By Michael Littenberg-Brown | Project Leader
Despite the heat of the summer, OneVoice activists were busy with many grassroots campaigns that generated public and media attention.
Grassroots Campaign Highlights
Throughout the summer, OneVoice Youth Leaders kept up the momentum to promote a settlement freeze and return to negotiations. OneVoice Israel activists continued to pressure their government urging the Knesset to quash legislation legalizing outposts on private Palestinian land. OneVoice also released a poll showing that 57.7% of respondents supported the Supreme Court’s decision to demolish the outposts and 57.6% opposed the bill legalizing the settlements. Although the bill was not passed, it was subsequently announced that a new set of housing units were to be built. Moreover, an Israeli appointed committee report recommended legalizing the majority of West Bank
outposts. Wearing blindfolds, OneVoice activists warned their government against the dangers of blindness towards the problems on the ground. In addition, OneVoice Israel Activists have been mobilizing with heavy winter coats in different major cities in Israel every week, symbolizing the need to freeze settlement construction and unfreeze peace negotiations.
OneVoice Palestine continued to gain presence across different communities through creative initiatives intended to revive faith in the two-state solution in the occupied Palestinian territories. Infusing social and cultural activities with political work allowed OneVoice Palestine to expand in numbers. OneVoice Palestine’s latest activity drew hundreds of participants from the outskirts of Hebron for a trivia night and signed up more than 300 people to its mission in support of the two-state solution. In addition, over 120 students from several Palestinian universities attended the trivia night, a testament to OneVoice Palestine’s efforts on university campuses. OneVoice Palestine now has 18 active chapters, providing space for activists to meet and create transformative programming to address these issues.
Youth Leadership Training
OneVoice Palestine
During the month of July, OneVoice Palestine organized 7 Youth Leader training sessions with Generations for the Peace in Jericho, Bethlehem, Nablus, Qalqilya and Jenin. Around 170 youth leaders received basic training with Generations for Peace (GFP). In addition, OneVoice Palestine conducted a basic training session in Hebron (not
part of the GFP) and two introductory sessions in Qalqilya.
OneVoice Israel
This summer OneVoice Israel is spearheading a joint training initiative with OneVoice Palestine. They endeavor to produce highly skilled Youth Leaders who will meet once a month with their counterparts from OneVoice Palestine to generate higher level youth leader.
Thank you for your support,
The OneVoice Team
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