News from Peace Now's (Israel) Settlement Watch:
The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS) published its data on construction starts earlier today. The Data
shows that in the first six months of 2016, 1,195 housing units started to be constructed in the settlements. This
is an increase of 40% in comparison to the previous six month (July-December 2015), during which 850 housing units
began to be constructed. In contrast, a 3% decrease in construction starts was noted in Israel proper (23,691
housing units in the first half of 2016 as opposed to 22,898 housing units in the second half of 2015).
Peace Now: "Netanyahu is the Prime Minister of one sector only - the settler sector, which comprises of less
than 5% of the Israeli population. His investments in the settlements do not only come on the expense of the Negev,
the Galilee and the rest of Israel but also lead towards a one state reality.
Rabbi Susan P. Fendrick is an editor, writer, teacher, and spiritual director. A graduate of
Brown University, she received rabbinic ordination in 1995 from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and
is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship program. Her writing appears in numerous books and
publications.
"Like the term 'genocide,' the term 'ethnic cleansing'
should be restricted to actually describing the atrocity it suggests - rather
than distorted to suit political ends."
Urge America's Jewish organizations to repudiate Netanyahu's
"ethnic cleansing" comments
Sign our Petition: Tell Israel - Stop the land grabs, stop the
settlement expansion.
Save the Palestinian village of Sussya
On a trip to Israel last month, I visited a friend who runs a small store in downtown Jerusalem,
my hometown. Outside, on the street, there were dozens of young American Birthright tourists. “Business must be
hopping, with all these Birthrighters,” I said. “Not quite,” my friend replied. “Their parents send them here
with pocket money, but stay home in the U.S., with their credit cards.”
