"You can't be in favor of the land of Israel in Hebrew and establish a
Palestinian state in English."
(Photos: Yair Sagi, Alex Kolomoisky)
Israel Education Minister Naftali Bennett, in a backhanded attack
against Prime Minister Netanyahu, to which new Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman
said: "Bennett needs to calm down." Read More
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.
June 6, 2016 - Peace processes: now, 1967, 1976
Q. Last week you expressed skepticism regarding the willingness of the
Arab world to sponsor an Israeli-Palestinian peace process that corresponds with
the demands of the right-wing Netanyahu government. What has happened
since?
A. A French attempt to revive the same peace process...ended in
Paris with a watered-down statement that appeared of little immediate consequence.
Q. Nevertheless, let's suppose that Netanyahu brings Labor into the
coalition, he and Lieberman continue to preach "two states for two peoples" and the
Egyptians and Saudis agree to launch a peace process. What would happen? Put on
your optimist's hat and give us a best case scenario.
A. In the best case I can imagine, two negotiating tracks are
established: Israeli-Palestinian with Egyptian and Jordanian chaperones to discuss
two states, and Israel-Arab talking to Israel about normalization gestures...
Q. Meanwhile, early June is "anniversary" time: we are entering year 50
since the Six-Day War. How would you summarize that war's overall effect on
Israel-Arab peace?
A. From Israel's standpoint, seen from 2016 this remains a very
just "no alternative" defensive war...But Israel made two huge mistakes in the
aftermath...
Q. We're approaching another significant anniversary: July 4 will mark
40 years to the Entebbe rescue. In an interesting new book some Israelis, including
rescued Entebbe hostages, argue that the raid "made peace less likely...[and made]
it harder for Israeli politicians to push through the compromises required for
peace". Where do you stand?
A. ...I disagree with the argument...
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Bills, Resolutions, and Letters
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FY17 NDAA – In the Senate
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Hearings
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On the Record
Help APN while
purchasing gifts for Father's Day (and any other
shopping)
Go to Amazon Smile and link your
account to APN.
Go to iGive and
select Americans for Peace Now before shopping.
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APN joins the
Progressive Coalition at New York City's Celebrate Israel Parade - Sunday, June
5
APN volunteers displaying the Peace Now flag (photos courtesy of Michael
Brochstein)
Together with supporters of T'ruah, Partners for Progressive Israel, and New Israel
Fund, APN demonstrated the strong and vibrant American Jewish community in support
of Israel and a just and peaceful society.
APN's Lara Friedman: "49 years: The difficult
truths of this conflict"
June 6, 2016, marked the 49th anniversary of Israel's miraculous victory
in the Six Day War...(it) also marked the beginning of Israel's catastrophic policy
of open-ended, ever-deepening military occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem,
and Gaza Strip...This occupation can and must end; 49 years is too long, but it is
not too late.
APN's Ori Nir: "Erosion of Democracy: The Greatest
Threat to Israel's National Security"
Speaking at the Israeli Embassy, Nir spoke frankly about the impact of
Israel's occupation: "No society can rule over another people for so long --
half a century -- with no end in sight, and not be impacted by it."
Times of
Israel: "Reform leader says NGO bill would 'weaken Israel's moral and civic
fabric'"
Peace Now activists protest an NGO funding bill proposed by Justice Minister Ayelet
Shaked outside her residence in Tel Aviv, December 26, 2015. (Tomer
Neuberg/Flash90)
Rabbi Jonah Pesner calls legislation an attempt to demonize groups critical of
Israeli policies
Schedule for
the APN 2016 Israel Study Tour
The working schedule has been released for APN's 2016 Israel Study Tour, November
12-17. From Jerusalem to Tel Aviv to the South and North of Israel, this trip
offers an experience unlike any other.
Go HERE
for the Study Tour Schedule, and how to secure your spot on it.
Contact us at IsraelTour@peacenow.org or
202-408-9898 with any questions.
Shavuot -
still working for the two-slate solution
For the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah, we offer this cartoon as a
reminder that the two-state solution is anchored in a two-slate
solution.
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