On Thursday, March 5th, Yossi Alpher will be in Washington DC promoting his new book,
Periphery: Israel's Search for Middle East Allies. APN is hosting a brown-bag lunch – you provide the
lunch, we provide the hamantaschen – Yes, the 5th happens to be Purim!
APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday February 24, 2015
Number of the day:
460
--Monthly average for new homes in settlements during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's third government, according to a new Peace Now report.**
--Monthly average for new homes in settlements during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's third government, according to a new Peace Now report.**
Peace Now's annual construction report reveals substantial increase in construction starts, planning and tenders – specifically in isolated settlements and in the most disputed areas in terms of the chance for two states. To download the full report click here.
This week, Alpher discusses the likelihood Israel will produce a government capable of moving forward toward a two-state solution; whether a right-wing-led government is more likely at this point; what, at this point in time, is the most likely coalition to emerge from these elections; what surprises he envisions in these elections; the possibility of the United States and the international community ratcheting up the pressure on the next Israeli government; and what are the consequences thus far of the tension over Iran between Netanyahu and the Obama administration that has reportedly brought US-Israeli relations to a new low.
APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday February 23, 2015
Numbers of the day:
90%: 60%
--The percentage of Israeli Arabs vs. the percentage of Israeli Jews who believe there is a possibility for co-existence in Israel, according to a new poll.
--The percentage of Israeli Arabs vs. the percentage of Israeli Jews who believe there is a possibility for co-existence in Israel, according to a new poll.
APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday February 22, 2015
Number of the day:
4,000,000.
--Amount of shekels (just over $1 million) that the Jerusalem Municipality plans to invest in building a Jewish ritual bath for Jewish settlers in an enclave in E. Jerusalem.**
--Amount of shekels (just over $1 million) that the Jerusalem Municipality plans to invest in building a Jewish ritual bath for Jewish settlers in an enclave in E. Jerusalem.**
This week, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin publicly lamented the challenge facing the new Palestinian city of Rawabi, whose existence he called a “clear Israeli and Zionist interest.” Rawabi is now ready for its first residents – except that there is no running water. This problem has continued for months, and President Rivlin drew attention to a Haaretz editorial identifying its source: the zero-sum game that Israeli settlers and politicians play with the lives of Palestinians.
APN Chair Jim Klutznick recently brought you the story of Rawabi and how it can benefit Israel – his words are more timely and urgent than ever.
L'Shalom,
Debra DeLee
President and CEO
Americans for Peace Now
APN's special Israeli election polls review
Friday February 20, 2015
Number of the day:
14.
--Percentage of Likud voters who said in a poll that the State Comptroller report on the Prime Minister's taxpayer-funded house expenses reduces the chance they will vote for him in the coming elections.
--Percentage of Likud voters who said in a poll that the State Comptroller report on the Prime Minister's taxpayer-funded house expenses reduces the chance they will vote for him in the coming elections.
APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday February 19, 2015
Quote of the day:
“Wiesel is acutely, and understandably, sensitive to the harm Jews suffer. Yet he is largely blind to
the harm Jews cause.”
--Haaretz+ commentator Peter Beinart examines Elie Wiesel’s whitewashing of Jewish behavior and Israeli government actions in cutting piece.**
--Haaretz+ commentator Peter Beinart examines Elie Wiesel’s whitewashing of Jewish behavior and Israeli government actions in cutting piece.**
By Tim
Mathew
Introduction
For many individuals, the practice of and faith in a religion gives meaning to life. The majority of people worldwide do identify with a religion, evidenced by a 2010 study conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life, which found that approximately 84% of the world identifies with a religious group. 1 Religion helps its followers interpret events that occur in their daily lives, and is the lens through which they see the world. Yet, this very essential factor of religious belief that leads to an individual’s perspective is sometimes overlooked and can be seen as something that should be kept private – something that is untouchable, unspeakable, controversial – the third rail.