With the 50th anniversary of the occupation upon us, the hope for a two-state solution is dying. If there was ever a time to speak the truth about the settlements, it’s now.

Last Friday, the UN Security Council held a meeting organized under the title “Illegal Israeli Settlements: A Threat to Peace and the Two-State Solution.” Americans for Peace Now proudly took part in that event, offering testimony grounded in love for Israel and expressing an unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and its survival as a democracy and a state rooted in the Jewish values expressed in its Declaration of Independence. Of course, that testimony also dealt with the settlements, explaining why they are detrimental to the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace and therefore to Israel’s national security interests.

Many people, both inside and outside Israel, were happy to see a pro-Israel, pro-two-state organization delivering a nuanced, fact-based presentation at this event. Others were less enthused, most notably Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, who accused APN of participating in “diplomatic terror” against Israel. Likewise, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to social media to call APN’s arguments “deluded.” And now, in this newspaper, the former head of the Union of Reform Judaism, Rabbi Eric Yoffie, criticized APN’s testimony as a “mistake” – not for the facts it conveyed or its tone, but for the timing and location of its delivery.

Update: this action, now closed, ran in October 2016. 

Last week, UNESCO’s Executive Board ratified a shocking resolution that refers to the Holy Basin in Jerusalem’s Old City only by its Muslim title, the Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary), does not mention the Temple Mount, the way Jews refer to the site, mentions the Western Wall Plaza in quotation marks while using its Muslim name, Al-Buraq Plaza without quotation marks, and uses other inflammatory language.  By so doing, UNESCO ignored the Jewish – and Christian – ties to Jerusalem.

Click here to thank President Obama and his administration for rejecting the anti-Israel bias of UNESCO’s resolution.

We also applaud the actions of Mexico’s ambassador to UNESCO. We were dismayed to hear that the Mexican diplomat, Andrés Roemer, was fired for taking the unusual step of  walking out of the vote because he disagreed with his government’s  decision to support the resolution.

Write to President Obama today and let him know you appreciate that the US is standing up for Israel.

APN's Lara Friedman in Haaretz: October 21
“My UN Speech Reflected Love for Israel, Truth About Settlements”

Last Friday, the UN Security Council held a meeting organized under the title “Illegal Israeli Settlements: A Threat to Peace and the Two-State Solution.” Americans for Peace Now proudly took part in that event, offering testimony grounded in love for Israel and expressing an unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and its survival as a democracy and a state rooted in the Jewish values expressed in its Declaration of Independence. Of course, that testimony also dealt with the settlements, explaining why they are detrimental to the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace and therefore to Israel’s national security interests.
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Haaretz: October 21
“Yes, Israelis, We Must Wash Our Dirty Laundry in Public,” Zeev Sternhell’s op-ed argues APN is worthy of support for appearing before the UNSC.

Jewish Telegraph Agency: October 20
“With UNESCO vote, Palestinians’ bid for attention backfires,” APN among those criticizing UNESCO for one-sided resolution.

Haaretz: October 20
“Americans for Peace Now, You Made a Mistake in Appearing Before the UN,” Rabbi Eric Yoffie’s op-ed says that “while APN’s presentation was a compelling one, it should not have been given to that audience at that time.”

Al-Monitor: October 19
“Why human rights NGOs are losing support of Israeli public,” Peace Now’s Avi Bouskila says Peace Now opted to not participate in UNSC discussion on Israel-Palestine so as not to alienate the Israeli public.

Ynet News: October 19
“US again expresses support for Israeli far-left NGOs,” US Ambassador to the UN thanks APN for sharing expertise on West Bank settlements.

Israel National News: October 18
“Washington ‘grateful’ to B’Tselem,” State Department says it’s grateful for APN and B’Tselem’s efforts.

Ynet News: October 18
“US State Department ‘grateful” to B’Tselem,” State Department Spokesman says US is grateful for organizations like Peace Now and B’Tselem.

The Forward: October 17
“If Israel Lets in Palestinian Refugees, Will it Lose its Jewish Character?” Op-ed praises APN’s Lara Friedman for UNSC speech.

