Mara Lee
Global Executive Director
Mara serves as the Global Executive Director of OneVoice, working closely with the PeaceWorks Foundation and OneVoice Europe boards and lay leaders on strategy and then oversees its implementation, ensuring that each component…
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Mara Lee
Mara serves as the Global Executive Director of OneVoice, working closely with the PeaceWorks Foundation and OneVoice Europe boards and lay leaders on strategy and then oversees its implementation, ensuring that each component has the resources, guidance and support it needs to have maximum impact. Mara first joined the Movement as our International Organizing Director, based in the Middle East. In that position she focused on professionalizing and expanding all of our grassroots work, incorporating best practices and focusing on training and empowering local staff. She previously served as a political appointee in the Obama Administration as the Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration and before that was Congresswoman Doris Matsui’s (CA-06) Deputy Chief of Staff & Communications Director. A campaign veteran, Mara has served in leadership positions on behalf of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Ben Cardin (D-MD). Mara majored in politics and history at the University of California, San Diego and earned her Master's degree in political science from the University of London, graduating with distinction. She is also an Associate Professor at the George Washington University, where (when time allows) she teaches courses on global politics and campaign management. Mara is based in our New York office.
Hela Lahar
Deputy Director
Hela serves as the Deputy Director of OneVoice, where she helps create and execute the OneVoice US vision and operations, in addition to coordinating and directing development activities. As Deputy Director of OneVoice,…
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Hela Lahar
Hela serves as the Deputy Director of OneVoice, where she helps create and execute the OneVoice US vision and operations, in addition to coordinating and directing development activities. As Deputy Director of OneVoice, Hela helps create and execute the OneVoice vision and operations, in addition to coordinating, directing and executing development activities. Hela introduces OneVoice’s work to new audiences and helps lead our campus program as well as global initiatives. Hela previously served as Founder and Director of the Center for Israel Education at Columbia/Barnard Hillel. The center’s primary mission was to cultivate relationships between American college students and diverse communities in Israel through social justice initiatives, advocacy programs and immersive experiences. Prior to that, Hela lived in Israel for 5 years, where she worked for the Israeli Movement for Progressive and Reform Judaism as the founder and director of the Yachdav Jewish Peoplehood Education Center, focusing on creating partnerships and fostering meaningful relationships between public schools in Israel and congregational schools in the United States. Hela majored in International Relations at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and earned her Master's degree in Diplomacy and Security Studies from Tel Aviv University. Hela is also a certified facilitator with Resetting The Table and teaches workshops on the roots of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Hela is based in our New York office.
Cornelia Aton
Special Projects Manager
Cornelia serves as OneVoice's Special Projects Manager, coordinating various initiatives from the New York office. She leads on delegations to Israel and Palestine, and manages development and grant writing for US programming.…
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Cornelia Aton
Cornelia serves as OneVoice's Special Projects Manager, coordinating various initiatives from the New York office. She leads on delegations to Israel and Palestine, and manages development and grant writing for US programming. Prior to joining OneVoice, Cornelia interned and worked for International Community Action Network in Canada and Israel/Palestine, supporting local communities through social advocacy and sustainable development projects. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies and International Relations from McGill University. She is based in our New York office.
Ezzeldeen Masri
US Outreach Director
Ezzeldeen was born in Gaza City in 1971. He completed his Bachelor’s in Political Science and Criminology in the spring of 1997 from Northeastern Illinois University. He then worked for Chicago's Board of Education as…
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Ezzeldeen Masri
Ezzeldeen was born in Gaza City in 1971. He completed his Bachelor’s in Political Science and Criminology in the spring of 1997 from Northeastern Illinois University. He then worked for Chicago's Board of Education as an Arabic/English bilingual teacher. In the fall of 2000, he completed his Master’s in International Relations, with specialization in conflict resolution. That year, he moved back to Palestine, and accepted a job with the American International School in Gaza, as a social studies teacher and head of the upper school. In November 2006, he opened OneVoice Palestine-Gaza office and was appointed as the Executive Director. After the end of the first Gaza War, he moved to Ramallah City and accepted the job of Director of Development in OneVoice Palestine. In the summer of 2011, he moved back to the Gaza Strip and was appointed as Director of OneVoice-Gaza. He returned to the United States in 2015, and is currently the US Outreach Director. In 2014, Ezz was featured in the New York Times for his work with OneVoice.
