knesset. Over 500 citizens engaged in these events, from Tel Hai in the very north, through the metropolitan area of Tel Aviv, and down to the south.

“Our events in cities like Beer-Sheva and Sderot in the south are of particular importance,” adds Tal. “These towns were impacted directly and most severely by the conflict. Our activists there bring people the news of a partner that seeks peace and rejects violence, and that is a crucial piece of truth for them to carry in mind when voting on January 22.”

Want to see more? Check out OneVoice Israel’s Facebook page, which facilitates a challenging discussion over the future of Israel and sends out messages about the importance of voting for the two-state solution.

Egyptian human rights activist living proof of hope

Left to right at top: OVI Youth Leadership Program Director Adva Vilchinski, Youth Leader Maya Peretz-Ruiz, YL Elad Laor, Egyptian activist Maikel Nabil Sanad, YL Nir Mekler, YL Gal Raij, and YL Livne Tslil. Left to right at bottom: YL Gabriel Avner, YL Smadar Cohen-Chen, and YL Liat Leizer.

In an intimate meeting room in Tel Aviv on January 1, OneVoice Israel staff and youth leaders met with a man of peace, of justice, and of grassroots mobilization.

Maikel Nabil Sanad is an Egyptian military conscientious objector, a human rights activist, well-known blogger, and 2012 Noble Peace Prize nominee. He spent 302 days in prison for writing articles on the Egyptian military’s human rights violations, and engaged in a 130-day hunger strike. Maikel was released from prison on Jan. 24, 2012, and toured Europe, the U.S., Egypt, and now Israel, speaking about democracy.

“Everyone was really excited to meet him,” said Smadar Cohen-Chen, 29, an OVI youth leader in attendance. “It was a cooperative, but laid-back atmosphere – very much like ‘what do you need from me and what do I need from you to keep [our goals] going.’”

Maikel and the OVI team spoke about several topics, but the relationship between Egypt and Israel was the most popular. The Muslim Brotherhood, the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s new constitution, and the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty were all on the table.

Likewise, feelings and concerns about the apparent quashing of the liberal movement within the Egyptian revolution was an item for discussion.

Maikel assured his audience that Egyptians got rid of Mubarak and will not settle for another dictatorship – yet revolutions take time, as the American and French Revolutions did, Smadar said.

What the American and French revolutionaries did not have, however, is the Internet. Both OVI and Maikel utilize online communities to spark grassroots mobilization, disseminate information that governments may not want the population to have, and to speak out against prevailing feelings of apathy and cynicism.

According to Smadar, a PhD. candidate in political psychology at the University of Sheffield (U.K.), the cynicism found in Israeli society tends to make people think in terms of ‘what happens if it [peace] doesn’t happen?’ instead of the opposite. She said that Maikel explained the need for Egyptians to act in order to survive, so apathy is not in order. Instead, there is tremendous positivity for the future of Egypt. 

“Maikel thinks differently,” she said. “He framed his message as, ‘I know it will work – I’m not sure when, but it will.’ It was a moment of pure optimism – and for someone who has suffered, a truly hopeful and positive scene.”

Hope is something Smadar is studying. Her dissertation focuses on emotions as a barrier to conflict resolution, specifically hope, and its alter ego, despair. She didn’t have to go far to get a glimpse of her work in action.

“In this meeting, Maikel proved what I am trying to prove academically: when people see the world as changing and dynamic, they tend to have hope for the future, and vice versa,” she continued. “Hope is universal, but we need individuals who can drive it into the heart of a larger society.”

Images of Israel: To Yuval Bar, ‘Rocking’ the Casbah’ a good idea

Students at Ben Gurion University listen to an introduction to the Israeli film, "Rock the Casbah," on December 16.

Movies are meant to be an escape, allowing the audience to forget about the harsh realities from which they come.

But there are a few that take reality to the silver screen in the most unapologetic form of art imitating life.

“Rock the Casbah” is one such film screened to about 160 people in Ben Gurion University’s cinema on December 16. This was the first screening inside Israel, and OneVoice Israel combined a lecture by a retired military officer with the film to bring to light the similarities and differences between life and violence in Israel during the first Intifada and today.

