OneVoice Movement

OneVoice delegation concludes intense trip to Israel and West Bank

New York, October 27, 2011—Influential business leaders, led by OneVoice Founder Daniel Lubetzky, CEO Howard Sumka, and Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander, concluded on Thursday an intense four days of high level meetings with government officials mixed with attending grassroots activities in Israel and the West Bank.

The delegation, which includes Joshua Bernstein of Bernstein Management Corporation, Pat Patterson of MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, and Fred Schaufeld of NEW Customer Service Companies, met with Israeli celebrities such as Merav Michaeli, Lior Shlein, Shlomo Bar-Aba, and Judy Shalom Nir-Mozes at Tel Aviv’s Dan Hotel Thursday morning. Jason Alexander encouraged the celebrities and others in the public eye to join together and draw attention toward solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“The first time I came here with OneVoice, there was a lot more enthusiasm for the peace process, more optimism, but the gaps between both societies were huge,” said Alexander. “Now, the gaps are so much smaller. Really, they are. But that belief and optimism are gone. We need to get it back, we need to recognize and believe this is possible. If we do, this could be negotiated in a year.”

Koby Huberman, CEO of Strategic Landscapes and co-author of the Israeli Peace Initiative, also felt that a peace agreement was within grasp. “What we need is no more words, no more ideas or gimmicks,” he told the celebrity audience. “We need courage, that's all. Everything has been said, but nothing has been done.”

Throughout the week, the delegation met several Israeli and Palestinian politicians, from Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath on the Palestinian side to former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres on the Israeli side. They also attended OneVoice Palestine’s town hall meeting in Qalqilya and youth leadership meeting in Nablus, with over 100 people participating in each event.

“Students can make a difference and push their respective governments to make changes,” said James Cummings of The Nathan Cummings Foundation, after meeting the movement’s youth activists in Nablus. He was impressed by their “commitment and courage,” given the level of blame and resistance that exists in both Israeli and Palestinian societies.

The trip aimed to support the efforts of OneVoice’s youth activists in building a movement for peace from the ground up. The movement has been leveraging its extensive network of entrenched youth activists this year to empower and mobilize the people on both sides to propel their leaders to take bold action for peace.

OneVoice delegation witnesses Palestinian grassroots activism

OneVoice Palestine Executive Director Samer Makhlouf, Governor Rabeeh al-Khandakji, and Palestinian Authority Minister Maher Ghoneim lead a town hall meeting in the West Bank city of Qalqilya on Wednesday.

New York, October 27, 2011—Prominent business leaders attended grassroots youth meetings in West Bank communities on Wednesday, their third day on a delegation trip led by OneVoice Founder Daniel Lubetzky, CEO Howard Sumka, and Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander.

The delegation, which includes Fred Schaufeld of NEW Customer Service Companies, Pat Patterson of MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, and James K. Cummings of The Nathan Cummings Foundation, attended OneVoice Palestine’s town hall meeting in Qalqilya and youth leadership gathering in Nablus, with over 100 participants at each events. The trip aimed to support the efforts of OneVoice’s youth activists in building a movement for peace from the ground up.

“Students can make a difference and push their respective governments to make changes,” said James Cummings of The Nathan Cummings Foundation, after meeting the movement’s youth activists in Nablus. He was impressed by their “commitment and courage,” given the level of blame and resistance that exists in both Israeli and Palestinian societies.

OVP, in partnership with Governor Rabeeh al-Khandakji and Palestinian Authority Minister Maher Ghoneim, hosted the packed Qalqilya town hall meeting at city hall. The discussion focused on the impact of settlements and land swaps that have historically crippled Qalqilya’s agriculturally based economy. Issues of a future Palestinian state were also raised along with OVP’s efforts to achieve the two-state solution.

“We need to find a way to co-exist,” said Lubetzky to an applauding audience. “We need to evacuate the settlements, we need to recognize the suffering of refugees, and find a way for some of the refugees to be reunited with their families, but then you need to find a way to live with Israel.”

Following the Qalqilya town hall meeting, delegates traveled to Nablus in a gathering of around 150 OVP youth leaders. The meeting shed light on OVP’s work and allowed the delegates to freely talk with the youth activists from Nablus and Jenin.

“For me, it’s about the future. I do not want my children, or my brothers and sisters, to have to go through the humiliations and struggles that me and my father went through,” said OVP youth activist Thuraya Aghbar to the delegation. “The only way to change our situation is for the youth to make the change, and push our leaders in the right direction.”