Hayes McManemin
Development Assistant
Hayes serves as OneVoice’s Development Assistant, coordinating donor communications and board relations as well as supporting team members with their own programming. She graduated in 2019 from Duke University, and holds…
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Hayes McManemin
Hayes serves as OneVoice’s Development Assistant, coordinating donor communications and board relations as well as supporting team members with their own programming. She graduated in 2019 from Duke University, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Comparative Studies as well as Asian and Middle Eastern Studies with a concentration in Arabic. She is based in our New York office.
Andrew Hirsh
Communications & Marketing Manager
Andrew serves as OneVoice's Communications & Marketing Manager, amplifying the organization's work and building an educated, engaged, and active community.
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Andrew Hirsh
Andrew serves as OneVoice's Communications & Marketing Manager, amplifying the organization's work and building an educated, engaged, and active community. He is actively involved in Israel Policy Forum's young adult initiatives; before joining OneVoice, he spent two years as a senior writer for Greater Boston's Jewish Federation. Andrew has also worked as a freelance reporter, covering international conflicts, forced displacement, education, and professional sports. Andrew earned a B.A. in Media Arts & Entertainment from Elon University and is a native of Atlanta, Ga.
Jessica Brandler
Director
Jess Brandler serves as the Director of OneVoice Europe, working with the OneVoice Europe board to support and elevate the work of Zimam and Darkenu in Europe, and strategise on how to expand support for their work through…
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Jessica Brandler
Jess Brandler serves as the Director of OneVoice Europe, working with the OneVoice Europe board to support and elevate the work of Zimam and Darkenu in Europe, and strategise on how to expand support for their work through stronger connections with the Directors, staff, and activists of Zimam and Darkenu. She also directs the work of Solutions Not Sides in Israel and Palestine, recruiting, training, supporting, and empowering the Israeli and Palestinian activists from 18 different organisations who are brought to the UK to speak to run solutions-focused workshops for young people, faith, and political communities. She has a BA from Cambridge University in Politics, Psychology, and Sociology, specializing in conflict, development, and the role of religion in politics. Following her graduation, she was awarded a fellowship at the Central European University in Budapest, where she completed her MA in International Relations and European Studies. During this time, she wrote papers and ran seminars on Palestine and Israel, and volunteered with the The Human Rights Initiative (HRSI). After graduating in Budapest, she moved back to London, where she worked within the education sector in universities and schools developing the start-up Yearbook Machine.
Polly Bronstein
Executive Director
Polly Bronstein is executive director of OneVoice Israel. She was the head of the Jewish Agency’s Delegation to the UK and the executive director of the Israeli Scouts in Western Europe. Polly previously served as the…
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Polly Bronstein
Polly Bronstein is executive director of OneVoice Israel. She was the head of the Jewish Agency’s Delegation to the UK and the executive director of the Israeli Scouts in Western Europe. Polly previously served as the director of the Israeli Scouts’ International Department, and as the director of Atid, an international partnership of pluralist youth movements from Israel, the UK, and the US. Bronstein was also a writer and editor at Yedioth Hachronot, a leading Israeli newspaper. She received a BA in Political Science and Communication from Tel Aviv University and an MA in both Education Management and Middle East Studies
Ayala Brilliant
Training & leadership Director
Ayala has recently graduated her MA in Conflict studies and Diplomacy in the Interdisciplinary Center in Hertzeliya. Previously she served as the Jewish Agency representative to the Baltimore community and Habonim Dror youth…
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Ayala Brilliant
Ayala has recently graduated her MA in Conflict studies and Diplomacy in the Interdisciplinary Center in Hertzeliya. Previously she served as the Jewish Agency representative to the Baltimore community and Habonim Dror youth movement, where she worked within the Jewish community in various ways, to engage them with Israel and the challenges it faces.
