Huffington, Newmark praise OneVoice's work in Palestine and Israel
Okay, I’ll be straight with you. I was not entirely comfortable being the MidEast Youth representative at the blogger meetup on OneVoice hosted by Thinktank 3 in TriBeCa tonight that was graced by the presence of Ariana Huffington (The Huffington Post) and Craig Newmark (Craigslist). Why? Because am on staff at OneVoice, and my contributions to this blog are kept separate from my work in deference to the rules and purpose of this site.
But not every one of our remarkable writers has the privilege of being able to be in New York to be at this event as I did. In fact, some of you might have a very difficult time procuring a visa to the country in which I am a citizen. So, in the interest of impartiality and with Esra’a's encouragement, I’d like to share with you a look at what went on and let others do the deciding about the OneVoice Movement and its mandate, over half a million strong now, for immediate negotiations leading to the implementation of a resolution majorities in Israel and Palestine seem to want: a two-state resolution to the Palestinian Israeli conflict.
Newmark, a board member of OneVoice, opened the event by telling us that “most people in the world just want to make a deal.” We can take his word for it, as tens if not hundreds of thousands of deals for everything from new furniture to rideshares to jobs to romantic liasons are made daily on the craigslist.org sites he created. The problem that keeps the voices of these normal, moderate people from being heard, Newmark told us, quoting Jon Stewart, is that “moderates have stuff to do” wheras the “trolls, crazies and crooks” who constitute the non-moderate block (or “bad guys”) apparently will sacrifice more time and energy to furthering conflict. Newmark hailed OneVoice as a group that seeks to change that dynamic.
Ariana Huffington noted that most human actions are motivated by self preservation, sex, power, and empathy. “Empathy is a muscle” that has to be exercised in order to strengthen it, she told us, and shared that she sees the OneVoice Movement as having the potential to propel the moderate majorities in Israel and Palestine towards a “tipping point” at which they will be powerful enough to demand change.
Which left all the bloggers in the room wondering, “what the heck is OneVoice and why are these two influential bloggers so high on it?” OneVoice founder Daniel Lubetzky was given the stage in the small studio space to speak about OneVoice as an international movement led by parallel staffs in Israel (with an office in Tel Aviv) and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (with offices in Ramallah and Gaza City). Lubetzky told those assembled that it is clear two single politicians cannot enact a peace deal by themselves, that support from the grassroots on each side is crucial. He cited “Hamas’ efforts to delegitimize Abbas” and Olmert’s low approval ratings to call into question what the efficacy of the historic conference being planned by the Bush administration could be, given that the leaders must have a clear mandate from the people in order for any talks or third-party efforts to be anything more than “photo ops and coffee.”
He said that the One Million Voices to End the Conflict People’s Summits on October 18th, 2007 in Jericho Stadium and in HaYarkon Park in Tel Aviv will be just that, a mandate to the leadership to negotiate a resolution by October 18th, 2007. These events will not only grab international attention away from the “blood, sex and controversy” that dominate the headlines, but the simulcast Summits will serve as proof to each side that moderates on the other side exist as the majority, that there is more to it that “terrorism and violence” on the Palestinian side and “occupation and subjugation” on the Israeli side.
Lubetzky implored us bloggers to be an active alternative to traditional media in breaking these stereotypes, especially in the aftermath of the events on October 18th. In reference to larger regional currents, he cited Ahmadenijad, who spoke at Columbia University earlier in the day, as someone who uses the conflict “to achieve [his own] hegemonic ambitions” and referenced Palestinian Chief Negotiator (and newest OneVoice Board Member) Saeb Erekat’s comments to the Iranian deputy minister recently: “Stay out of our business!”
Lubetzky concluded by telling the audience that he was simply “a confused Mexican Jew” working with Palestinians and Israelis on an issue clearly deep in his heart, and implored us to discuss and write about the OneVoice Movement and the student-conceived and organized events taking place internationally (Washington DC, Ottawa, London, Boston, Southern California, Michigan) in solidarity with One Million Voices to End the Conflict.
I’m interested to hear what you all think of this; I’ve done my best to make it seem like you were there (though the hyperlink I’m trying to import to the gourmet cheeses and berries that were provided as snacks doesn’t seem to be working.) Can a movement like OneVoice really make a difference on the governmental and policy levels? Does calling for “an end to occupation and terror” resonate? Or might this just turn into another “missed connection”?
