Americans for Peace Now (APN) today expressed deep concern for the safety of the three Israeli Yeshiva students who were kidnapped last Friday in the West Bank. Our hearts and prayers are with the three and with their families. We stand in solidarity with their families and the people of Israel. 

APN is also concerned about the possible repercussions of the crisis and calls on all parties involved to do their utmost to ensure that the three return home unharmed and that their abduction does not further exacerbate an already volatile situation.

APN’s President and CEO Debra DeLee said: “At this difficult time, our hearts go out to the three teens and to their families. As the sister-organization of Shalom Achshav (Peace Now), Israel’s preeminent peace movement, we stand in solidarity with the people of Israel and wish for a peaceful resolution to this crisis. We join Shalom Achshav in sharply condemning the kidnapping of the three as an unforgivable act of terrorism. We agree with Peace Now that those responsible for the abduction should be caught and punished, and that there is no justification for kidnapping and harming innocent people.

“We also agree with Peace Now that this crisis should be viewed through the prism of Israel’s continued control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The ongoing occupation, and particularly Israel’s continued settlement construction, are creating an untenable situation that breeds Palestinian vengefulness and further complicate the difficult relationship between Israelis and Palestinians. The occupation must end and a two-state solution to the conflict must be found if Israel is to secure its future as a democracy and a Jewish state.

“This week, APN is launching a new initiative aimed at re-focusing energy and attention on the challenges that Israelis must face in order to do just that. This is a six-week initiative. Each week, we will focus on a different core issue in this conflict. The first week of this campaign, this week, is devoted to the issue of West Bank settlements. We hope that the theme of this week, and the campaign as a whole, would provide the pubic with a clear prism through which to better understand both the current crisis and the broader challenges facing Israel.”