OneVoice Movement

London panel debates leadership and legacy of Shimon Peres

Panellists debate the legacy of President Shimon Peres: (L-R) Dr. Ghada Karmi, John Lyndon, Richard Symons, and Paul Charney.

By Anthony Silkoff

Boring?  A father figure?  An over-achiever?  A failure? Conflicted?  These were the varied descriptions of Israel’s President, Shimon Peres, which an audience of activists, students, Israelis, Palestinians, and others at Kings College, London, heard on January 30.

OneVoice Europe hosted a panel discussion on leadership in the aftermath of the Israeli election. Following a screening of the acclaimed documentary, The Price of Kings: Shimon Peres, a panel of speakers offered their take on Peres as a leader and the legacy he will leave in Israel and Palestine.

There was inevitably much disagreement on the panel, with different points of view represented by Paul Charney (Chair, Zionist Federation), Dr. Ghada Karmi (Palestinian activist and academic), John Lyndon (Executive Director, OneVoice Europe), and Richard Symons (Co-Director, The Price of Kings).

There was as much criticism as there was praise for Shimon Peres, which was unsurprising for a such a long-serving political figure. 

Dr. Karmi was forthright in her view, saying she found him “to be so boring in that movie” asking “what has he achieved?” and suggesting she would find a film about assassinated Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin far more interesting. 

Paul Charney found much more to be positive about, observing that “Peres was instrumental in the pulling out of Lebanon and a key figure in the Oslo accords.”  Watching both the film and the debate, I was simply struck by the sheer, undeniable, expanse of his experience, having spent decades at the frontline of Israeli politics.

However, what is also hard to deny, is that all political leaders so far have failed in their attempts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  The occupation remains; Palestinians and Israelis both live in fear and insecurity; neither side lives in peace. So given the gravity of this situation, there is little point drawing up a ranking of the “best” and “worst” politicians of each side.  Rather, we need to support a new generation of leaders who are courageous enough to make a two-state solution become reality.

The young Israelis and Palestinians at the forefront of OneVoice’s grassroots campaigns continue to make me immensely proud to be part of this Movement. I often hear people quote Gandhi – “be the change” - our young activists are doing, not quoting; leading, not following.

In the past six months alone, OneVoice Israel activists compelled their fellow citizens to “Wake up!” to the reality of politicians who want to damage the two-state solution.  OneVoice Palestine activists went out across the West Bank, planting trees for a new forest and demanding an end to settlement expansion.

Summing up proceedings, OneVoice Europe Executive Director John Lyndon made just that point, explaining out that there are many different ways to lead.

“Peres represents a totemic figure in Israeli political life,” Lyndon said. “But across the Middle East, young people are taking the initiative themselves, and pressing the case for change. Whether it’s the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who took to the streets for social justice or the millions across the Arab world who have demanded democracy and justice, it is clear that new dynamics are emerging, with youth at the fore.”

So yes, leaders of all countries have failed to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace, but hope is not lost when a new generation is so clearly putting its foot down.  No more excuses.  Two states, now.  As internationals, let’s make sure we support them every step of the way.

OneVoice will be screening the second film in The Price of Kings series, examining the life and leadership of Yasser Arafat, on the February 27 in London. Please email Anthony@onevoicemovement.org.uk for more details.  

 

2012: The Challenges, the Mission, the State

By Wasim al-Masri

If I was asked to recall one memorable moment from 2012, the first thing that would come to mind is Palestine's United Nations bid and the series of events that led to the historic vote in November.

Every event, workshop, initiative, and campaign my colleagues and I at OneVoice Palestine (OVP) launched in 2012 – 35 workshops, 9 youth-led initiatives, 12 town hall meetings, and two major campaigns – was building to the day of the vote.

I was watching the vote in my living room with my family. And although the early polls showed a majority in favor of a Non-member Observer State of the U.N., like most Palestinians rallying in the streets of Ramallah and watching the vote on the big screens that night, I was anticipating the moment a Palestinian state was officially acknowledged by the international community and the rest of the world, bringing the state of inequality to an end.

That night, I had to go down memory lane and revisit some of the key moments in OVP's campaign to support Palestine's U.N. bid. We launched the campaign in early 2012 with little support and expectations from the local community.

