OneVoice isn’t as inclusive as it sounds!

OneVoice Europe will be conducting a tour of UK Universities from 10th-15th November.  This organisation, whose badge was prominently displayed by Paul McCartney on his recent trip to Israel (despite numerous calls for him to stay away), has an impressive Honorary Board of advisors which includes everyone from Dr. Saeb Erekat to Sir Jonathan Sacks, and describes itself as a "grassroots movement" promoting "conflict resolution".

While claiming that it "does not propose any solutions" it is in fact rather dogmatic about an eventual two-state outcome, apparently not welcoming a more diverse debate about the possible forms that the end of occupation and apartheid could take.

BRICUP is highly sceptical of such organisations, with their wishy-washy-touchy-feely ethos promoting "moderate voices" and condemning "extremism".  While acknowledging that ending the occupation is a top priority for Palestinians, OneVoice doesn't actually campaign to bring this about, and gives equal prominence to Israeli concerns "to end terror and the existential threat to Israel".  In short, its discourse implies equality between the two "sides". BRICUP believes that there is no equality between occupier and occupied and that organisations maintaining this pretence merely serve to promote the status quo.

BRICUP encourages its supporters to attend OneVoice's campus meetings and to argue in them for how international civil society can really make a difference - not by promoting spurious "dialogue"and "negotiations" that lead nowhere, but by supporting the Palestinian call for boycott, sanctions and divestment until Israel complies with international law.

OneVoice's website is here - judge for yourselves:

http://www.onevoicemovement.org

Sue Blackwell
on behalf of BRICUP
www.bricup.org.uk