Yuval Bar, 30, an OVI youth leader and student at BGU, describes the film as “unique” because of its attempt to show the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not only through the eyes of Israeli soldiers, but through their interactions with those around them.

“The movie reveals one of the hardest things about the military,” Yuval said. “It exposes the daily routine that grinds you. It shows the soldiers just going through the motions, being oblivious and not thinking, and the hostility between members of the company because of the high-stress situation.”

According to Yuval, the fictional film “followed” a company during the beginning of the first Intifada. The soldiers capture a building, use the roof as a lookout, and interact with those around them, including Palestinians whose house they occupy.

But what is truly unique about this film in the greater scope of Israeli cinema, Yuval said, is while it was created by Israelis for Israelis, it expands the role of the Palestinian characters.

“What you see is that the Palestinians have names and lines; they are participants in the film,” he explained. “They aren’t just there to be there…the Palestinian characters react to the soldiers.  And in Israeli media this is a rare thing.”

“You can be sympathetic with all the groups in this movie,” Yuval continued. “The only characters you can’t associate with are the top-ranking officers. They are the enemies of both sides because they construct the situation.”

As a long-time peace advocate, Yuval thinks films like “Rock the Casbah” channels his energy in the right direction. Active since 1996 and a member of several peace organizations and political parties, Yuval found OVI after enrolling in BGU three years ago as a political science major. He has been involved in various social media campaigns, the newspaper headline contest, and the Two-State Solution Caucus in the Israeli Knesset while at OVI.

“I’ve been in the peace scene for a while, so I feel the conflict is a part of me,” Yuval said. “I see first-hand that Israeli society is less interested in the conflict when it should be the #1 issue on the agenda, and the film helps bring this to light.”

“Seeing the crowded cinema at my university and the positive reactions from the audience members on this thought-provoking film makes me reaffirm that I am doing the right thing – that I am on the side that fights for peace.”

Shai Parnes: NoCal tour ‘a great learning experience’

OVI's Shai Parnes explains to Santa Clara University students his grassroots work on the ground in Israel. 

New York, November 21, 2012 – The last International Engagement Program (IEP) tour of the fall semester is in the books, and OneVoice Israel youth leader Shai Parnes visited university campuses and community organizations around Northern California from November 12-16. Shai was kind enough to talk to OneVoice about his time on tour.

OneVoice: Why did you come on tour to the U.S.?

Shai: I came to the United States through the International Engagement Program because I believe that the U.S. – and the entire international community – plays an important role in this conflict and has the capacity to influence it greatly. I believe that if the American people would press their leadership and elected officials in Washington to help us pressure our leaders to work on the two-state solution there is a better chance that we can in live in peace.

OneVoice: Did you face any challenges that came up during the tour that you weren't expecting?

Shai: Actually, not really. There were some tough, but fair questions, and audiences were very polite and respectful of each other. They could have yelled and screamed at us and each other because they are so passionate about what they believe, but they didn’t. People see us [Obada and I] representing our respective communities, therefore they have the opportunity to ask us questions and see the two-state solution before their eyes.

OneVoice: Do you believe your audiences left their events feeling engaged and motivated? How did they show this?

Shai: I was inspired by many members of our audiences throughout the tour. People came up after and wanted to know more about the Movement and I can see that some gradually saw that we at OneVoice are not picking sides in this conflict. Many people signed the petition; others said they would talk to student associations and organizations to see if they can do more to help our cause on their campuses. And actually, one student from a university not on our tour found out about it and decided to join us in Santa Cruz. All in all I believe they took a lot away from our tour.

OneVoice: How can you apply your experience on this tour to your work on the ground in Israel?

Shai: These days, people are very concerned with what is going on in Israel right now: the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.  Our audiences remained respectful and they actually listened. I learned the most from my Palestinian colleague, Obada, because now I can answer with more certainty questions that Israelis ask me about ordinary Palestinians and about their needs and desires. It was a great learning experience.

Learning from the Past: Former Gush Katif Settlers Talk Future Evacuation

OVI activists Tom Bar-Gal, left, and Liran Naet, center, discuss future evacuations with former Gush Katif settler, Avi Farhan.

On a beach near Kibbutz Neve Yam, not too far from Haifa, we sat together - OneVoice activists and a group of former residents of the Gush Katif settlements – at the home of the Farhan Family on October 17.

