Progress at the negotiating table is only one step in the process of reaching an agreement that can be implemented. An end to the conflict will happen when the leaders come to an agreement that their peoples are ready to understand, accept, and support; it is imperative that the public understand the process.
The objective of these programs was to provide a platform and an environment in which difficult topics germane to a negotiated two-state agreement that can be considered, discussed, and debated, bringing before ordinary citizens the same questions and conflicts with which the leaders must deal in order to end the conflict and occupation, to achieve a two-state solution, and secure a lasting peace. Experts on each issue were brought in to speak to and educate the people on the details of these issues and the negotiations process as a whole.
OneVoice leveraged the results gathered through its public opinion polls, extending outreach from individual-level engagement to community-level through a Town Hall Meeting Series. Based on an iterative polling process, the Meeting methodology highlighted the art of negotiation, and enabled OneVoice to surface issues and break taboos, while building understanding that ending the conflict, ending the occupation, ensuring security, and achieving a two-state solution is possible.
Grounded in National-Self Interest. OneVoice brought in different experts – political figures, business people, leaders of think tanks and non-profit organizations, dignitaries involved in the negotiation process, board members, and so forth – to cover various topics germane to a two-state solution, and to ground the sensitive issues discussed in national self-interest.
Leveraging Our Unique Human Infrastructure. The Meetings Series sought to leverage and empower the network of engaged Youth Leaders on each side, and were designed to scale up through the series to larger national and joint meetings. In Israel, the University Chapters were in charge of advertising and administering the meetings. The aim was to create a network of leaders that is trained by the experts to be moderators. In Palestine, the most involved and well-trained Youth representatives from each district planned and facilitated the meetings, and worked in tandem with the various experts brought in to discuss the issues.
The structure on both sides empowered the young leaders, giving them ownership and motivating them toward deeper involvement. These leaders are now equipped to "spread the word" through both formal and informal meetings.
Scaling Up for Increased Impact. The meetings ran in a 4-or-5-part series, organized by district, designed to scale up toward parallel National Town Hall Meetings, to which the political leadership was invited.
Timeline
Both the polling project and the Town Hall Meetings were designed to be longer-term undertakings. These meetings were a courageous but critical step, both for OneVoice and for Israeli and Palestinian societies, as they dealt with sensitive issues which needed an open and public forum in order to adequately connect people at a grassroots level to those running the negotiations at the top levels of government.
663,382
VOICES
SUPPORT A TWO STATE SOLUTION
334,400 ISRAELIS 298,146 PALESTINIANS
30,836 INTERNATIONAL SUPPORTERS
Make your voice heard. Pledge your support to the OneVoice Movement.
