Lying About History Will Not Help the Cause for Peace

  OneVoice is an organization in a long list of those that consider themselves impartial and committed to dialogue on both sides of the “Arab-Israeli conflict.” 

According to its website, “OneVoice is an international grassroots movement that amplifies the voice of mainstream Israelis and Palestinians, empowering them to propel their elected representatives toward the two state solution and an end to the conflict and occupation.” (Of course, the Palestinians have no elected representatives, as Mahmoud Abbas’ presidential term ended in 2009. 

Since being elected to power in Gaza in 2006, Hamas has also not held any elections).  Though well intentioned, OneVoice is an organization that makes peace harder to attain by not addressing the root causes of the Arab war against Israel. 

OneVoice is now on a West Coast campus tour. Its programs are supposed to be balanced, consisting of three presenters; one Palestinian Arab who speaks about the Palestinian Arab perspective; one Israeli who speaks about the Israeli perspective; and one American who initiates the discussion and gives an overview of the “conflict.” 
However, in reality the program is far from balanced.

At San Jose State University, the Palestinian Arab gave a one-sided presentation about how the Palestinian Arabs are victims of Israeli occupation and oppression, as expected; the Israeli gave a somewhat even-handed talk, though omitted many significant details; and the American–who is supposed to be the unbiased one–gave an anti-Israel talk. Not exactly neutral.


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