We went there with some trepidation, but we were mostly curious about the meeting. Before that evening, we barely knew anyone from the Gush Katif settlements, and the motivation to know them and converse with them was very high. As we arrived, the families welcomed us with warmth and kindness, but with a little fear, similar to what we felt. After waiting a few minutes with the rest of the locals, the meeting started.

As a Movement that promotes the two-state solution, we believe that the evacuation of settlements is an inherent part of the process. Because of that, we wanted to better understand the significance of the evacuation for these people, who refer to themselves as being “thrown out” of their houses. The stories of the families varied: there was nostalgia and longing for the lives they used to have, memories of good relationships they had with their Arab neighbors in the southern part of Gaza, and frustration and disappointment due to the lack of support from the government post-evacuation.

As we expected, we found a large variety of opinions and positions about the essential issues surrounding a possible solution among the former residents of Gush Katif. Some of them suggested living under a Palestinian government outside of the borders of Israel, while others strongly disagreed with retreating from any territory and did not believe that any agreement involving compromise is possible. But most of all, we found an eclectic group of people, whose largest concern was the fear of being hurt again by another evacuation.

Although there were obvious disagreements about the “right way” to go about this, it was noticeable that we all care for and are concerned about the future of the country and the well-being of each other. Eventually, we separated not as partners or as rivals, but as equals looking for a way to end the conflict and curious about meeting again and getting to know each other better.

I had three main conclusions from this meeting:

First, an evacuation, while necessary, is a hard and hurtful process, and any additional family that settles in the occupied territories is in danger of facing pain and sorrow. I do not believe that we can simply blame the families who settle there, we must hold the government accountable, as they ultimately are allowing it to happen. Because the future of the settlements is uncertain, we must – because of humanitarian reasons – stop all the construction in the occupied territories.

Second, Israel's unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip has brought years of insecurity, but above all, it damaged our trust and in the belief that the conflict will end. We should aim to have all future moves made through negotiation and only with the agreement and support of the Palestinian people.

Eventually, in any future evacuation, all efforts must be done to ease the process of evacuation and re-habitation. We must learn from past mistakes and understand the difficulties of the evacuated people, and support them in any way we can.

- Tom Bar-Gal, OVI regional officer of the north

Or Kaner sees New York tour as a valuable experience

OneVoice Israel's Or Kaner speaking to a Rutgers-Newark class during the New York-metro tour.

New York, October 18, 2012 – With the second of the International Engagement Program’s fall tours in the books, OneVoice Israel’s Or Kaner gave us a behind-the-scenes look at his time in the New York-metro area. He sat down and talked to OneVoice about what he saw and heard from audiences members and why he would go on another tour in a heartbeat.

OneVoice: Hi, Or. It’s great to have you talk with us. Now that the tour is over, what can you say is the most memorable part of your experience in the States?

Or: It’s not when we were on a tour event, per say, but it was a great moment, nonetheless. I really liked when I heard Amro talking to his brother on the phone, telling him “this guy (me) is against settlements, he’s an ex-soldier and he’s cool.” I thought this was great to hear and I don’t think I will ever forget it.

OneVoice: Do you believe that you were able to make the audiences understand what you do on the ground and what needs to be done?

Or: I think so. I used a lot of buzz words; I tried to explain the situation using personal examples combined with other related and pragmatic examples from the Movement. Once I got into the flow of speaking with audience members, many from different backgrounds, I felt like I was influencing and seeing a change in them.

OneVoice: How can Americans help you achieve the two-state solution? What can they do here in the U.S.?

Or: First, they can help by pressing their leaders to pressure our leaders. Second, they have to believe in the two-state solution, and through this belief they can create their own chapters in their campuses, thinking together and creating a change within themselves. This is a moral obligation for all societies and especially for the United States, the strongest economic power in the world. The U.S. has done it before and I hope they can do it again.

OneVoice: Would you go on another tour again and why?

Or: Of course! It is a great experience: it improves your English, improves your self-esteem, and it feels great because you are reaching out to others. As a project manager, I interact with a lot of people, so working on a different continent and speaking with people of a different culture makes it really interesting and I would love to do it again.