Other Voice
Other Voice is an Israeli peace coalition, made up of Israelis living in Sderot and other communities near the Gaza Strip.[1] It was founded in January 2008.[1][2]
Other Voice is a member of Alliance for Middle East Peace.[3]
History[edit]
Other Voice was inspired by a series of blog posts written by two anonymous writers – one in Sderot, and one in Gaza.[2] It was founded in January 2008 by a small group, including the blog writers[4] and activist Nomika Zion.
By January 2009, the group had about 80 dedicated Israeli members, both religious and secular.[2] By mid-2014, the group had about 200 Israeli members, most of whom lived in Sderot.[5]
Activity[edit]
The group maintains relationships with Gaza residents, whom they contact regularly through remote means.[1][2][5] Sometimes, members will gather in larger meet ups to contact Gazans as a group.[1][2][5]
In August 2008, 50 members of the organization held a cycling event along the Gaza border.[2][4] Members held signs with messages of goodwill.[2] Around a hundred Gaza residents cheered on the cyclists from their windows; although they had originally planned to leave their homes, volatile conditions on the ground made it too dangerous to do so.[2][4] The Gaza blogger and founding member, using a speakerphone, asked the cyclists to "tell everyone that in Gaza you have partners for peace".[2][4]
In 2011, Other Voice was one of the organizers of a Sapir College conference on non-violent resolutions to the Israel-Gaza border conflict.[6] Right-wing individuals called for a boycott of the conference, which was taken up by the mayor of Sderot.[6]
Other Voice hosts two drama groups, one in Israel and one in Gaza, who meet virtually once a week.[7]
The group has worked with the Gaza Youth Committee.[7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Other Voice". www.annalindhfoundation.org. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Kloosterman, Karin (2009-01-07). "Finding the Other Voice in Gaza and Sderot". ISRAEL21c. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ "Other Voice". Alliance for Middle East Peace. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ a b c d Brand, Tomer (2008-08-11). "Blogging for peace". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ a b c Prince-Gibson, Eetta (2014-07-30). "Against the grain: Israeli group calls for dialogue with Gaza". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ a b Yagna, Yanir (February 14, 2011). "Sderot Mayor Heeds Right-wing Call to Boycott Sapir College Conference on Gaza Strip Crisis". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ a b Rose, Alex (July 21, 2023). "REACHING OUT BEYOND THE GAZA WALLS: AN INTERVIEW WITH RONI KEIDAR". Canadian Friends of Peace Now. Retrieved November 17, 2023.