The Role of the United States
The involvement of the United States in the Arab-Israeli and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts began with the inception of the State of Israel. Since then, the U.S. has led or been involved in every major effort to broker peace between these sides. The U.S. is also Israel’s most important ally, providing $3 billion in aid annually.
APN Resources
The Stealth Campaign to Use U.S. Law to Support Settlements: Taking the Battle to the States - Updated/Expanded Table
Americans for Peace Now / (December 16, 2016)
APN opposes the conflation of settlements and Israel present in various states' legislation calling for the boycott, divest, and sanctions of companies who engage in BDS against Israel. Read More >
The Stealth Campaign to Use U.S. Law to Support Settlements: In Congress
Americans for Peace Now / (October 5, 2016)
Chart detailing legislation by Congress to denounce the BDS movement, and in effect, efforts to legitimize Israeli settlements. Read More >
U.S. (non)-Recognition of Sovereignty in Jerusalem: A Consistent Policy, pre-1948 - Present
Americans for Peace Now / (October 1, 2016)
Explanation of the United States' policy to not recognize any party's sovereignty in any part of Jerusalem. Read More >
Summary of Recent Brookings Poll Findings on American Attitudes Toward the Arab-Israeli Conflict
Americans for Peace Now / (July 13, 2016)
Summary results of the surveys on American attitudes towards Muslims and Islam before and after the Orland massacre. Report shows that despite anti-Muslim rhetoric of the presidential election campaigns, and that the Orlando shootings were executed by a radicalized Muslim, 58% of those questioned before Orlando, and 62% of those after Orlando held favorable attitudes towards Islam. Read More >
Articles
Meet Bibi’s New Tribulation-Courting, Jew-Converting, Demon-Exorcising American Allies
Rachel Tabachnick / The Daily Beast (March 22, 2015)
Netanyahu and Christian Zionists have long enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship. But with a new, more radical sect ascending within the movement, the marriage may be in trouble. Read More >
For Jewish groups, a stand-off between open debate and support of Israel
Marc Fisher / The Washington Post (May 28, 2014)
Discusses the difficulties that Jewish organizations face in affiliating with individuals or organizations that question or debate actions taken by Israel. Read More >
The New Israel and the Old: Why Gentile Americans Back the Jewish State
Walter Russell Mead / Foreign Affairs (August 2008)
Investigates the roots of American support for Israel. Read More >
Book Excerpt: A Case of Courage
Michael Beschloss / Newsweek (May 13, 2007)
An excerpt from Michael Beschloss' book, A Case of Courage, describing the events leading to President Truman's support for the state of Israel in 1948. Read More >
Audio and Video
Elusive Peace: Israel and the Arabs
BBC (2005)
Documentary about the attempts to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from before the 2000 Camp David Summit until the end of 2004. Includes extensive interview footage with key players involved, such as Bill Clinton, Ehud Barak, Yasir Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, various Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, and cabinet officials from the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations. (2:26:42) Watch >
American Christian Funding Flows To Jewish Settlers
All Things Considered (2009)
Report on evangelical Christian support for Israeli settlements through tourism and donation. Describes how this support bolsters settlements like those in Hebron, and negatively effects local Palestinians. (4:21) Listen >
American Jews & Israel
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly (2009)
Features a story on the wide range of American Jewish opinion on Israel, with a focus on the changing attitudes of younger Jews. Includes interviews with Rabbis, activists, professors, and other American Jews. (24:45) Watch >
Gershom Gorenberg on Christian Zionism
Fresh Air (2006)
Gorenberg, an Israeli author and journalist, explains the beliefs and motives behind the Christian Zionist movement. He delves into their views on Judaism and Israel, and how Christian Zionists are viewed by right-wing Israelis who share their agenda. (11:30) Listen >
Books
Doomed to Succeed: The U.S.-Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama
Dennis Ross | Farrar, Straus and Giroux (2015)
Book Review (Kirkus Reviews) | CampusBooks
The New American Zionism
Theodore Sasson / NYU Press (2013)
Book Review (Publishers Weekly) | CampusBooks
The Peace Puzzle: America's Quest for Arab-Israeli Peace, 1989-2011
Daniel C. Kurtzer, Scott B. Lasensky, William B. Quandt, Steven L. Spiegel, and Shibley Z. Telhami / Cornell University Press (2013)
Book Review (Foreign Affairs) | CampusBooks
Pathways to Peace: America and the Arab-Israeli Conflict
Daniel C. Kurtzer (Ed.) | Palgrave Macmillan (2012)
Book Review (Americans for Peace Now) | CampusBooks
Historic Documents
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
1965 - 2002
The Jewish Virtual Library's collection of statements, speeches, and memos regarding Yasir Arafat's recognition of Israel, the subsequent U.S. recognition of the the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the suspension of restrictions on U.S. diplomatic relations with the organization. Includes other documents about the PLO and its relationship with the United States. Read More >
