2002-2003: Inception of OneVoice

The spring of 2002 was a time of hopelessness in the Middle East. The Camp David peace process had collapsed and the Second Intifada was escalating. Each day brought news of more violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Like everyone else with ties to the region, Daniel Lubetzky was frustrated and disheartened. His company, PeaceWorks, had been founded on the principle that economic cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians would result in stronger relations, but now it seemed that his ultimate goal – an end to the conflict – was further away than ever.

Through his interactions with contacts in the region, however, Lubetzky realized that there was hope yet. Despite the ongoing violence, the vast majority of his Israeli and Palestinian friends and business partners recognized the right of the other side to independence, sovereignty, and justice. Regardless of their political beliefs, they disapproved of militant absolutism.

As Lubetzky saw it, the moderate majority in the Middle East lacked a viable forum to express its views – unlike the extremist minority, which used violent tactics to make its voice heard. To address this problem, Lubetzky, together with several Palestinian and Israeli business colleagues, launched OneVoice to amplify the voice of moderates who wish for peace and prosperity, empowering them to demand accountability from elected representatives and ensure that the agenda is not hijacked by forces of absolutism.