An amazing OpEd in Israel’s Ha’aretz newspaper shows that OneVoice’s Imagine 2018 campaign is a bold and innovative one, and is quickly gaining popular attention. Prominent Israeli politicians have been receiving a mock ups of an Israeli newspaper from the future, thanking the politicians for attaining peace by 2018. Read more to see the extensive positive attention that Imagine 2018 has garnered already!
by Adeena Schlussel
This past week, twenty OneVoice Youth Leaders participated in the annual Nablus Marathon, along with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and approximately 5000 other participants. At the end of the marathon, the Youth Leaders, clad in OneVoice tee-shirts, had collected visions of 2018 from their huffing and puffing peers along the course.
The marathon itself is a concrete sign of nation building, and the Youth Leader’s participation, is a sign of the peaceful nation that will hopefully continue to be built.
by Adeena Schlussel, spotted by Daniel Lubetzky
![clip_image001[5]](http://blog.peaceworks.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/clip-image0015.jpg "clip_image001[5]")
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 →]
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.
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”
Dennis Ross, the Special Assistant to the President and friend of OneVoice, addressed AIPAC at their Florida Summit this week. In his remarks, Mr. Ross spoke about the dangers of Iran and the effect that the Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act has had on Iran’s relationship with the world. Mr. Ross concluded his speech by reiterating the need for peace, and the specific importance of moderates remaining engaged in a proactive peace process.
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.
