OneVoice movement pushes two-state solution for Mideast

[oberliner]

There could hardly be a less hopeful moment for peace between Israelis and Palestinians: Israeli forces invaded the Gaza Strip last month, and then Israeli voters marched firmly to the right in elections. Palestinians are more divided than ever, with the hard-line Hamas movement still firing rockets from Gaza at Israeli towns, while the moderate Fatah faction has been sidelined.

Yet Nisreen Abdallah, a Palestinian, joined Roi Assaf, an Israeli, in a conference room at the Harvard Divinity School this week to make the case that this is precisely the moment for compromises that will let Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in two secure states.

It was the first stop on a weeklong tour of a dozen schools and colleges in New England for leaders of OneVoice Israel and OneVoice Palestine, parallel organizations that are pushing for a two-state solution. Their goal: build a critical mass of moderates in each of their communities able to challenge the extremists and move toward peace.

Muslim and Jewish student organizations are cosponsoring the OneVoice meetings around Boston campuses - where Abdallah and Assaf offer firmly nationalistic arguments that reflect the strong emotions flowing from years of grievances and slights in both camps.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/28/onevoice_movement_pushes_two_state_solution_for_mideast/

[LeftishBrit]

1. A ray of hope in a generally gloomy situation

[oberliner]

2. It's encouraging to see

Hopefully more people will starting listening to this voice!

[shira]

3. if only they were in charge - not Hamas or Fatah

[LeftishBrit]

4. Yes - Or Likud (Let's still hope that won't happen)

[azurnoir]

5. Isn't OneVoice in favor of keeping the

current and expanding settlement blocs in place?

[oberliner]

6. OneVoice does not have its own views on how a peace agreement should look

OneVoice is an international movement of Americans, Palestinians, Israelis, Europeans, Muslims, Jews and Christians who are fed up with the ongoing conflict and who are ready and eager to support a serious process, leading to a comprehensive agreement that will fulfill the hopes and aspirations of both the Palestinian and the Israeli people for a two-state solution.

http://www.onevoicemovement.org/about-onevoice/