We had a plan: to mobilize the people and advocate the importance of the U.N. bid for building the independent Palestinian state and achieving peace in the region. First, we launched a series of workshops to explain the U.N. bid, and then we organized town hall meetings to connect the people with the politicians. Finally, we mobilized the youth leaders on the ground nearing the date of the vote. Our plans seemed fairly easy from the drawing board. But they weren't.

Our first campaign in 2012, although praised locally by Palestinian officials, was sadly overlooked by the Israelis and the international community. We needed to convey a message to the Israeli government to cease settlement expansion in the West Bank and return to negotiations. "The land is ours, leave us be" was a bold statement in the face of, what we believe is, the greatest threat to the two-state solution and the peace process: settlements.

Over the course of three months, we planted trees threatened by confiscation in Area C (east of Bethlehem, south of Hebron, and west of Jenin). We also rallied hundreds of youth leaders and activists to support the Arab Peace Initiative and send messages to the Israeli public inviting them to adopt the initiative and revive the peace talks. Above: Over 300 activists gathered near Jenin in April, flying balloons containing copies of the Arab Peace Initiative -- translated into Hebrew -- over the Wall and into Israel. Below: OVP's activists rallying with the people of Bethlehem to plant trees in an event we named, "The Future Garden of Peace."

Back in my living room, President Abbas was wrapping up his speech in the General Assembly. "The General Assembly is called upon today to issue a birth certificate of the reality of the State of Palestine," said Abbas. "This is why we are specifically here today."

By the end of June, the image was clear. We've established a solid base in advocating the importance of the U.N. bid. People started to ask questions and we provided answers through our town hall meeting program, focusing entirely on the topic of the U.N. bid and the options of the Palestinian Authority (PA) after the vote, connecting ordinary citizens to the Palestinian leadership. The first town hall meeting organized by OVP's youth leaders in Hebron attracted over 300 participants, with decision makers responding to the public's questions and concerns.

Through our community events, whether we were hosting or co-sponsoring, we made sure that the message of the U.N. bid and the two-state solution was conveyed. We wanted the public to be aware of this rare opportunity to end the conflict once and for all. The message was present through each and every event we organized. A good example would be the day we celebrated the International Day of Peace. The youth leaders called all nations to support the Palestinian leadership at the U.N. and help bring justice by ending the occupation to build the independent Palestinian state.

We were counting the hours to the day of the vote, promoting peaceful mobilization and inspiring people to take actions along the way. Hundreds of new recruits were joining the Movement through our introductory workshops, community events, and public campaigns. And on November 18, hundreds joined us to plant the foundation stone for the future garden of peace.

Activists, community leaders, and the citizens of Bethlehem joined hands to paint an image of effective public engagement by creating positive facts on the ground. We couldn't be happier.

A week prior to the vote, we launched the final stage of the campaign: a U.N. bid website. Our youth leaders and staff members were on the streets of every major city in the West Bank handing out fliers and posters; interviews occurred, and our office in Ramallah was a circus. We were hyper from coffee and pure excitement!

One particular Tuesday comes to mind. As I was driving to the office, I was thinking that I had obviously spent too many hours staring at our campaign's blue logo, because I was seeing blue everywhere. Once I arrived to the office, I was greeted with the image of our logo featured on the front page of a hugely successful local newspaper.

The logo we used to promote the campaign was a hit! “Palestine at the United Nations” logo was a huge success among news agencies and local media outlets, and on that particular Tuesday, it was everywhere, and represented the peak of our campaign.

"Of the 193 member states of the United Nations, 131 (67.9%) have recognized the State of Palestine as of November 2012. Their total population is over 5.5 billion people, equaling 80 percent of the world's population."

The day after the vote there was much work to be done. The team was exhausted. We were having coffee and discussing the crazy rollercoaster we've been on for the past 12 months. The question on everyone's mind was the obvious: what comes next? For OVP's team, it was clear that walking down the path of the two-state solution and promoting the Arab Peace Initiative through peaceful mobilization would continue. The path of ending the occupation and building the state has just begun. We have ambitious ideas for 2013, but that's another story to be told.

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.

Mohammad al-Qadi participates at Bab al-Shams initiative in E-1 Area

Last weekend, nearly 200 Palestinian activists pitched tents on the stony territory between East Jerusalem and the Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, known as E-1. Acting in non-violent protest to Israel’s plans to construct thousands of settlement homes in this narrow corridor, these activists announced the establishment of a village named “Bab al-Shams,” or “Gateway to the Sun.”

