September 19, 2016 - Special edition – Books of note

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Yossi Alpher is an independent security analyst. He is the former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, a former senior official with the Mossad, and a former IDF intelligence officer. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.

This week, Alpher discusses books! The best book on the Arab revolutionary wave, books on additional causes for the current chaos in the Arab world, books on the Arab revolutions that add a more human dimension, on the US role in the Middle East before the Arab revolutions, and on Israel and the Palestinians.

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The Jewish People’s Dual Narrative: Parshat Ki Tavo

Peace_Parsha_Logo185Rabbi Susan P. Fendrick is an editor, writer, teacher, and spiritual director. A graduate of Brown University, she received rabbinic ordination in 1995 from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship program. Her writing appears in numerous books and publications.

 

There is very little language of personal prayer recorded in the Torah, and even less prescribed liturgy for future Jews to recite. But one rare example of a liturgical text appears in this week’s Torah reading—a prayer that supports the pursuit of conflict resolution and peace-seeking.

The entire book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ swan song, his last chance to convey everything he must to the Israelite nation before they enter the land of Israel without him. In Parshat Ki Tavo, he offers a formula that each Israelite should recite when bringing the “first fruits” offering on the holiday of Shavuot.  That recitation was discussed in the APN Peace Parsha last June, and I want to offer a further reading of its opening words, which speaks to all that we have to bear in mind as we work for a peaceful and secure future for the state of Israel.

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News Nosh 09.18.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday September 18, 2016 
 
Quote of the day:
"Israel would be shaken to its roots by such a result. Such a decision could lay the foundations for a Palestinian state."
--Rogel Alpher writes in Haaretz+ about the possibility that FIFA suspends Israel from international soccer due to its settlement soccer clubs.*
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Would've. Could've. Should've.

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News Nosh 09.16.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday September 16, 2016 
 
Breaking News:
Jordanian, Two Palestinians Shot After Attempting Attacks in Jerusalem, West Bank, Israeli Forces Say
According to the police, the Jordanian charged at Border Policemen at Damascus Gate with a knife in each hand before being shot and killed; shortly after, a Palestinian was killed and another was wounded after attempting a car-ramming attack in Kiryat Arba settlement, the IDF says. (Haaretz and Ynet)

 
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9-Vnir-ori-withnameOn a trip to Israel last month, I visited a friend who runs a small store in downtown Jerusalem, my hometown. Outside, on the street, there were dozens of young American Birthright tourists. “Business must be hopping, with all these Birthrighters,” I said. “Not quite,” my friend replied. “Their parents send them here with pocket money, but stay home in the U.S., with their credit cards.”

To my dismay, he said that as he saw it, American Jews don’t care enough about Israel’s future. They see Israel as a Jewish Disneyland of sorts, a place where they go for its history, but they don’t do enough to secure Israel’s future as a liberal democracy. This is not an unusual view among Israelis.

Albeit blunt, over-generalizing and overstated, my Israeli storeowner friend has a point. Sure, American Jews don’t vote in Israel. They don’t serve in the IDF and don’t pay taxes. They don’t have as much of a stake and as much of a say in Israel’s future as Israeli citizens do. But they definitely could do more to advance peace, reconciliation and tolerance in Israel, particularly when upsetting things are being done in Israel in their name.

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Words Matter, Actions Matter More.

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News Nosh 09.15.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday September 15, 2016 
 
Quote of the day:
“This is proof that Netanyahu is leading Israel toward the establishment of a bi-national state and is investing the public’s money in the settlements at the expense of the Negev, the Galilee and the rest of the country.”
-- Peace Now group responded after data was released showing that housing starts increased 17% over the Green Line while falling 7% across Israel.*
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APN Weekly Update - Challenging Bibi on "ethnic cleansing", taking action, Camp David anniversary, and more

Americans for Peace Now
Americans for Peace Now: September 14, 2016


"Like the term 'genocide,' the term 'ethnic cleansing' should be restricted to actually describing the atrocity it suggests - rather than distorted to suit political ends."

Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, in Foreign Policy: Sorry Bibi, the Palestinians Are Not 'Ethnic Cleansing' Jewish Settlers


Hard Questions, Tough Answers with Yossi Alpher

 

Yossi Alpher is an independent Israeli security analyst. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.

September 12, 2016 - New two-state peace initiatives coming up?

Q. The informed press and academia are rife with discussion of three new Israeli-Palestinian peace initiatives that are reportedly being incubated: a set of "Obama principles", a Moscow summit, and an Israeli referendum. Can you discuss each in terms of potential content and advantages and disadvantages?

