Amos Oz speaks the OneVoice language like few others – maybe only King Abdullah and Queen Rania do a better job. Here is a solid piece analyzing the proper use of force, and the only way out of this conflict –by recognition of the simple fact by Israelis and Palestinians that both peoples have a right to self-determination as neighbors.
by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky
A new reality TV show plans to have a group of Israeli and Palestinian teenagers cohabit and develop peace negotiations; the intent is not to solve the Mideast conflict, but to bring the two sides together in a more symbolic manner. This concept is not new, but nobody has ever has the power or talent to execute it successfully. If this attempt is successful… kol ha kavod, kul el ehterem, well done!
Anyone who has been following the news today about the Gaza flotilla debacle and the tragic course of events, including the loss of lives, of hopes, and of peaceful respectful relations would not be faulted for being gloomy and depressed and for throwing in the towel, thinking that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is just not going to be resolved and war is going to doom that region for eternity.
Perhaps it’s the contrarian in me, but I’ve heard this tune and just when things start getting as ugly as they seem to be getting now in the Middle East, an opportunity starts arising to awaken people into their power for positive change – in this case based on a two state solution that recognizes the rights of both peoples.
Behind the scenes, OneVoice has been preparing a campaign to inspire Palestinians and Israelis to visualize a two state solution: Imagine 2018. I shared this campaign with Sir Paul McCartney earlier today and he recognized its potential to shake people out of their complacency or fatalism and into action.
You could argue this is not the time to launch such a campaign – that it is the time to solemnly mourn. And to recognize that there are major impediments, not the least of which is Hamas control of Gaza (a proxy of Iran) and ideological settlers taking Israel and its government hostage.
But maybe this IS the time to take action. For otherwise we will be victims to follies and extremism and partisanship forever.
Maybe the time has come to break those shackles of absolutism and rancor, and to start saying, let’s stop making excuses about why peace is never going to come about, and let’s start building the foundations – in our visions, in our minds, and on the ground – to just make it happen. Two states for two proud peoples. It may not happen overnight. And it may not happen across the entire land at the same time. But you have to start somewhere.
Am on my way back from DC to NYC after a briefing with Paul McCartney on behalf of OneVoice (on whose Honorary Board he sits). Earlier during rehearsals, I was struck at the beautiful simplicity and deep truth of the lyrics of Ebony and Ivory:
EBONY AND IVORY,
LIVE TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY,
SIDE BY SIDE ON MY PIANO KEYBOARD,
OH, LORD, WHY DON’T WE?WE ALL KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE THE SAME WHEREVER YOU GO,
THERE IS GOOD AND BAD IN EV’RYONE.
AND WE LEARN TO LIVE, WE LEARN TO GIVE EACH OTHER
WHAT WE NEED TO SURVIVE, TOGETHER ALIVE.….
- Sir Paul McCartney (c)
Later this week, Sir Paul is receiving the Gershwin Prize from President Obama.
by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky
In her opening speech of Parliament, the Queen of England articulated that her “government will continue working towards a two-state solution that sees a viable Palestinian state existing in peace and security alongside Israel.” This is an important because her words are intended to set the government’s priorities for the next year and a half.
Uri Avnery is in his 80s. The wisdom of his years – and his fascinating journey – shows in the articles below, but he retains a youthful optimism and a crisp analytical mind that are much needed in today’s world.
Below are two very solid articles on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – the latter being extraordinarily depressing but obligatory reading. For those who don’t know Uri Avnery, he is very much a man from the left, but he is intellectually rigorous always and thus worthwhile reading even (and particularly) for those from opposite sides of the spectrum.
The OneVoice Movement has been running for the past couple years a program called Imagine 2018, where they are asking Israelis and Palestinians to share their vision of what their lives and future would look like if the conflict were to be resolved and a two state solution achieved.
OneVoice will soon be unveiling its next phase in the project – very promising stuff.
In the meantime, I just got a video from my friends Art Winter and Doug Suisman about their vision. In cooperation with the RAND Foundation, they have worked for several years on a Palestinian infrastructure corridor that includes state-of-the-art planning to enable a Palestinian state to prosper and grow in peace with Israel. Their work is nothing short of stunning.
Take a look at their teaser video below, and visit their site here:
A troubling portrayal in the New York Review of Books by Peter Beinart of American Jewish leadership and Israeli society is a must reading.
by Adeena Schlussel
This great video will be shown at the opening plenary of the Rio Forum, before 2000 civil society and world leaders. Watch Darya speak about OneVoice and Daniel speak about PeaceWorks Foods as a model to harness market forces to bring people together. Others featured in the video include the UN Secretary General and the President of Brazil.
At KIND, PeaceWorks, and OneVoice, almost by definition, I think our team members are motivated by the desire to make the world a better place, and the empowerment and joy comes with the journey.
And yet I found myself really intrigued to follow this video that breaks down these implicit assumptions and helps us all understand – what drives us, and how can we "manage" in the most motivating and empowering way?