E-1 is a critical strip of land that American and European officials have told the Israelis is a red line, which – if crossed – makes two states almost impossible. “This is not just another few houses in Jerusalem or another hilltop in the West Bank,” Daniel C. Kurtzer, a former American ambassador to Israel asserted. “The United States has been adamant for many years, including in the Bush Administration, that Israel not build in E-1.”

OneVoice Palestine (OVP) youth leader Mohammad al-Qadi was amongst those activists who pitched the first tents, non-violently registering his commitment to two states and to the preservation of determination, hope, and belief that it can be achieved.

Speaking to OneVoice staff afterward, Mohammad said, “I went to Bab al-Shams for the same reason that I volunteer for OneVoice: my determination to see a two-state solution. I want to play my role in building the Palestinian state.”

Israeli soldiers forcibly removed the activists some 72 hours after the first tent was pitched.

VICE Magazine interviewed Mohammad following the eviction. Below is an excerpt - you can read the whole piece and see a video report here.

VICE: What happened last night?

Mohammad al-Qadi: It was 3AM and most of the villagers were sleeping, when more than 500 police and soldiers entered the village and called for all the villagers to come out of the tents and lie on the ground. Then they started to attack us, before arresting us, putting us in a truck, taking our ID and dropping us off at a checkpoint near Ramallah at 5:30AM. Six of the activists were injured after being beaten by soldiers, so they were taken to hospital.

It sounds like the eviction was relatively peaceful and over quite quickly – didn’t anyone put up a fight? 

Palestinians don’t want to lose anyone else. We are human. We're not numbers, we are names. We are people and we care about life. I don’t want to lose any more friends, I want to protect the land and live in a Palestinian state – something we'll achieve through peaceful action. Unlike the Israelis, we didn’t have any weapons last night. Why did Netanyahu send hundreds of men with guns to a village of unarmed men and women?

How long did you expect to stay at Bab al-Shams?

We'd prepared ourselves to stay for a long time. We want to belong to this land. It’s not a joke, it’s not a “camp”. We wanted to start building a new village to say to the Israeli government: "We oppose your plans. If you build on that land, there is no hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians."

So what’s next? Will you return to Bab al-Shams? Set up new villages? 

We aren't finished. In two days, we’ll have a meeting with everyone involved and decide what we want to do next. We will continue to protest and to create villages in the areas that the Israelis want to build. We’ll never stop.

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.”

Portraits of Palestine: OneVoice youth leader finds inspiration in Leadership Development Program

Above: Alaa Salous, upper right, with the students of Rosary Sisters School in Nablus. Below: Alaa in an advanced training workshop in Ramallah.

It was graduation time for the first and only Student's Council in Palestine. Proud parents beamed at their children. OneVoice Palestine Executive Director Samer Makhlouf handed out certificates to the new graduates while extending his congratulations to OVP's ever-growing Youth Leadership Program membership.

And surrounded by the 16 graduates from the Rosary Sisters School in Nablus, Alaa Salous, a OneVoice Palestine trainer, recalls his very own first basic training session.

"I was nervous. I didn't know what to expect," said Alaa, 23. "Having my friends around did help."

Alaa was among the first OneVoice Palestine activists to participate in a basic training session in Nablus. He has come a long way since then.

OVP launched the Youth Leader Training Program in 2008. Hundreds of young people in the West Bank and Gaza join the program every year, taking advantage of OVP's character building advanced courses and meeting new people who share the same interest in ending the conflict and building the independent Palestinian state.

"We have launched the program with the intention of making a difference," said Abdallah Hamarsheh, OVP's Youth Leadership Program director. "Along the way we've made modifications to the program, based on what we are looking to achieve and the feedback we've received from our youth leaders."

OVP's training program starts with introductory sessions for all new recruits, explaining OneVoice's message and goals for ending the conflict and achieving a sustainable peace agreement based on the two-state solution and the 1967 borders.

The introductory sessions are followed by basic training workshops. The youth leaders can vote for the subject of training based on what interests them on their personal and professional levels. Basic training courses can vary from teambuilding activities to communication and leadership skills.

Once OVP's youth leaders start to develop a sense of commitment to the program, they are introduced to some of the advanced workshops. Subjects in these workshops are usually more focused and oriented in terms of skill development and self-awareness, and include public speaking, media, and negotiation skills training. Highly trained professionals with immense experience in their respective fields develop the workshops.

