When President Obama meets Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in the White House on Monday, their conversation will
no doubt focus on two issues that are central to the Obama Administration’s foreign policy agenda: Iran and
Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
Tell President
Obama that you are a part of his constituency for peace. Make sure he knows that Americans who care about Israel
have his back.
Uncertainty Dampens Growth on Both Sides of Green Line
By Nathan Jeffay
The latest coalition of Israelis and Palestinians hoping to affect the settlement of the conflict is not your usual bunch of peace activists. They are wealthy businesspeople who work in a broad range of sectors, from construction to high-tech. They don’t need to struggle to be heard in the halls of power — they already have the ears of everyone from Israel’s prime minister to the leaders of Hamas.
Israelis and supporters of Israel are increasingly concerned about international pressure — and with good reason. There was last year’s directive from the European Union, which threatened important Israel-EU cooperation; the recent uproar about SodaStream, which brought Israel unflattering media attention; and the almost daily news of some European country singling out an Israeli company for negative treatment.
Are these victories for the global BDS movement — the movement calling on people and nations to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel? Absolutely not.
This is the eleventh in a series of reviews of books on Middle Eastern affairs. We asked Dr. Gail Weigl, an APN
volunteer and a professor of art history, to review David Harris-Gershon's new book.
David Harris-Gershon, What do you Buy the Children of the Terrorist who Tried to Kill Your Wife? (London: One World, 2013). 325 pages. $13.70.
David Harris-Gershon has written a brave memoir that charts the traumatic and long-range impact of his wife Jamie’s near-death from a terrorist bombing at Hebrew University in 2002, and his route to healing by trying to understand the motives of the terrorist, Mohammad Odeh.
There are several points of entry into Harris-Gershon’s story: the opening section in which he recounts the bombing and actions of the bomber, his recollections of the aftermath interwoven with the history of his relationship with Jaime, and the summary of the historical context in which the attack took place.
"We came to show the Israeli public that the violent legacy
of Goldstein is alive today in the price tag attacks, and in extremist settlers, like those here today."
(Peace Now's Yariv Oppenheimer, pictured left with MK Zehava Gal-On)
Participants will explore Israel and the West Bank focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and efforts to resolve it. If you are interested and would like to be placed on the mailing list for the 2014 Israel study tour please email israeltour@peacenow.org