OneVoice leveraged its extensive network of entrenched youth activists this year to empower and mobilize the people on both sides to propel their leaders to take bold action for peace.

“You are the heart of the movement,” said OneVoice CEO Howard Sumka. “It’s fantastic to see so many people here committed to ending this conflict and to two states.”

OneVoice Founder Daniel Lubetzky addresses the crowd at Qalqilya City Hall as OneVoice Palestine's Ezzeldin Masri translates.

Seinfeld actor Jason Alexander, Fred Schaufeld of NEW Customer Service Companies, and Alan Meltzer of The Meltzer Group listen to a presentation during the Qalqilya town hall meeting on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Fayyad talks frankly with OneVoice delegation

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad breifs a high profile delegation of international business leaders and philanthropists, led by OneVoice Founder Daniel Lubetzky and actor Jason Alexander, in Ramallah on Tuesday.

Jerusalem, October 25, 2011—Prime Minister Salam Fayyad talked openly with a high profile delegation of international business leaders and philanthropists, led by OneVoice Founder Daniel Lubetzky and actor Jason Alexander, on Tuesday about the difficulty of returning to peace talks.

Prime Minister Fayyad told the group at his Ramallah office that the time was not ripe for negotiations. “The politics are not right – on our side, on their side, and, if I may go above my pay grade, in the US,” he said. “Part of strong and effective leadership is bringing people along with you. Given what Bibi [Prime Minister Netanyahu] and those around him seem to have in mind when it comes to a Palestinian state, it would be very difficult to enter negotiations without clear terms of reference.”

“Why should it take a crisis in order to convince someone like [Defense Minister Ehud] Barak to move from principles to agreement,” Fayyad continued saying, before asking OneVoice to help highlight that the stalemate does not stem from a “lack of agreement in principle.”

Turning to OneVoice’s efforts on the ground, Fayyad said, “I think there's great value in reaching out to elements of society who don't tend to be at the forefront of politics, people who aren't the usual suspects.”

The delegation also met with senior Palestinian officials Nabil Shaath and Mohammad Shtayyeh. Later that night, they attended a networking event in Jerusalem with Israeli and Palestinian business leaders, organized in partnership with the Young Presidents’ Organization and the Israeli-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

On Wednesday, the delegation will travel to the West Bank city of Qalqilya to attend a town hall meeting on the issue of borders and land swaps that OneVoice Palestine is holding with Governor Ribhi Khandakji and Palestinian Authority Minister Maher Ghoneim.

Actor Jason Alexander shakes hands with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Ramallah on Tuesday.

OneVoice delegation meets President Shimon Peres

Jerusalem, October 25, 2011—A group of influential business leaders from the United States and the United Kingdom, led by OneVoice Founder Daniel Lubetzky and actor Jason Alexander, met with President Shimon Peres on Tuesday.

The delegation, which includes Fred Schaufeld of NEW Customer Service Companies, Pat Patterson of MacKenzie Patterson Fuller, and James K. Cummings of The Nathan Cummings Foundation, is visiting Israel and the West Bank this week to support the efforts of OneVoice’s youth activists in building a movement for peace from the ground up.

“On the past, we cannot have but many voices, many narratives,” said President Shimon Peres. “But on the future, we can and must be OneVoice.”

President Peres asked the Seinfeld actor for advice to which Jason Alexander responded that “the best advice is to not give up.” He added, “There’s been so much disappointment, but there are wonderful people that are working very hard within both communities. The whole point of OneVoice is to give voice to the moderates on both sides and engage them in the process.”

Both OneVoice Israel and OneVoice Palestine have been forging direct channels for communication between elected leaders and the grassroots. Last week, OneVoice Israel held a landmark event outside Tel Aviv’s Cinematheque that saw 500 Israelis talk ‘dooghri’ (straight) with 30 prominent government and civil society leaders.

“We are proud not to be chained to the past, but instead to be at the forefront of the generation that works toward a solution – two states, two peoples, in OneVoice,” said Tal Harris, executive director of OneVoice Israel, following the meeting with President Peres.

The meeting was covered by international media, including The Associated Press, CBS News, Reuters, and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

From left: OneVoice Israel Executive Director Tal Harris, OneVoice Founder Daniel Lubetzky, President Shimon Peres, and OneVoice Entertainment Council member Jason Alexander pose for a picture on Oct. 25.

Knesset members brief OneVoice delegation on two-state solution

MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima) briefs OneVoice delegation, including Jason Alexander, on the two-state solution at the Knesset's Jerusalem Hall on Monday.