U.S. Position on Settlements
March 23, 1976
Excerpts of a Security Council discussion in which U.S. Ambassador William Scranton reiterated his government's position on the Israeli settlements. The U.S. felt that continued settlement represented "an obstacle to the success of negotiations for a just and final peace between Israel and its neighbors." Read More >
Secretary Rusk Seeks Analysis of Israeli Politics Toward Peace
June 28, 1968
Memo that relates to Secretary of State Dean Rusk's view that America should take a more active role in Israeli-Arab peacemaking. It also talks about the complexities of making peace. Read More >
Initial U.S. Diplomatic Response to Settlement
September 29, 1967
Telegram sent from the U.S. State Department to the American embassy in Israel in the wake of the establishment of the first Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Golan Heights. Read More >
Official Documents
APN's Amicus Brief to the Supreme Court of the United States of America
Americans for Peace Now / (October, 4 2011)
APN's amicus brief calling on the Supreme Court to uphold the Executive Branch's sole prerogative to determine U.S. foreign policy related to the recognition of sovereignty in Jerusalem. The brief further addresses the way in which the U.S. Department of State records the birthplace of American citizens born in Jerusalem in documents issued by the U.S. government. Read More >
Public Opinion
Israel's Religiously Divided Society: Comparisons between Jews in Israel and the U.S.
Pew Research Center (March 8, 2016)
Pew Research Center poll shows that Israeli and U.S. Jews have different perspectives on the peace process, settlements, and U.S. support for Israel, as well as different ideas about what is essential to Jewish identity, with U.S. Jews more likely to see ethics and justice as essential to being Jewish. Read More >
Despite Their Wide Differences, Many Israelis and Palestinians Want Bigger Role for Obama in Resolving Conflict
Pew Research Center (May 9, 2013)
Among other findings, shows that majorities of both Israelis and Palestinians both want U.S. President Barack Obama to play a larger role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate. Obama enjoys the confidence of 61% of Israelis, up 12 percentage points from 2011. Only 15% of Palestinians express confidence in Obama to do the right thing in world affairs, with 82% saying they have little or no confidence in the American president. Read More >
Sympathies with Israelis or Palestinians; Israeli attack on Gaza justified
CNN / ORC (November 16-18, 2012)
Finds that 59% of Americans say their sympathies lie more with Israel, as opposed to just 13% who say their sympathies are more with the Palestinians. Also shows that 57% of Americans believe Israel justified in "taking military action against Hamas and the Palestinians in the area known as Gaza", while only 25% feel it is unjustified. PDF >
Americans on the Middle East: A Study of American Public Opinion
The Anwar Sadat Chair for Peace and Development / The Program on International Policy Attitudes (October 8, 2012)
Among other findings, shows that two-thirds of Americans continue to express the view that the Arab-Israeli conflict is a "top five issue" in regard to its importance to U.S. foreign policy. Also shows that a plurality want the U.S. to maintain its current level of diplomatic activity in the Middle East. PDF >
Reports and Data Sources
Legislative Round-Up
Americans for Peace Now
Lara Friedman, APN's Director of Policy and Government Relations, provides a weekly, comprehensive summary of congressional activity related to Israel and the Middle East. Includes archived installments from November 2004 until the present. Read More >
Re-Engaging the Israelis and Palestinians: Why an American Role in Initiating Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations is Necessary and How It Can be Accomplished
James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy (March 14, 2013)
Lays out specific recommendations for the U.S. administration to advance prospects for a two-state solution and addresses the prospects for negotiations under current political, economic and security considerations in the region. Special attention is paid to the environment for negotiations in Israel and Palestine, respectively. PDF >
U.S. (non)-Recognition of Sovereignty in Jerusalem: A Consistent Policy, pre-1948 - Present
Americans for Peace Now (2011)
APN's Lara Friedman provides an outline of the history of US policy regarding the status of Jerusalem. Includes dates, statements, and descriptions of relevant actions by US government bodies and officials. Read More >
Still Connected: American Jewish Attitudes about Israel
Theodore Sasson, Benjamin Phillips, Charles Kadushin, and Leonard Saxe / Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, Brandeis University (August 2010)
This study assesses American Jewish attachment to Israel, particularly among the younger generation, in light of opinions on the 2008-2009 Gaza War, the Gaza flotilla raid of 2010, and the settlements. Results show an increase in clashes of opinion of Israeli policies among American Jews, but exhibit a steady attachment to Israel that does not decrease through the generations. PDF >