For four years, Ayala served as the director of the “Year of Service” of the Kibbutz movement, where she recruited hundreds of volunteers every year and professionalized the volunteer management process of the organization.
Ayala is very passionate about contributing to a conflict resolution and peace building by working for OneVoice and its goals.
Samer Makhlouf
Executive Director
In this position, Samer oversees the different programs and activities of the movement in Palestine, maintains the strong network of OVP volunteers and activists, and works toward building a coalition of civil society organizations…
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Samer Makhlouf
In this position, Samer oversees the different programs and activities of the movement in Palestine, maintains the strong network of OVP volunteers and activists, and works toward building a coalition of civil society organizations in support of the two-state solution.
Through OneVoice, Samer has organized grassroots campaigns, training seminars, and discussion panels throughout the West Bank. He also regularly engages with elected leaders across the political spectrum—both national and local officials—through town hall meetings, which bring together leaders and Palestinian citizens to discuss the issues of the conflict. Under Samer’s leadership, OVP has grown to become the second largest youth movement in Palestine with over 500 core activists in all the governorates of the West Bank. Through OVP’s Youth Leadership Program, these activists are empowered to be young moderate political leaders capable of leading their communities in achieving a comprehensive peace agreement through the two-state solution.
Samer holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Birzeit University in Palestine and has extensive international training in fundraising and non-profit management, including a cultural exchange mentorship program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. In addition to his work with OneVoice, Samer has 10 years of experience in a broad range of non-profit and business organizations in Palestine. Prior to his post in OVP, Samer served as the head of Ramallah’s Al Kasaba Theater & Cinematheque Programs & Development Department. As a member of the Palestinian Council for Young Political Leaders, he has established a wide network of connection with Palestinian politicians, organizations, and institutes. Samer is also the President of the Jifna Youth Club and the leader/organizer of the Jifna’s Apricot Festival, one of the largest, most popular and well known festivals in Palestine. Samer is from the West Bank town of Jifna.
Arwa Abed Rahman
Communications Director
Arwa was born in 1981 in Beirut as a Palestinian refugee, and she spent parts of her life in several countries with her family before being able to settle down in Ramallah, Palestine in 1996. She holds a B.A. in Media, Radio…
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Arwa Abed Rahman
Arwa was born in 1981 in Beirut as a Palestinian refugee, and she spent parts of her life in several countries with her family before being able to settle down in Ramallah, Palestine in 1996. She holds a B.A. in Media, Radio and Television broadcasting, from Birzeit University and an M.A. in Internationalization and Communication of Production Systems from the University for Foreigners in Perugia, Italy.
Arwa began her career as a news and documentary film producer, and later on she worked as a Projects Manager of Young Entrepreneurs Palestine (YEP), an NGO that supports young business leaders to develop their ideas and facilitates access to grants to help them establish and sustain small and medium enterprises in Palestine. In addition, she worked as the Head of Media Section in the Central Elections Commission of Palestine.
Arwa is also a senior leader in OneVoice Movement. She started volunteering in 2006 when OneVoice launched its campaign, "What Are You Willing to Do to End the Conflict?" Arwa felt deeply touched by the title, believing that every individual can make a difference in his or her life instead of merely focusing on the actions of the other side. She continued to support OneVoice when it embarked on another bold initiative in 2009, town hall meetings, which works to break taboos in both Israeli and Palestinian society. Arwa participated in two International Education Program tours in USA.
