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| ABOUT
THE DIASPORA ALLIANCE
We
are average Americans, propelled into action by our
weariness towards the ongoing conflict in the Middle
East. To learn more about us and our organization, please
see below.
WHO
WE ARE
OUR
HISTORY
Text
of Our History
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| Co
Chairs |
Ron
Goodman, currently acting as ADAIPP
Co-Chair, has taught at Quincy College for
twenty-five years, serving in both the Math/Science
and English Departments. Houghton Mifflin
has published two of his college textbooks
as part of their Software Solution Series,
and he is currently an information systems
consultant. Mr. Goodman leads tours and manages
the docents for the Boston Center for Jewish
Heritage at the historic Vilna Shul on Beacon
Hill. He has visited Israel twice, and feels
that his participation in the Diaspora Alliance
has given him a better understanding of the
issues involved in the Middle East situation.
Perhaps understanding such as this could help
to bring this land from a place of strife
and despair to a land of peace and prosperity
for all of its peoples. Mr. Goodman is a graduate
of Harvard College and Tufts University with
degrees in English Literature. He and his
wife, Judith, have two children, a daughter
who teaches science in the New York City public
schools and a son who is a musician.
Samuel
A. Halaby Jr.,
Esq., currently acting as ADAIPP Co-Chair,
is an attorney and businessman. Mr. Halaby’s
career has included the practice of law, executive
positions in manufacturing, commercial real
estate management and development and 16 years
as a part-time judge. He is a holder of US
Patents. Mr. Halaby has served as an officer
in the US Navy, as counsel to NYS Governmental
Employees Committee of the NYS Assembly, Board
Member of Monroe County Board of Mental Health,
Commissioner, Board Member and Coach of Youth
Football, Presbyterian Church Board Member
and Rotary Club among other activities. Mr.
Halaby is a graduate of Harvard College where
he participated in student government, football
and track and was the recipient of the Ames
Award for character and leadership. He received
his law degree from Cornell Law School. Mr.
Halaby has four adult children and is married
to Jill Halaby, an English teacher.
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| Board
of Directors |
| Mina
Ghattas, Ph.D
Kayed Khalil, D.C.
Shukri Khuri, M.D.
David Matz, Esq.
Dick Seder, M.D.
Mawya Shocair, M.D.
Donna Singer
Leo Stolbach, M.D
Rebecca Subar
Majed Tomeh, MS, MBA
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| Staff |
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| The
Diaspora Alliance is currently seeking to build
its membership structure. To get involved, please
go to the Join Us section
of this website.
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| OUR
HISTORY |
Stemming
from the dire situation in Israel and the Occupied
Territories and with little hope for the emergence
of peace in the near future, the “Diaspora
Dialogues,” a group composed of local
Jewish and Arab Americans, was formed in July
2002 under the auspices of Conflict Management
Group (CMG) to address reactions in the United
States to the ongoing conflict in the Middle
East. CMG Executive Director Mike Hager facilitated
the group's meetings, often devoted to having
both sides share perspectives and beliefs in
the conflict. Once a relationship was established
and it was discovered that both sides shared
a mentality they felt was representative of
so many silenced voices in this country, the
group felt it had enough talk and wanted to
take action. Its first job was to draft a mission
statement, created nine months after the
first meeting.
The Diaspora Dialogues has since become the
American Diaspora Alliance for Israeli-Palestinian
Peace (ADAIPP). The goal is to encourage United
States policymakers to promote just and lasting
policy towards the conflict, finding consensus
in the guiding principles of a “silent
majority” of Arab and Jewish Americans
whose voices promoting a compromising and practical
peace are rarely heard. The group believes so
many share its practical and moderate sentiments
but have not had the proper forum to express
them. It believes that the presence of extreme
ideologies on either side has contributed to
the silencing of rational voices participating
in the dialogue. The group wants to unite all
those groups out there promoting peace, believing
that these groups have so much in common yet
operate without a platform from which to voice
their collective opinions.
Declaring
that the key determinant of any meaningful change
in the Middle East is the United States, the
group aims to equip itself with the tools required
to introduce such practical thinking to policy
and decision makers. In doing so, it hopes to
mobilize groups with similar thinking to promote
their goals in an organized fashion as well
as combat false and negative stereotyping in
mainstream thinking. Through mobilization, it
aims to be representative of the type of moderate,
practical thinking so prevalent yet so unnoticed.
What began as incentive to talk is methodically
transforming into incentive to act. The unique
trait of the group, American Jews and Arabs
agreeing on principles it believes represents
a pathway to peace, gives a legitimacy and credibility
seldom seen in public action groups. Such legitimacy
is compounded by the backing of CMG, known for
its international relationship training and
negotiation skill-building. Such legitimacy
is required for moderate and silenced voices
to be heard in an increasingly hostile public
environment. Community members from each side
talking together is important. Acting together
is crucial.
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| To
learn more about Conflict Management Group,
click here: |
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