A. I first heard about the idea of President Obama presenting his own outline for Israeli-Palestinian peace about two years ago...

Q. Still, suppose Obama is determined to leave behind his own peace formula as part of his legacy. What would you recommend it contain? What should the concept be?

A. I would strongly counsel against another set of "Clinton parameters" presented in a presidential speech...

Q. PM Netanyahu seems to be contemplating steps to dissuade Obama from moving in this or any other direction, including a possible Moscow summit with Palestinian leader Abbas...

A. Netanyahu apparently genuinely fears an international initiative that attempts to dictate concessions he cannot or will not make...

>Q. You have an intelligence background. What do you make of these allegations (Mahmoud Abbas is somehow too intimate with the Russians)?

A. If the report is based solely on a document in Russian with two lines, as the Israeli scholars allege, I'm inclined to doubt its veracity...

Q. And the third initiative?

A. ..."Decision at 50" is a dynamic and intriguing idea...

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"Decision at 50" Initiative launched by Peace Now with other Israeli organizations

In the 50th year of the occupation, the initiative demands a referendum on the future of Israel's rule over the West Bank and on peace with the Palestinians.

Go HERE to learn more about Decision at 50 and to sign up for updates.

Go HERE for APN's call to all Americans to support the referendum.


Recommended Reading

APN Board Members Steven Kaplan and Sandy Weiner Oped in L.A. Jewish Journal "Governor Brown should veto flawed BDS law"

The BDS controversy is best left to those who can educate, persuade and influence. This is an issue for public discourse, not confusing and muddled legislation.

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Action Alert

Repudiate Netanyahu, Stop Israel land grabs and settlement expansion, Save a Palestinian village

Urge America's Jewish organizations to repudiate Netanyahu's "ethnic cleansing" comments

American Jewish organizations must condemn Prime Minister Netanyahu's outrageous comments for what they are: Cheap demagoguery, which exploits and minimizes horrible tragedies that Jews and others have suffered throughout history.

Following the release of this APN action alert, the ADL's CEO and National Director repudiated Netanyahu in Sorry Bibi, the Palestinians Are Not 'Ethnic Cleansing' Jewish Settlers


Sign our Petition: Tell Israel - Stop the land grabs, stop the settlement expansion.

Add your name to the message being sent to world leaders.


Save the Palestinian village of Sussya

This West Bank Palestinian village is on land long coveted by Israeli settlers and is slated for destruction.


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APN's Lara Friedman in The Times of Israel: Bibi, Settlements and the "Ethnic Cleansing" Canard

It seems there is no line Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won't cross to defend settlements.

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APN on the fallacy of settlement removal being ethnic cleansing

APN's online publication succinctly covers why removing Israeli settlers from occupied territory is not ethnic cleansing, but rather a necessary step for the Jewish State of Israel.

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President Jimmy Carter, Convener of the Camp David Peace Agreement, 38 years ago this week

The Israel-Egypt peace agreement was signed on September 17, 1978, and without President Jimmy Carter, Israel's first and most crucial peace agreement would not have been secured.

Go HERE for President Carter's quote on his personal commitment to peace in the Holy Land


APN Mourns the Passing of Stanley Sheinbaum, Board Member and Liberal Activist

"For a while, I was the most hated Jew in America ... by other Jews anyway. (But,) I didn't waste time agonizing." -- Stanley Sheinbaum

APN President and CEO Debra DeLee: "Stanley broke barriers in so many arenas, particularly as relates to Middle East peace...he led a delegation of American Jews, most of them members of the APN family, to open the first discussions with the PLO. We owe much to his leadership and to his bold and fearless pursuit of peace. It will be hard to imagine this world and peace activism without him."

Go HERE to read the Jewish Journal's article about Stanley's remarkable life and accomplishments.


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News from Peace Now's (Israel) Settlement Watch:

The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS) published its data on construction starts earlier today. The Data shows that in the first six months of 2016, 1,195 housing units started to be constructed in the settlements. This is an increase of 40% in comparison to the previous six month (July-December 2015), during which 850 housing units began to be constructed. In contrast, a 3% decrease in construction starts was noted in Israel proper (23,691 housing units in the first half of 2016 as opposed to 22,898 housing units in the second half of 2015).

Peace Now: "Netanyahu is the Prime Minister of one sector only - the settler sector, which comprises of less than 5% of the Israeli population. His investments in the settlements do not only come on the expense of the Negev, the Galilee and the rest of Israel but also lead towards a one state reality.

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