Abdullah Hamarsheh
Youth Leadership Program Director
Abdallah was born in the town of Yabed near Jenin to a big family. He has eight sisters and three brothers. Abdallah's parents passed away when he was young, so his sisters helped to raise him into the young man he is today.…
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Abdullah Hamarsheh
Abdallah was born in the town of Yabed near Jenin to a big family. He has eight sisters and three brothers. Abdallah's parents passed away when he was young, so his sisters helped to raise him into the young man he is today. Like many Palestinian workers, Abdallah worked in construction in Israel during the 1990s. He joined a community college in the late 1990s and specialized in the insurance field as a Damage Assessor. Abdallah worked for the Palestinian Authority between 1999 and 2001 in the VIP Protection Unit. In 2002 he worked for the Ministry of NGO Affairs as an administrator where he received several courses in civil services. Abdallah Joined OneVoice in 2005 as volunteer, soon became an activist, and started working for OneVoice Palestine part-time between 2006 and 2007. During this period, Abdallah received courses in public speaking, campaigning, recruitment, conflict resolution, negotiations, and peace building. These courses helped him become a trainer for the youth in the field of leadership. As Youth Leadership Program Director for OVP, he helped design and implement OVP's most successful program with over 700 youth leaders in the West Bank and Gaza. Abdallah and his family, his wife Safa' and daughter Talia, live in Ramallah.
Wasim Masri
Communications Officer
Born in Lebanon in 1982 to a Lebanese mother and a Palestinian father, Wasim lived in a refugee camp in Damascus for 10 years where he completed his primary education. Wasim went to high school in Gaza and moved after to…
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Wasim Masri
Born in Lebanon in 1982 to a Lebanese mother and a Palestinian father, Wasim lived in a refugee camp in Damascus for 10 years where he completed his primary education. Wasim went to high school in Gaza and moved after to Chicago to study Computer Science.
Wasim worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza between 2006 and 2010. He also worked for a few international organizations and non-governmental institutes as a Field Coordinator for a number of projects aiming to develop practices of democracy for security personal in the West Bank. Wasim joined OneVoice in 2011 as a Project Coordinator. Wasim is married and a father of two girls. He loves music, reading mystery novels, and video games.
Khalil Sehwail
Accountant
Born in Kuwait, Khalil studied in an elementary school south of Kuwait and move with his family to Jordan after the second Gulf War. Khalil graduated from Birzit University with a bachelor's degree in Finance and Banking.…
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Khalil Sehwail
Born in Kuwait, Khalil studied in an elementary school south of Kuwait and move with his family to Jordan after the second Gulf War. Khalil graduated from Birzit University with a bachelor's degree in Finance and Banking. Khalil volunteered for many organizations and participated in several non-violent activities protesting the occupation. He worked for "Tawen" Institution for Conflict Resolution as an Assistant Coordinator, promoted after to Lead Accountant. Khalil also worked for the Palestinian Company for Economic Development and later worked as the Administrative and Financial Coordinator for Third Road Campaign. Khalil worked in the private sector, starting as a Public Relation Administrator for the Bank of Palestine in Salfit. Khalil joined OneVoice Palestine in 2009, currently working as a Financial Administrator. Khalil is married and has three children, he loves history, learning new languages, and traveling.
Wisam Ziadeh
Office Manager
Born and raised in Jerusalem, Wisam completed primary school in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem. Wisam graduated from the University of Bethlehem with a degree in English Literature. She moved to Ramallah to work in the private…
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Wisam Ziadeh
Born and raised in Jerusalem, Wisam completed primary school in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem. Wisam graduated from the University of Bethlehem with a degree in English Literature. She moved to Ramallah to work in the private sector. She established a private import and export company with her husband. Through communication with Israeli companies to facilitate her business, Wisam understood the importance of ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the damage the occupation has over small businesses in Palestine. Wisam also worked for several institutions aiming to end the conflict and peace building in East Jerusalem, later she became a staff member and part of OneVoice Palestine. Wisam is married with one daughter, she currently lives in Ramallah. Wisam faces pressures and challenges daily by the Israeli government as both Wisam and her family carry Israeli IDs and they are not allowed to live in the West Bank.