Daniel Lubetzky

A YGL from Colombia mentioned at a session here in Dalian that
‘reality changes faster than perception,’ which is a challenge to
Colombia because even as vast economic, social and political
developments take place, the stereotype about Colombia as a dangerous
guerrilla-ridden zone will take far longer to change.

The same problem exists in conflict areas.

It is a serious challenge because media will have a big incentive to
report the bad, but relatively little compunction to report the good.

At a session on simulating business management of risks, an executive
of a newspaper explained he was primarily driven by selling more
newspapers, so controversial and negative developments that shock,
scare, and incite will always take the front page.

For OneVoice, and for moderates and centrists worldwide, this presents
a serious challenge.

Sent from my iPhone – pardon typos

Conventional wisdom definition for Naive: someone too innocent and
dreamy who thinks he or she can help change or impact socio-political
conditions or somehow alter the course of history or their surroundings.

In areas of conflict, it also tends to be used to counter someone who
does not think ‘the enemy’ is mono-chromatic or wholly arrayed to the
destruction of the other.

OV Definition for Naive: someone who believes 2 politicians alone can
bring peace to the region or otherwise resolve a nation’s ills;
someone who believes inaction is a luxury they can take, and does not
realize every day that moderates don’t take action they cede the
agenda to extremists who are passionate and committed enough to do
something.

Sent from my iPhone – pardon typos
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Israeli Taxi Drivers are very special. They are also psychologists,
political scientists, and socialites all packed into one.

Unlike NY taxi drivers where seating on the front is only done when
there are too many passengers, with Israeli drivers you are just as
likely to sit in the front, and the drivers can – and will not
hesitate to – speak knowledgeably about almost any topic.

Many Israeli cabs are brand new Mercedes Benz cars (partly because of
a culture of pride in the car driven, partly becuase of the lo g-haul
quality, and partly because Taxis don’t need to pay the massive 45%
government tax). Fares are reasonable AND tipping is an appreciated
exception.

The best way to get a feel for the sentiment on the Israeli street is
to talk to Taxi drivers. Even though I have a car there, going to
meetings within Tel Aviv can cost you more in parking and give you
more headaches finding a spot than just taking a cab. And there is
the added plus of the taxi drivers.

Trying to get taxi drivers to believe in the power of the people is
not easy – they are skeptical creatures. But they are far more
skeptical of politicians. And when they eventually come on board,
they are strong emissaries. Some have agreed to hand out OneVoice
Mandates from their cabs.
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The Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006 gave Hamas a plurality
in all districts except one.

The only place where Hamas was soundly defeated and gained not one
seat was Qalqiliya. What is remarkable about Qalqiliya is that it is
also the only area where Hamas had gained total control in the prior
municipal elections less than a year before.

According to two different polls, if elections were held again today
15% to 25% would vote for Hamas, underlining that wherever Hamas has
governed, it has provided the roots of its own demise.

The BIG problem is that this lesson is not lost on Hamas itself and
they are unlikely to accept new elections.

Like Bernard Lewis once wrote, Islamist parties believe in the axiom
of ‘one man, one vote, one time.’

They will probably have to face the destiny of the Taliban.

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This last Friday, Gazans organized a protest against Hamas. They
called on people to pray outside the mosques.

The background to this is that Hamas has seized total control of the
mosques, banning any Imam who does not follow the party line, and
using the pulpit for their political and ideological propaganda.

Needless to say, the people are fed up about Hamas’s abuses. What is
remarkable is that this protest came from the people and from civil
society groups, not from political parties.

This is thus a potential milestone, when the fight is not just between
Fatah and Hamas, but now also between Hamas oppression and popular
disgust.

Hamas reacted with harshness, beating up people praying on the
streets, which will only further alienate the public.

Reporters were injured in an effort to intimidate the media from
sharing the news.

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Who asks for the business card (or aims to establish a relationship)
tells you a lot about power dynamics.

It is easily understood that younger up-and-coming entrepreneurs will
try to link up with high-powered CEOs or that salespeople will aim to
connect with buyers.

But another subtle dynamic I keep noticing is that, in general,
Palestinians are far more interested in getting business cards of the
Israelis or international citizens they meet.

At our youth leadership summits between Israelis and Palestinians,
both sides are so surprised, motivated and energized to confirm first-
hand that they have a partner working for the same goal on the other
side. But it is the Palestinians that more frequently ask for the
business card.

This is understandable because for Palestinians, contact with some
Israeli can be a more likely life-line in the current circumstances
where they live.

When our OneVoice Gaza Executive Director was held up with four
computers for more than an hour at a checkpoint, he ended up calling
Adi Balderman who finally succeeded in intervening and helping
establish these were indeed for the organization and that Mowaffaq was
the real deal.

Jews and other minorities that have traditionally been persecuted also
have a greater instinct to establish links with the other,
particularly when the other has greater power or can control their
destiny.

Probably more so for children of Holocaust survivors. Besides the
importance of OneVoice building a network of moderates all over, I
sometimes find myself wondering in a stream of consciousness what
would happen if I was taken hostage when I am in Gaza or if I was
stuck somewhere between rival factions.

Would any of my ‘connections’ be able to help? While most likely they
would not, it is emotionally reassuring that they would try.

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Actionist: Someone who refuses to stand by and
instead chooses to take control over his own destiny, particularly as it refers
to matters that are ordinarily seen as beyond the power of individuals. Someone
who believes and knows that he can change the course of history based on the
power of his and his peers’ actions.

Why was the above new definition necessary? Because to the
best of my knowledge, there are a plethora of words to describe sullen fatalism,
but none to described determined activism and conviction as to the power of
individuals to change history.

The two definitions below do exist currently in the dictionary, and can be antonyms to the above:

Determinist: Anyone who submits to the belief thatthey are powerless to change their destiny

Fatalist: Anyone who submits to the belief that they are powerless to change their destiny

Today at an event at Benny and Channa Levy’s in EinHod, which the Egyptian Ambassador attended, I was asked by one of the guestshow I managed to stay so optimistic. While the question was asked in a sincere way meant as a compliment, I explained that for me this has nothing to do with optimism but with determination.

While as a person I do consider myself to be a positive thinker and an optimist, the truth is that with regards to the Middle East Conflict and all areas of anti-semitism, I live in the shadow of the Holocaust and am more of a determined pessimist than anything else. The fear of extinction, and the conviction not to allow what happened to my Father to
happen ever again, is what drives me.

The false spectrum that many people often assume is between optimism
and pessimism. But in fact the real distinction is between action and
inaction.

Instead of spending so much time thinking whether the glass
is half full or half empty, let’s just fill up the damn glass.

  Today we met with Dr. Saeb Erakat in Jericho & he agreed to join the
OneVoice Honorary Board and to help us with the OV Summit.

Erakat is the tough but fair, pragmatic and constructive head
Palestinian negotiator.

(here he is in center with me on the left and Dr. Fathi Darwish on the right)

Last May at the WEF conference in the Dead Sea, Dr. Erakat stunned the
audience by publicly chastising Iran’s delegation for their negative
interference in Palestinian-Israeli affairs.

Iran’s Minister was waxing poetic about the Palestinian struggle and
the Zionist satan when Erakat called Iran for its hypocrisy and asked
the panelist, "please, don’t help us. You are hurting us with your
calls to annihilate Israel. Please don’t help us. I am telling you
now as a Palestinian. Stay out of our affairs."

Erakat recognizes the importance of public opinion and grassroots
efforts. He also serves on the board of Seeds of Peace. He committed
to speak at the Oct.18 summit.

Sent from my iPhone – pardon typos
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