Daniel Lubetzky

It may surprise many, but OneVoice continues its work and its message for a two-state solution through empowerment of the ordinary citizens on both sides who are fed up and want this conflict to end once and for all.

Below are a few pictures from recent town hall meetings conducted by our executive leadership in Gaza.

The title of the workshop was "Examining the Palestinians’ National Aspirations and the Two States for Two People Alternative."

A prior workshop in Deir El Balah in Central Gaza took place earlier in the month and an outline of what was discussed can be read by expanding this posting (clicking "more")…

Ezz started the meeting by welcoming the audience and introducing Onevoice movement vision of ending the military occupation of 1967 and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state next to the state of Israel. Also, Ezz talked about the need to break the cycle of violence and adopting other peaceful means of resistance instead of the violent means ,since the Palestinians’ violence toward the state of Israel only brings massive Israeli retaliation which results in destruction of property and the death of many Palestinians.

Ezz also talked about the African Americans civil right movement headed by Martin Luther king and how it was a successful experience which the silent majority in Palestine can adopt as a mean to resist the  Israeli military occupation.
Moafaq talked about the need to reflect a different image of Gazans to the international community. An image which is different than the stereotypy image associated with violence and blood. Moafaq explained to the Audience about the need to activate the silent majority in Palestine and the need for the silent majority to formulate a mandate which expresses its wishes of ending the military occupation through direct negotiation moafaq also introduced the notion of 2018 vision and asked the audience to express thier opinions about the possibility of having peace with the state of  Israel and how peace can bring prosperity and security to us Palestinians. 
the audience was very interested in our message even though its a very strange & new message in the poverty & radical stricken Gaza strip. The people complained that the Palestinian people for sixty years been the victims of the state of Israel abuse, and the armed struggle nor the peaceful resistance managed to end the Israeli military occupation. 
In the end of the meeting Ezz told the gathering that the Israeli military occupation of 1967 is living its last days and in fact it will vanish rather soon. this because Israel strategically came to the realization that it can’t forever hold on to the territories it occupied in 1967. and Ezz cited Olmerts statement to Haaretz news paper after he came back from Annapolis summit: " the continuation of the military occupation means the end of the state of Israel". The state of Israel as Livni stated wants a Palestinian state, the USA wants a palestinian state and the whole international community wants a palestinian state. in order for that to happen us Palestinians must abandon violence and adopt a  more pragmatic strategy that can bring us our statehood and prosperity.