Jerusalem, October 24, 2011—A group of influential business leaders from the United States and the United Kingdom, led by OneVoice Founder Daniel Lubetzky and actor Jason Alexander, met with members of the Knesset’s Two-State Solution Caucus in Jerusalem on Monday.

The delegation, which includes Fred Schaufeld of NEW Customer Service Companies, Alan Meltzer of The Meltzer Group, and James K. Cummings of The Nathan Cummings Foundation, joined more than a dozen Knesset members at Jerusalem Hall in a discussion on the lack of political will to finalize a peace agreement, despite overwhelming consensus within Israeli society for the two-state solution. OneVoice Israel staff and youth leaders were also present.

“We have a majority for the two-state solution—I promise you, it is there,” said MK Yoel Hasson (Kadima), head of the Two-State Solution Caucus. “But we need a brave leader who is willing to mobilize this consensus.”

Knesset members from Kadima, Labour Party, and Meretz echoed Hasson’s sentiments. Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Shlomo Molla (Kadima) said that the “alternative to a two-state solution isn’t a one-state solution... The alternative is a very rapid and potentially destructive deterioration of the situation in the region.”

OneVoice leveraged its extensive network of entrenched youth activists this year to empower and mobilize the people on both sides to propel their leaders to take bold action for peace. The delegation's visit comes on the heels of OneVoice Israel’s landmark event outside Tel Aviv’s Cinematheque last week that saw 500 Israelis talk ‘dooghri’ (straight) with 30 prominent government and civil society leaders.

“OneVoice talks about empowering the moderates, but moderates have a bad rap because they’re seen as tepid,” said Jason Alexander, a member of OneVoice’s Entertainment Council. “The moderates need to become the passionate. When moderates become passionate, extraordinary things can happen.”

The Knesset members called on the delegation and the US Jewish community to stand behind the moderate majority who want peace, but stressed only Israelis and Palestinians can resolve the conflict by negotiating a final and permanent peace agreement.

“Too many people think that the price we need to pay for a two-state solution is too steep,” said OneVoice Israel Executive Director Tal Harris, during his concluding remarks. “But without it, the final price we will have to pay to the extremists is to give up on either the Jewish or democratic nature of the State of Israel.”

The delegation also met separately with Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor and former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as well as the US Consul General Daniel Rubinstein. They are set to meet with top Palestinian officials on Tuesday and attend OneVoice’s town hall meeting in the West Bank city of Qalqilya on Wednesday.

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OneVoice brings high profile delegation to Israel and the West Bank

Actor Jason Alexander heads a high profile delegation visiting Israel and the West Bank from Oct. 23 - 30 to support the efforts of OneVoice’s youth activists.

Jerusalem, October 24, 2011—A high profile delegation of international business leaders and philanthropists is visiting Israel and the West Bank this week to support the efforts of OneVoice’s youth activists in building a movement for peace from the ground up.

OneVoice Founder Daniel Lubetzky and CEO Howard Sumka are joined by actor Jason Alexander and prestigious business leaders from the United States and the United Kingdom. They will meet top Israeli and Palestinian leaders, hold a discussion with the Knesset’s Two-State Solution Caucus, attend a town hall meeting in the West Bank city of Qalqilya, and engage with the movement’s Israeli and Palestinian youth activists.

“The majority of the people on both sides want to see an end to the conflict,” said Sumka. “We, at OneVoice, are working to build a human infrastructure to support the leaders and propel them to take bold action for peace. We hope this trip will help to highlight the tough work that our Israeli and Palestinian youth activists carry out every day in their own societies.”

Following the Palestinian bid at the UN, OneVoice has thrown its focus on connecting the leaders with the grassroots and continues to find that strong will exists among the people to reach a final agreement. The delegation's visit comes on the heels of OneVoice Israel’s landmark event outside Tel Aviv’s Cinematheque last week that saw 500 Israelis talk ‘dooghri’ (straight) with 30 prominent government and civil society leaders.

Last week in London, OneVoice hosted a conversation with former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband and former US Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell on the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the two-state solution. When asked at the event about the power of civil society to make peace, Sen. Mitchell said, “diplomats and statesmen and elected officials or appointed officials can make peace, but it takes hold only in the hearts and minds of the people.”

"We need to stop waiting for two politicians to solve the conflict by themselves," said Lubetzky. "Moderates on both sides need to build a constituency to support them, to stand up and refuse to be overshadowed by extremist visions."