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Message: <br /><br /> If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/33521/full/33521/1-million-arabs-and-israelis-expected-for-peace-march/ <br /><br /> <b>1 million Arabs and Israelis expected for peace march</b> <br /> Thursday, October 4, 2007 | by dan pine <br /><br /><p>Daniel Lubetzky is betting Oct. 18 will be a day unlike any other in the Middle East. That's the day 1 million Israelis and Palestinians, under the banner of OneVoice, fill the streets to demand peace. <br /><br /> At least, that's what will happen if Lubetzky has his way.<br /><br /> The Mexican-born, Stanford-trained activist/entrepreneur launched OneVoice in 2002. Unlike most peace organizations, OneVoice recruits Israelis and Palestinians, whether Jewish or Muslim, to lobby their leaders for effective peace talks. Members may disagree about much, but they share an abhorrence of violence and a dedication to a two-state solution.<br /><br /> The Oct. 18 event, dubbed "One Million Voices to End the Conflict," differs from previous rallies in the region. It will be held simultaneously in Tel Aviv and the West Bank town of Jericho. Satellite demonstrations will also take place in London, Ottawa and Washington.<br /><br /> "There's never been anything like this," Lubetzky said on a fundraising stop in the Bay Area. "This is the first time Israelis and Palestinians will join in a massive mobilization of this sort, and the first time anything this big has happened in the Palestinian territories."<br /><br /> Lubetzky, 38, is confident he can draw the 1 million marchers. Not only has he lined up top music acts and leading politicians to take the stages in Tel Aviv and Jericho, he has already secured 500,000 cards signed by Israelis and Palestinians pledging to work peacefully for a two-state solution.<br /><br /> But is anybody listening?<br /><br /> "If he can pull off the size he wants, it will give the [peace] movement enormous momentum," said San Francisco Rabbi Brian Lurie, a friend and advisor to Lubetzky. "That will help everybody over there. There can be no downside."<br /><br /> Lurie, a former executive director of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, will be going to Israel to join the march. <br /><br /> A self-described moderate, Lubetzky opened OneVoice offices in Israel, Ramallah and Gaza (the Gaza office is now shuttered in the wake of the Hamas takeover). He started his people-powered movement in the belief that most Israelis and Palestinians share the goal of two nations living side by side in peace.<br /><br /> "The moderates have been silent," he says. "Silence is a proxy for the extremists to speak for them. The political atmosphere is so filled with extremism and terror, politicians end up not having the backing to muster political leadership. If the people provide the leadership and political cover to demand [peace], the politicians will rise up and take the lead."<br /><br /> The peace movement, typified by groups like Peace Now, has a long history in Israel. But there has been no prominent, parallel movement on the Palestinian side. Most large-scale marches in the territories tend toward masked men carrying guns. What makes OneVoice supporters think anything has changed?<br /><br /> "They're sick of this — sick of their lives being unsuccessful, sick of losing their children," said Lurie, who has traveled to the West Bank to observe OneVoice in action. "The economy is in shambles. They've known better times, and they want them again."<br /><br /> The son of a Holocaust survivor, Lubetzky has strong ties to the Bay Area. He earned a law degree at Stanford and is former Haas-Koshland award winner. While living in Israel, he founded PeaceWorks, an Arab-Israeli business enterprise that offers a variety of products and services (a portion of the company's profits go toward peace and coexistence projects). Over the years he has relied on Bay Area supporters to help build his OneVoice movement.<br /><br /> "What we're aiming to do without a doubt could not happen without the Bay Area Jewish community," he said. "It has been one of out strongest partners in building a movement of moderates against extremism."<br /><br /> Lubetzky is fluent in several languages, including Hebrew and Yiddish. But he's not Israeli. As an "outsider," why would he devote so much time and energy to Middle East peace?<br /><br /> "It's because of my background as the son of a Holocaust survivor," he said. "My father's experience colored my life and made me internalize the lesson that we cannot sit by and allow the forces of terror and darkness to rule our lives. Before you know it, they will take over.<br /><br /> "If we want Israel to be strong and safe, we need to resolve the conflict."<br /><br /> <br><br /><br /> For more information on OneVoice and the upcoming Oct. 18 event, visit <b>www.onevoicemovement.org</b>.</p>

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