This is yet another pitiful example of extremists disparaging one another. Moderates must vocally stand up to extremism on both sides of the divide. Otherwise, we are stuck with a relentless zero-sum fight between anti-Israeli and anti-Palestinian groups trying to delegitimize the identity and the humanity of the other. Any group that does not accept [...]
I am in the Middle East on a OneVoice mission, and today I had a number of engaging meetings with Israeli leaders (to be followed by 4 more intense days with Palestinian, Israeli and international leaders). One of my most remarkable meetings today was with Yuval Diskin, the former head of Shin Bet, the Israel [...]
Amidst all the winds of change in the Middle East, this week I read these 3 pieces that are worth perusing for any student of the region: John Kerry’s vision for economic and socio-political development in Palestine, and for rekindling negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians: http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/05/209969.htm Ben Caspit’s warning about the possible repercussions of the [...]
Anyone who is unconvinced on why it is imperative to work harder to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict need only review the data in the most recent global PEW poll, reprinted below. The longer this conflict is unresolved, the more that Israelis AND Palestinians will be disliked, resented and eventually ostracized by other countries. The challenges [...]
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, General Manager of Al Arabiya News Channel, shares a unique way of looking way of looking at the different players in Middle East conflicts. See his full piece after the jump. Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Julianna Storch Monday, 6 May 2013 Choose your enemy: Assad or Israel? Abdulrahman [...]
In his Baltimore Sun piece, Ziad J. Asali, discusses the tremendous hurdles that America faces with the vilification of our culture and people in the Arab world. Read the full article after the jump. Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Julianna Storch America’s challenge in the Arab world The United States must counter the anti-American ‘political correctness’ that [...]
This week, Israel Policy Forum (IPF) delivered the following letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu urging him to work with President Obama to take steps to advance a two-state solution. The letter was signed by over 100 prominent American Jewish philanthropists, businesspeople and community leaders. See the full letter and list of signatories after the jump. [...]
At the entrance to the ICC, where people are waiting for Obama, young Israelis are posting the commitments that they are making and that they are asking Obama to make in order to achieve a two-state solution.
The Israel Democracy Institute published the graph below in their 2013 Peace Index. It points to the danger that we face as younger generations grow more skeptical and cynical and have a harder time visualizing peace than older generations. This is particularly alarming because the younger generations usually have more faith in the opportunity for change [...]
Joel Braudold, Strategic Partnerships Officer for the One Voice Movement, makes the case that the new Israeli leaders should focus their efforts on solving the settlement problem before worrying about the ultra-Orthodox population. Read his full Haaretz piece after the jump. Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Julianna Storch Forget the ultra-Orthodox; focus on settlers [...]