Haaretz: October 15
“Netanyahu Slams Humn Rights NGO B’Tselem for Joining ‘Chorus of Slander’ Against Israel,” Netanyahu slams APN and B’Tselem for appearing before UNSC regarding West Bank settlements.

Times of Israel: October 15
“Netanyahu vows to bar national service volunteers from B’Tselem,” Netanyahu lashes out against APN and B’Tselem for their testimony on Israeli settlements before the UNSC.

i24 News: October 15
“Netanyahu attacks ‘ridiculous’ NGO B’Tselem over UN comments,” Netanyahu attacks APN and B’Tselem for UNSC testimony regarding West Bank settlements.

ABC News (AP story): October 15
“Israeli Rights Group Urges UN to End Palestinian Occupation,” APN takes part in UNSC special session on West Bank Settlements

Times of Israel: October 14
“B’Tselem under fire for planned UN presentation on settlements,” discusses the criticism that the testifying organizations and their representatives, such as APN’s Lara Friedman, are receiving.

Israel National News: October 14
“MK Kish: Time to Disconnect from B’Tselem and Peace Now,” Knesset Member Yoav Kisch (Likud) spoke out against B’Tselem and Peace Now for being invited to the UN Security Council Session, “Israeli settlements as an obstacle to peace and the two-state solution.”

San Francisco Chronicle: October 14
“Palestinians push for UN membership and against settlements,” discusses Palestinian initiatives at the UN in the context of the UN Security Council session on Israeli settlements, which APN will participate in.

Haaretz: October 13
“Israeli NGOs to Address Special UN Security Council Session on Settlements,” APN will address the UN Security Council on West Bank settlements after Peace Now decided not to.”

Jerusalem Post: October 13
“B’Tselem, Peace Now to speak to UNSC against settlements,” APN’s Lara Friedman to address the UN Security Council regarding settlements.

The Jewish Week: October 13
“’Here To Stay’ in Shilo,” quotes Hagit Ofran, director of Peace Now’s Settlement Watch program, saying the new housing proposed for land near Shilo, including 41 apartments earmarked for residents of Amona, an unauthorized outpost slated for destruction by Dec. 31, would be the start of a new settlement, not an expansion of an existing settlement.

Daily News (AFP story): October 9
“Netanyahu speaks to Kerry to calm US over settler plan,” Peace Now says new construction in the West Bank amounts to the establishment of a new settlement.

Yossi Alpher is an independent security analyst. He is the former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, a former senior official with the Mossad, and a former IDF intelligence officer. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.

This week, Alpher discusses the unusual interview that Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman gave to a Palestinian daily; his comments about Gaza; his comments about Abbas; his peace formula; some significant things Lieberman did not say; he also discusses the right-wing establishment’s designs regarding the Jewish character of Israel, including Justice Minister Shaked's significant statement made a few weeks ago.

News from Peace Now's (Israel) Settlement Watch:

Earlier this week Haaretz reported that a new illegal outpost is being established on private Palestinian land near Givat Salit and near the Palestinian community of Al-Khaimah. Yesterday (25.10) the settlers moved the outpost from the private lands and re-established it on "state lands" in a nearby hill. 

It is yet to be seen whether the government takes action to evacuate the illegal structures or allows for the substantiation of a new outpost.

All of the structures in Al-Khaimah were demolished completely by the Civil Administration approximately a month ago and Peace Now tends to think that the demolition of Al-Khaimah and the establishment of the new outpost are related, in the sense that the settlers exerted pressure on the government to demolish specifically in that area. Furthermore, It is possible that the new illegal outpost is meant to serve as a bargaining chip by the settlers, who will demand demolitions of more Palestinian homes if the government will seek to enforce the law and evacuate them. Peace Now is familiar with at least one case in which this method was utilized by the settlers, when two years ago settlers established an illegal outpost near the settlement of Maskiyot and the Palestinian community of Ain al Hilweh and agreed to evacuate only after several Palestinian homes were demolished.