OneVoice Palestine Hosts High-Level Roundtable on Security in a Final Status Agreement

RAMALLAH, Palestine, Feb. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- OneVoice Palestine, in cooperation with the Palestinian Center for Research and Strategic Studies (PCRSS), organized a groundbreaking roundtable today focused on security issues in a final status agreement. Attended by dozens of prominent political, military and security leaders, academics, legislators, and representatives of civil society, the roundtable provided a unique opportunity for a broad discussion of this critical issue across different segments of Palestinian society.

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"This roundtable is one of our initiatives to emphasize Palestinian national principles and improve the position of Palestinian negotiators," said Samer Makhlouf, OneVoice Palestine's executive director. "This event comes as we are trying to create a positive discussion around negotiations. It is also important to discuss all final status issues such security, water, and borders."

Among those in attendance were Major General Mohammed Al Masri, head of PCRSS; Tawfiek Tirawi, former head of the Palestinian Authority General Intelligence Service in the West Bank;  Major General Abu Ezz, former head of security in the West Bank; Dr. Mohammad Shalaldeh, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Istiqlal University; Major General Jihad Jayyousi, director general of the military engagement force; Dr. Ashraf Ajrami, former minister of prisoners' affairs; Qais Abdul Karim, a member of the Political Bureau of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council; Dr. Mahmoud Labadi, OneVoice Palestine board member; Dr. Imad Faloujeh, president of the Adam Center in Gaza; and human rights activist Nabil Tarazy.

"We should build a national strategy," said Tirawi during the event. "We have to mobilize our people and give them nothing but the truth. Giving people hope is not beneficial at this point. People need to learn the truth from their leaders."

The roundtable was part of OneVoice Palestine's "Wake up! What Is Your Role?" campaign to end the occupation and the conflict. With youth initiatives, TV and radio programs, town-hall meetings, and issue-based discussions throughout Palestine, the campaign aims to break the state of apathy about negotiations and demonstrate that non-violent activism can secure Palestinian rights.

About OneVoice:

OneVoice is an international grassroots movement that aims to amplify the voice of Israeli and Palestinian moderates, empowering them to demand a two-state solution and an end to the conflict and the occupation. The Movement supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel. We believe that the 1967 borders with minor land swaps, a freeze in settlement activity, and the maintaining of security for both peoples are an essential basis for success. You can follow OneVoice on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

SOURCE OneVoice Movement