Welcome to OCOS
All those living in Israel/Palestine Palestine/Israel, have the right to live in peace with freedom and justice for all and we believe that is best done with a single secular state as described on our proposal page.
No country can live in peace while any part of its population demands and enjoys privileges denied to others.
All divisions of humanity are false and all labels fall apart under even cursory examination:
- What is a "race"?
- What is an "ethnicity?"
- What is a "tribe"?
Divisions arise even within those who claim to share the same group identity.
Do all Jews agree on "what is a Jew"? Do all Arabs agree on "what is an Arab?" Do all Muslims agree on "what is a Muslim?" Do all Christians agree on "what is a Christian?" The answer in each case is "no". Ask and you will get a wide range of answers.
Are all Jews religious? No - most aren't. Are all Arabs Muslims? No - in fact over 15 million of them identify as Christian. Are all Europeans religious? No - most aren't.
Identification with any group frequently leads to:
- "My group is better than your group."
- "My beliefs are right, your beliefs are wrong."
- "My group has suffered more than yours and is entitled to more rights than you."
- Endless fracturing within groups.
- Conflict between, and within, groups, religions, ethnicities, tribes and nations.
Division is not the same as difference - we are all "different", each of us is unique - but the one thing we share is our humanity.
We have no choice about things defined by our DNA - eye colour, skin colour, sexuality etc. Everything else is a choice for which we carry personal responsibility. Religion is not dictated by DNA: you are not born a Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist or Christian. That choice should be an informed one, though, sadly, in many parts of the world it is imposed by parents, peer group and society.
We are not suggesting people give up their group identity, we are suggesting they can live harmoniously together in a secular country providing freedom and justice for all.
