This week, Alpher discusses what was wrong with Netanyahu’s speech before the US Congress last week; what were some possibly positive contributions in the speech from the standpoint of Israelis who don’t support the prime minister politically; what issues the event raised; and significant political dilemmas framed by the speech.

Huffington Post - March 3, 2015
APN's Aaron Mann op-ed: Netanyahu's 'Mr. Security' Mirage
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aaron-mann/netanyahus-mr-security-mirage_b_6790894.html

Tablet - March 4, 2015
Letty Cottin Pogrebin, in a tribute to Leonard Nimoy, remembers fundraising letter he signed for APN
http://tabletmag.com/scroll/189420/letty-cottin-pogrebin-leonard-nimoy

Boulder Jewish News - February 27, 2015
APN Board Member Thomas Feldman (among others) letter to the editor blast Netanyahu's congressional speech
http://boulderjewishnews.org/2015/response-sky-will-not-fall-if-degette-not-in-hall/

CNN Wire Service - March 1, 2015
APN: Netanyahu's brazen conduct hinders his efforts achieve his goals in Washington
http://wtvr.com/2015/03/01/benjamin-netanyahu-congress-speech/

CNN - March 1, 2015
CNN's Fareed Zakaria quotes Peace Now settlement report in interview with Herzog
http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2015/03/01/israeli-opposition-leader-netanyahus-speech-in-congress-is-a-mistake/

San Diego Jewish World - March 2, 2015
APN press release on Netanyahu speech published in its entirety
http://www.sdjewishworld.com/2015/03/02/apn-to-netanyahu-use-speech-to-repair-relations/

Americans for Peace Now (APN) strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack in Jerusalem.

A young Palestinian intentionally rammed a private car at police officers and civilians, leaving six female police officers and a male civilian injured. The attacker was shot, injured, and arrested.

APN condemns the attack. We wish full recovery to those who were injured.

Prime Minister Netanyahu began his speech to Congress with a reference to the book of Esther – the book also known as the “Megillah” that we read on the holiday of Purim. In attempting to make the case for his controversial speech, Netanyahu implied that he was playing the role of the heroine of the story, Queen Esther, savior of the Jewish people. It sounds absurd, but he was quite serious.

In fact, the whole path leading up to the speech was a series of twists and turns that are nearly unbelievable, although they certainly fit the themes of intrigue and absurdity that characterize the Purim story. Indeed, the political circus surrounding the speech provided us with our very own “Purim spiel” - whether it was the spectacle of House Majority Leader John Boehner inviting a foreign head of state to come to Congress and attack the elected president of the United States, or Netanyahu’s flagrant efforts to exploit the invitation for his own electoral gains, or the entire history of Netanyahu’s gratuitous jabs at President Obama (nor his unmitigated chutzpah in pretending otherwise)!

Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s congressional speech today, Americans for Peace Now urges Congress to resist Netanyahu’s unattainable conditions for an Iran deal, and act responsibly by giving the Obama administration's diplomacy a chance to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions.