This TIME article about Palestinians, contained by the security wall is sad and poignant. This article depicts that many Israelis and Palestinians simply do not understand each other, because they do not get to know each other, and just reaffirms the vital need for OneVoice’s Imagine 2018 Campaign.
This article displays a silver lining in the midst of a tragedy: Palestinian firefighters participated in the humanitarian effort to extinguish the fires in the Carmel region of Israel. (The firefighter’s admitted that their efforts were purely humanitarian and not indicative of any political statements, but one cannot help but feel moved and inspired by the cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians depicted here.) Beyond the article itself being a mark of true hope, the talkbacks at the bottom of this article- which are usually just spurts of extremism and skepticism- show that people are filled with hope and ready for peace.
Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, redacted by Adeena Schlussel.
This awesome article in INC. Magazine, titled, “The Way I Work,” features Daniel and captures exactly how our CEO works! We are super proud that Daniel was featured in INC. and are even prouder that he is the fast paced, driven, successful worker that the article describes!
by Adeena Schlussel
Read this great article by Salam Fayyad. It represents the Palestinian mainstream of today and is very powerful and moving. [Read more →]
The picture below is an excerpt from a newspaper visualizing hope in the background, as the foreground features Palestinian training forces in Jenin, working to build a state with disciplined security. All US and Israeli intelligence accounts view this as an inspiring success in transforming the area from disarray and chaos into a vibrant and economic society.
This weekend OneVoice Israel is launched one of its strongest viral campaigns through social media sites like Facebook and online newspapers like Ma’ariv and YNET. 100’s of Israelis contributed their visions for 2018 by writing headlines for the future. Headlines included visions such as “War!: The World Cup 2018 Final Tonight: Israel Against Palestine” and “Another border opens: The public is invited to tour in Palestine.”
OneVoice Palestine took their campaign to the streets partnering with the municipalities of Jenin, Nablus, Hebron and Bethlehem to create mass murals of 2018 visions. The purpose of the project, OVP Executive Director Samer Makhlouf reminds us, “Was to inspire the youth of Jenin to play a role in the building of their state. Contributions made by youths inspire not only themselves but the rest of the community. They put something on the mural that was honest, true and personal. It was their vision, for their future, for their city. The first mural in Jenin has just been completed. It depicts images of urban development and economic prosperity.
OneVoice’s Imagine 2018 campaign is changing the conversation on the ground. Instead of focusing on the past, OneVoice is creating a more constructive, future-oriented discourse. Politicians and influencers in the Middle East and around the world are joining in. Tony Blair, Her Majesty Queen Noor and Jason Alexander are just a few international personalities lending their support and visions to this campaign.
Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, redacted by Adeena Schlussel.
The National Post recently featured a great article by Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada. PM Harper stressed the importance not only of never forgetting the evils of the Holocaust, but of proactively speaking out against intolerance and persecution that exists today. PM Harper’s words are in response to a wave of anti-Semitism that has swept Canadian campuses, and on a larger scale, worldwide. According to the article, the fact that Israel’s right to exist is questioned by other recognized nations is a blatant display of “new” anti-Semitism and that he, and others, must take the “solemn duty to defend the vulnerable, to challenge the aggressor, to protect and promote human dignity, at home and abroad,” very seriously.
Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, redacted by Adeena Schlussel
[Read more →]
An article in today’s Haaretz reveals a recent trend in the Israeli Army: Palestinian Leadership has been addressing Israeli soldiers and officers “to inform soldiers and officers of the nature of recent changes in the West Bank, and of the complexity of their mission when operating within the Palestinian populace.” This unique cooperation between the Israeli army and Palestinian official is unprecedented and completely amazing! This story shows that even in the most unlikely of places, peace can flourish.
“Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, redacted by Adeena Schlussel”
By Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky
A recent article in Haaretz tells that the PA has just adopted a textbook for school children that presumably depicts the shared historical narratives of both the Palestinians and Israeli Zionist Movements, in effort to promote co-existence through education. Israel, on the other hand has rejected this book from its curriculum. Vetting and implementing this textbook would be a beautiful step in furthering Israeli and Palestinian children’s comprehension of the conflict, and its origins and complexities, and would hopefully foster an understanding between children on opposing sides of the conflict. Let’s hope that Israel implements the book soon, and that both sides maintain the progressive sentiment that this effort reflects.
Check out Ezzeldeen Masri’s vision for Palestine in 2018. I hope that his vision for peace and cooperation continue to spread beyond OneVoice and inspire widespread change that the nations need at this time.