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That’s really a great report Mimi, thanks so much for sharing it and representing us at the conference. I support OneVoice’s efforts but it may take a while for them to be a real vehicle for change. For such a growing movement, with offices in 5 locations or so, I really don’t see them creating the much needed noise or awareness. All I know is that they exist. But living in the region, I know that not many people even know what OneVoice is, including bloggers. But a growing number of people seem to be more and more aware of things like Avaaz which is way more visual and straight-forward: this is the mission, here’s a petition, here’s a video, spread the word. And people do, and often they take action. I wish OneVoice was more like that, involving us all in one cause, and being more inviting (and to the point) about what we can all do to help (other than donating!)
Therefore, and I hope I’m not at all offending you knowing that you work there, my answer to this:
… is “no.”
Daniel Lubetzky has dominated One Voice with an ironfist … it is about him not the Palestinians. The organization is marginalized and dioes not work with other groups. I know because I have asked him to work with the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour and he refuses — politely. I also know many of the Palestinians ont he One Voice staff and I know that my views parallel many of their own … but who wants to stand up to Daniel and push him to do the right thing.
Don’t get me wrong. One Voice is a great idea, but Daniel needs to do more to make it representative rather than build up statistics that have had absolutely no impact on the people on the ground.
And leave it up to the board members to promote it like the guy from Craig’s List, and ignore all the other efforts out there. Maybe I am just despondent about the inability of the peace movement to galvanize Palestinians and Israelis, and while my efforts and the efforts of other Palestinians I know have failed so far, One Voice has not succeeded in that respect either. And to me, that is the real painful tragedy.
Ray Hanania
just one voice ont he topic
http://www.ArabWritersGroup.com
I would have to second Ray here in that I don’t see OneVoice really opening the doors to anybody but themselves. There’s an apparent lack of networking and those who want to conjoin efforts really have no clear/good way of doing so – you either do it through them or you don’t do it at all, it seems to me (and correct me if I am wrong.)
Basically, I do wonder if they’re all about just marketing their efforts for the sake of publicity or do they really go out of their way to achieve real, serious, ground-breaking change beyond media appearances. I feel bad for feeling this way, and I really do support the great idea I just think they are trying to achieve it the wrong way… I just wish they spent their energy in the things that really mattered or invested some of their time empowering people/voices who really make a difference.
Again though I am not declaring myself an expert, and if anyone has a refutation of this please do share it.
I have a different view on OneVoice: What I like about OneVoice is that through pure optics (an Israeli and a Palestinian sitting together as equals) it manages to change people’s views on the conflict. Changing the dynamic from whose narrative is more correct to one of working together to look for solutions that work for both peoples.
I will give you an example. My partner is a typical Israeli. He wants peace but is frustrated with all the failures to date. He doesn’t believe that anyone on the “other side” feels and thinks like him. Knowing very little about OneVoice, I took a chance and had the Israeli and Palestinian representatives at our home. After two minutes of speaking to the Palestinian member, he turned to me and said “ok, I will join this group”. The idea that a Palestinian from Jenin would put aside his feelings of anger and frustration and go out of his way to show that we CAN solve this conflict if we do it together was more powerful than any slogans or peace groups.
That may not be the government and policy level that changed. But I have seen Israelis and Palestinians changed by this organization.
I have to agree with Corey. Some of us who are very familiar with the conflict and work on it every single day tend to get a bit cynical, but I can tell you that I’ve been to multiple OneVoice events where average people come away with a completely different attitude. This is not just uninformed folks who are marginally interested in Israel and Palestine, but activists and others who are deeply involved. Like Corey said, sometimes we lose sight of the fact that we do in fact have partners on the “other side,” and that’s the role OV has to fill. The more average Israelis and Palestinians believe that they have counterparts on the other side, the more their leaders can bank on the political capital necessary to finally end this God-forsaken conflict once and for all.
Esra’ you are right on with this one. One Voice is a great organization shackled by its failure to let loose. People in the Middle East are so used to having “President’s For Life” that we feel uncomfortable when we don’t have a dictator (or, a pushy leader who dominates — it’s typical of most Arab AMerican organizations, too). They build up on great platforms and then can’t let go, fearing they will be undermined by outsiders. So it is, as Bush says, “you are with us or against us.” No in-between.
OneVoice could be a far more effective organization besides the darling of the Israeli press — it does not get that much embrace in the Arab or Palestinian media — if it would just open up and live the principle rather than talk-the-talk.
Never Shalom is like that. I was on its board in the late 1980s and early 1990s when no Palestinian wanted to help it … and then, as it grew, they decided that it was better not to have a Palestinian with an opinion — I’m one of a few professional Palestinian journalists out there in the West — and moved on … still, it is a great concept that has gone nowhere fast. Same village. People living together, living their own dream. And they can’t get outside of the village that they live in.
Sad but true.
Ray Hanania
http://www.ArabWritersGroup.com
I think you mean Neve Shalom, Ray; unless your Freudian slip was intentional.