Alaa was among the select few senior youth leaders in the West Bank to participate in OVP's recent project with Generations For Peace (GFP). This "training the trainers" program builds a small team of highly trained youth leaders capable of providing a successful training experience.

"OneVoice and GFP provided me with the tools to build a basic training project," said Alaa. "I have been working closely with members from my community in Nablus to implement some of the ideas I've learned and deliver a better understanding of the conflict and the two-state solution."

Alaa and fellow youth leader Rameh Mesmar worked on a series of basic training workshops for the students of Rosary Sisters School in Nablus. According to Alaa, they were developing "an original training experience involving the students in the conflict in a positive way."

This training consisted of character-building exercises based on his training with GFP. The students were also responsible for organizing the entire graduation ceremony, sending out invites, setting up the hall, and more. This was their "final test."

Alaa is currently working with OVP's chapter in Nablus, delivering OneVoice's message and goals within Alnajjah University's campus and providing new recruits with basic training based on OVP's youth leadership and development training program.

Peace activism knows no bounds during NoCal IEP tour

Betty Portje, 99, shares her perspectives on the conflict and efforts to end it as OVP youth leader Obada Shtaya looks on.

New York, November 22, 2012 – “We are seniors, we are passionate about peace in the world, [and] we have common cause in our desire for peace.”

This was the message that Helen Anderson, a member of the Mill Valley Seniors for Peace, shared on the first day of the International Engagement Program’s Northern California tour even amidst the devastating escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Based at the Redwoods Retirement Community, Mill Valley Seniors for Peace members’ average age is 87, and they are every bit as vigorous and motivated as youth leaders Obada Shtaya, 21, of OneVoice Palestine and Shai Parnes, 30, of OneVoice Israel.  The youth leaders expressed that the violence thousands of miles away increased the urgency to end the conflict, and they fed off the vast experience, knowledge, and immense encouragement from Redwoods throughout the entire tour.

Obada and Shai work tirelessly for the two-state solution and a permanent end to the conflict in Palestine and Israel, respectively. Both stressed that the two-state solution is a pragmatic approach and provides the best opportunity for realizing both group’s nationalistic goals for current and future generations. There is also agreement that the U.S. must leverage its influence more effectively and provide an environment for viable and just negotiations.

“We want a new era of peace and prosperity, and if the U.S. decides to fairly and justly intervene in the conflict tomorrow, it would only be beneficial to Palestinians and Israelis,” said Obada. “We are not paying lip-service to the two-state solution; we’re actually working on ways to get this going. The U.S. has a responsibility to solve this, too.”

Likewise, Shai repeatedly asked audience members to reflect on their own outlooks and feelings toward the parties involved in the conflict, including the U.S.

“You have to ask yourself what it really means to be pro-one side or the other,” Shai said. “I think both of us [Obada and I] can agree that we are pro-solution. As an Israeli, I hope that America uses its power to help Israel become a better place to live in.”

The remainder of the tour saw itself in more familiar surroundings. Students from UC Davis, San Francisco State, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Universities made up the rest of the audiences. A wide variety of student associations, religious and activist organizations, and academic departments partnered with OneVoice: Muslim, Jewish, and multi-faith groups, along with political science and international relations departments, and educational organizations like the Olive Tree Initiative, took part.

The questions from the audience members focused on several key issues, from Israeli and Palestinian public opinion to settlements to the Palestinian U.N. non-member status bid.

“The only face of Israel that [Palestinians] see is the occupation,” said Obada at UC Davis. “If [Israel] freezes the settlements, to give us a sign that ‘we are not building anymore on your land and we’re willing to give you this state which is now yours,’ that is a step in the right direction. I hope the U.N. members will support our efforts and we believe that this is a multilateral, not a unilateral move, and it is very essential to go back to negotiations.”

When asked about the average Israeli’s perception of the conflict, Shai answered candidly that many do not live it on a daily basis, but become acutely aware when hostility escalates.

“The majority of Israelis don’t normally feel the effects of the conflict, except when there is an uptick in violence,” said Shai at SFSU. “When this happens, the public stays home, they are afraid to go to shopping centers, to go on buses. People in Israel say there is no partner, but I know for a fact that there is one on the other side. We [at OneVoice] are waking people up.”