Ceasefire now: the people's ads

Dear friends, Today the state of Israel  celebrated its  sixtieth birthday -- while Palestinians mourn this as their own disaster. The divides look all too wide as George Bush prepares to fly to the region. Yet behind the scenes, Omar Suleiman, Egypt's intelligence chief is about to  make a rare visit to Israel -- bringing its leaders a ceasefire offer he has brokered with all the Palestinian groups.[1] Hope could revive with this small step. We've asked thousands of our Israeli and Palestinian members - they overwhelmingly support such a comprehensive ceasefire. Wider  public polls and the international community now do too  (we directly lobbied senior European  officials, Israelis and Palestinians over recent months).[2] But with leaders distracted by internal troubles and drifting into wider regional conflict, next week's chance could be lost -- unless we act fast. So we're urgently finalising a major campaign  of billboards, print media and online  advertising to support a ceasefire deal and send a clear message about what the sides need to do. We need to raise at least $50,000 to confirm this campaign in time for Omar Suleiman's visit to Israel next week, so every hour counts -- to see the ad concepts and make whatever donation you can, please click this link: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/ ceasefire_campaign/1.php?cl=87702288 We aim to announce the campaign with Suleiman's visit, and the ads will appear prominently in leading Israeli news outlets  like Yediot Aharonot and Ha'aretz and on billboards around the country. The campaign will make it clear that any ceasefire must appropriately address the concerns of both sides -- ensuring an end to rocket fire and incursions, reopening the Rafah crossing with international help (also to protect against weapons-smuggling),  and laying the foundations for a reciprocal prisoner exchange including Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. As well as bringing quiet and safety to the  people of Sderot and Gaza, a ceasefire should improve conditions for a more  lasting peace – which is why it is being  championed not just by Hamas but also by Palestinian  President Mahmoud Abbas.[3] This campaign is targeted first at Suleiman's visit to Israel, so we're asking our Israeli members as well as you which advertisements will have the best impact there -- we invite input on what parallel efforts may be necessary  in the Palestinian context. Creative advocacy can make a real difference. The Japanese press report that our Titanic  ad at Bali helped change their government's  policy.[4] Our Stop the Clash of Civilizations video won the 2007 YouTube Award for Best Political Video, has been seen by millions of people including thousands of schoolchildren,  and is airing to millions more through the  global TV event Pangea Day this Saturday.[5] But sixty years after 1948, Palestinians still lack their own independence, Israelis still lack security, and children on both sides still cannot sleep in peace. Meanwhile, their conflict spills over around the world. Time and again, the majority of ordinary people on both sides make it clear that they want  something better. Let's lend our help to make  their voices heard before it's too late --  click here to make your donation and support the ceasefire campaign: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/ceasefire _campaign/1.php?cl=87702288 With hope and determination, Paul, Galit, Ricken, Veronique, Graziela, Pascal, Ben and the whole Avaaz team Sources: 1. Yediot Aharonot:  "Egypt's Suleiman in Israel next week", 7th May 2008 2. Public polling suggests that 64% of Israelis and 73% of Palestinians  back a comprehensive ceasefire. Our members give this campaign a strong mandate - over 87% of our Israeli membership and over 90% globally support a ceasefire on terms. We met with senior European officials, as well as Israelis and Palestinians, to deliver our Gaza  campaigns. And recently, the Quartet's meeting in London gave tacit support to an Egypt-brokered  ceasefire - see Reuters: "Quartet backs Egyptian effort to ease Gaza blockade", 2 May 2008 3. Middle East Times: "Abbas gives Egypt mediation unconditional support", 27 April 2008 4. Asahi Shimbun article from January 2008 on Japan's "Bali Shock", including the story of how the environment minister placed  Avaaz's advertisement on the table in  front of Prime Minister Fukuda and asked, "is this how we want the world to see us?",  and how the policy shift unfolded. 5. Pangea Day is a global event "bringing the world together through film" this Saturday 10 May - check it out. You can watch it on a range of TV stations and online in seven  languages, and attend thousands of events around the world - visit their website to find out more. And if you haven't already, you can watch "Stop the Clash" on YouTube... But don't forget to help fund the ceasefire ads first! --- ABOUT AVAAZ Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure  that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making.  (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.)  Avaaz receives no money from governments  or corporations, and is staffed by a global  team based in London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Washington DC, and Geneva. Don't forget to check out our Facebook and Myspace and Bebo pages! Don't forget to sign the petition: "End the Siege of Gaza: Ceasefire Now"