OneVoice is an international movement of people fed up with the ongoing conflict. We are ready and eager to support a serious process leading to a comprehensive agreement fulfilling the hopes and beliefs of both the Palestinian and the Israeli peoples for a two-state solution to end the conflict, and establish a viable and independent Palestinian state that lives at peace and security with Israel.
While the needs and concerns of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples are different - Israelis wish to end terror and the existential threat to Israel; Palestinians wish to end the occupation and achieve an independent Palestinian state - the vast majority on each side agrees that these goals are achievable only by reaching a two-state solution. What remains is to demonstrate to the elected leadership on each side that Israelis & Palestinians want a negotiated two state agreemeent, and overwhelmingly support immediate negotiations toward that goal. Mobilizing civil society to this effect is OneVoice's aim.
Our mission: To amplify the voice of mainstream Israelis and Palestinians, empowering them to propel their elected representatives toward a two-state solution. The movement works to forge consensus for conflict resolution and build a human infrastructure capable of mobilizing the people toward a negotiated, comprehensive and permanent agreement between Israel and Palestine that ends the occupation, ensures security and peace for both sides, and solves all final-status issues in accordance with international law and previous bilateral agreements. The 1967 borders form the basis for the establishment of an independent, viable Palestinian state, with permanent borders and any modifications to be agreed upon by both parties. The movement recognizes that violence by either side will never be a means to end the conflict.
Achieving the final status agreement is going to be a challenging and complicated process, requiring extraordinary creativity and courage. One Voice believes in the power of the people to take part in the decision making process, demand accountability from their leaders, and create a historic change. While each side clearly has its own perspective, One Voice is certain that there is a mutually acceptable solution that can accommodate the positions of both sides.
To implement its mission, OneVoice utilizes a four-pronged approach: recruitment, civic engagement & education, youth leadership, and mobilization. Our activities are coordinated from our regional offices in Tel Aviv and Ramallah, with international headquarters in New York.
Our work is designed to:
- Build a mass grassroots movement that will amplify the voice of the moderates on both sides;
- Show that there are partners for negotiations and peace on both sides;
- Mobilize citizens to urge and support their leaders to achieve a two-state solution that permanently ends the conflict -- ending the occupation and all forms of violence, and achieving international recognition, security, respect, peace, and prosperity for the Israeli and Palestinian people;
- Include international and independent efforts to mobilize civil society;
- Build understanding that for the majority of Palestinians, peace is predicated on the need to end occupation and establish a viable independent Palestinian state, based on the 1967 borders and a resolution of the permanent status issues in accordance with international resolutions;
- Build understanding that for the majority of Israelis, peace is predicated on the need to ensure secure borders that will bring an end to all forms of violence, establishing a permanent end to the conflict, and guaranteeing mutual recognition and normal relations with their neighbors;
- Build understanding that an agreement will not be achieved without difficult compromises on core issues like settlements, Jerusalem, refugees, borders, and mutual recognition;
- Build understanding that absolutism, violence and war will NOT resolve the conflict and will only bring more violence and suffering to people on both sides.
OneVoice is unique because:
We have independent Israeli & Palestinian offices appealing to the national interests of their own sides with credentials enabling them to unite people across the religious and political spectrum.
We are not a dialogue group. We recognize the essential work many other groups do in the field of dialogue and understanding; but OneVoice is action-oriented and advocacy-driven.
We are about the process and demanding accountability from ourselves and from political leaders. A peace agreement, no matter how comprehensive, will be ineffective without populations ready to support it. Our focus is on giving citizens a voice and a direct role in conflict resolution.
Recognition we’ve received: World Association of NGOs WANGO Peace & Security Award (2004); Catholic Theological Union “Blessed are the Peacemakers Award” (2004); King Hussein Humanitarian Leadership Prize, awarded by the Hashemite Royal Family of Jordan (2005); Fast Company/Monitor Group Social Capitalist Award (2007-8); Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship (2008-11), UN Alliance of Civilizations Intercultural Innovation Award (2009).
661,816
VOICES
SUPPORT A TWO STATE SOLUTION
334,026 ISRAELIS 297,771 PALESTINIANS
30,019 INTERNATIONAL SUPPORTERS
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