Daniel Lubetzky

Independent of whether you support or reject the deal Israel struck with Hamas in order to secure the release of Gilad Shalit, and independent of whether you support the view that peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors is achievable, one thing should be evident to all: Gershon Baskin is a mentsch (Yiddish word for a very decent human being), with steadfast sincerity of purpose to advance understanding between Israelis and Palestinians, and an impressive grasp of the issues.  Of all people I have come across in this space, Gershon is among the very few that truly can articulate both the Israeli and Palestinian narratives with as much empathy and knowledge as any patriot on either side.  The article below shares the story of how an academic and grassroots activist (who incidentally serves on the OneVoice Israel Board) was key to this historic deal.  Lots to be admired here.

[Read more →]

In case anyone has doubts as to Hamas and Iran’s intentions: nothing less than Israel’s destruction.  Their extremism prolongs the conflict and the suffering of both: ordinary Palestinians and Israelis.

[Read more →]

The following article in the Washington Jewish Week illustrates the work of two OneVoice Youth Leaders in DC, and the overall goal that they and OneVoice strive to achieve.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

[Read more →]

It is worthwhile to read the speeches given by President Obama, PM Netanyahu, and President Abbas at the UN.  These speeches are a window into how each leader perceives his nation’s position and narrative, and are crucial in understanding the varying sides of the debate over statehood.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

[Read more →]

Settlements are a HUGE obstacle to achieving a resolution to the conflict. Daunting. Must be condemned.

But this, below, is the biggest obstacle – Palestinians’ refusal to come to terms with a finality of the conflict and the need to accept co-existence with Israel as a Jewish State (or pluralistic homeland or whatever you want to call it as long as you don’t delude yourself trying to think you will destroy it in stages).  Without that, no change will come, and no peace or prosperity or safe or quiet future for either side will come.

[Read more →]

Thomas Friedman’s column addresses the exact concerns that haunt the Middle East peace process today.  It is crucial for both sides to make compromises in the negotiations; instead of making speeches that delineate what’s in their own country’s best interest, Netanyahu and Abbas must make some concessions in good faith.  Netanyahu must fully freeze the settlements; Abbas must recognize that Israel will be the homeland of the Jewish people.  If these leaders do not look to acknowledge each other, this peace process will crumble, and there will be devastating, reverberating effects that reach far beyond the immediate region.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

[Read more →]

According to an article in Foreign Policy, Former President Bill Clinton blames PM Netanyahu for the lack of peace process progress.  Clinton specifically pointed to Netanyahu’s Administration for failing to accept the Camp David terms, as well as a change in Israeli demographic, making Israeli’s less open to peace.  As Clinton argues in this article, the peace process would benefit immensely from Netanyahu’s administration being more amenable to compromise. 

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

[Read more →]

I received this email from Gidi Grinstein, who I consider to be one of the brightest people I’ve ever met, and certainly one of the most  widely respected Israeli thinkers.  His Reut Institute firmly supports a two-state solution, and yet he has come to believe that can only come about through coordinated unilateralism because both the Israeli and Palestinian governments have structural, constitutional, and leadership impediments to pass through what would be necessary on either side to achieve a negotiated agreement.  Read his entire note:

Dear friends and supporters,

This email introduces Reut’s most recent strategic framework on the diplomatic and political opportunity that faces Israel in the United Nations this week, as an outcome of the Palestinian motion to recognize the Palestinian Authority as a state and accept it as a full member-state of the United Nations (Click here).

The Reut team, and specifically Roy Keidar, Reut’s new CEO and former Legal Advisor of the Israel’s National Security Council, and I, have been working hard behind the scenes for the past months, weeks and days, to introduce these ideas to top decision-makers, as well as to prepare for the aftermath of this Palestinian UN motion, which may include renewed efforts to de-legitimize Israel. We are now in NYC in part for this reason.

In a nutshell, we believe that Israel can leverage the Palestinian motion and pin down the principle of two-states-for-two-people, which has been a central objective of present and past Israeli governments. This will allow Israel to manage the process of establishing a Palestinian state in optimal conditions that not only address its major security and diplomatic concerns, but also allow for diluting Palestinian refugeeism and strengthening the status of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. These achievements are conditioned on Israel making a credible win-win offer to the Palestinians so that they too have historic achievements. These ideas are detailed in our paper.

For the past five years and since Hamas electoral victory in January 2006, Reut has consistently argued that ‘constructive and coordinated unilateralism’ is the only viable path for political progress between Israelis and Palestinians toward security and coexistence, and that all attempts to negotiate comprehensive agreements are unfortunately doomed to fail, as the case has been.

Therefore, we concluded a few years ago that the establishment of a Palestinian state would have to be through an act of declaration and recognition, which is exactly what is unfolding in the United Nations. Hence, Israel’s opportunity this week to create a political breakthrough, which is a win-win and good for the Palestinians as well.

It is no coincidence that de-legitimizing groups such as the Electronic Intifada are quoting Reut in their fight against the Palestinian motion in the UN (click here), as they principally oppose the Two-State Solution or any motion that explicitly or implicitly recognizes the right of the Jewish people to self-determination.

In the coming few days, we will send you a more comprehensive overview of the recent history that led to this milestone, covering Reut’s different efforts for the past seven years.

With best wishes of Shana Tova,

Gidi

OneVoice was busy on the Hill this week, as Youth Leaders Eyal and Obada discussed their work to support a two state solution.  Ambassador Philip Wilcox moderated the panel as they moved to discuss the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN, and the event was covered by C-Span.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

[Read more →]

This article dissects  the mixed emotions attached to the upcoming UN Vote for Palestinian Statehood, as described by Uri Avnery, and lays out the potential that this vote can achieve. 

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

[Read more →]