For Immediate Release:

October 25, 2010

 

Dallas Conference Launches Movement for One Democratic State in Palestine, discredits racist claims that Israelis and Palestinians cannot coexist peacefully in one state

 

Dallas-The Movement for One Democratic State in Palestine (ODS) was formally launched at a conference on October 23-24. This effort builds on the foundation made by similar gatherings held in Madrid, Boston and Haifa.

 

ÒThis historic conference embodies the growing international acknowledgement that the Ôtwo state-solutionÕ to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is dead,Ó said conference organizer Dr. Samir Abed-Rabbo. ÒOur call for one democratic state offers equality under the law for all Palestinians and Israelis-Christians, Jews, Muslims-in the territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the River Jordan. This is the only way to a sustainable peace because it is based on justice and adherence to international law.Ó

 

Conference participants reflected the multicultural reality that exists in Palestine/Israel, including African, Hispanic, Jewish and Palestinian-Americans and groups from a broad political spectrum like the Campaign to End Israeli Apartheid of Southern California, The Black Heritage Society, Latino LULAC, the U.S. Green Party, and various peace groups. The central achievement of the conference was the adoption of the ÒDeclaration for One Democratic State in Palestine,Ó the MovementsÕ organizational structure and action plan.

 

According to Israeli-American Dr. Yael Korin, ÒOur movement takes its lead from the successful American civil rights movement and struggle against South African apartheid. Israel cannot claim to be an egalitarian state for all its citizens as long as it insists on institutionalized privilege for its Jewish citizens. The U.S. governmentÕs continued support for what can only be seen as Israeli apartheid within Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be opposed by Americans as a corruption of our values of equality and fair play.Ó

 

The Movement for ODS believes that the ongoing conflict—its pain, anger and fear—originated in the colonization and wrongful partition of Palestine in 1948 and the continuing injustice inflicted on the Palestinian people. Instead, The Movement for ODS represents humanityÕs demonstrated capacity to overcome legacies of bitter strife and calls on people everywhere to reject beliefs of ethnic superiority and separation.

 

More Information:

www.onedemocraticstate.org

Contact: Dr. Samir Abed-Rabbo Telephone: 214-810-7285, drsar56@yahoo.com

 

Vision of the Movement

1.            The entire territory of Palestine between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River is one country that belongs to all its citizens including all those who live there and all those who were expelled over the past century and their descendants. The country shall be constituted as an independent sovereign State in which all citizens enjoy equal rights and all can live in freedom and security.

2.            The reunified country in Palestine shall be constituted as a democracy in which all of its adult citizens shall enjoy equal rights to vote, stand for office and contribute to the countryÕs governance. No State law, institution, practices or activities may discriminate among its citizens on the basis of ethnicity, religion, language, nationality or gender.

3.            The State shall not establish or accord special privilege to any religion and shall provide for the free practice of all religions.

4.            Public land of the State shall belong to the nation as a whole and all of its citizens shall have equal access to its use. Private property of Palestinian refugees shall be restored or compensation arranged. The natural and economic resources of the country shall benefit all of its citizens equally.

5.            The State shall provide the conditions for free cultural expression by all of its citizens. It shall ensure that all languages, arts and culture can flourish and develop freely. All citizens shall have equal rights to use their own dress, languages and customs, and to express their cultural heritage free of insults or discrimination.

6.            Citizens shall have equal access to employment at all levels and in all sectors of the society. Employment shall not be determined or restricted by language, race, religion, gender, or nationality. Education and vocational training shall not be segregated or specialized in any way that impedes equal access of all citizens to employment and other opportunities to fulfill their talents and dreams.

The State shall uphold international law and seek the peaceful resolution of conflicts through negotiation and collective security in accordance with the United Nations Charter. The people of a unified Palestine shall reject racism and promote anti-racism throughout the world. The State shall seek to build a world order in which all countries and peoples enjoy their social, cultural and political rights as set out in relevant United Nations covenants. The State shall seek and contribute to the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East that will also be free of all weapons of mass-destruction.

 

http://onedemocraticstate.org/declaration/vision-of-the-movement