News Nosh 11.07.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday November 7, 2016  
 
Quote of the day:
"If his legal advice is ignored, and the law passes in one cunning way or another, every person whose work involves the implementation of this law must disobey the orders he receives—whatever the cost the regime exacts of him."
--Yedioth commentator Yaron London writes that the bill to legalize outposts built on privately-owned Palestinian land a blatantly illegal and must be defied.**
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November 7, 2016 - Netanyahu’s urgent concerns

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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 Netanyahu government’s most immediate preoccupation regarding the outcome of the US presidential election; how it depends on who wins, Trump or Clinton; the possibility of Obama intending to launch a last-minute policy initiative; and the number of heavy controversies on the Netanyahu government’s near-term agenda: the High Court, the media, and religious pluralism .

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News Nosh 11.08.16

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News Nosh 11.09.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday November 9, 2016  
 
Quote of the day:
"Similarities between the right wing in the United States and Israel are evidence that the roots of the powerful fury felt by our right-wing voters is not necessarily related to the sanctification of the land, or fear of Palestinians, or relations between Mizrahim (Jews of Middle Eastern origin) and Ashkenazim (Jews of Eastern European origin). Its origins are different and, as sane citizens, we have a responsibility to get to the bottom of the problem and try to defuse it."
--Tzvia Greenfield, peace activist, leftist, and Israel's first female ultra-Orthodox MK examines what motivates right-wing US and Israeli voters.*

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naomitamuraf250x372Naomi Tamura is done with empty promises and ready for tangible change

Three years ago, I attended an annual peace rally in Tel Aviv to honor the life and legacy of Yitzhak Rabin, the fifth Prime Minister of Israel and a tireless champion of peace who was assassinated by the anti-peace extremist, Yigal Amir, in 1995. Along with friends from my youth movement, Habonim Dror, I stood in pure awe among a sea of 35,000 fellow peace activists. We wore our blue movement shirts, held posters demanding peace and sang Shir LaShalom - the song Rabin had sung just moments before his assassination. It was the most sobering, yet electrifying experience I had ever been a part of.

This week, as I prepare to honor the 21st yahrzeit of Yitzhak Rabin, I want more than anything to return to that moment. Still clear in my memory, my heart simultaneously aches and blossoms when I recall the feeling of being surrounded by tens of thousands of people, young and old, united by our commitment to peace despite the ongoing violence and incitement. This experience has inspired me to honor Rabin’s legacy in real ways -- how to spread his vision for tolerance, freedom and peace, how to help build a shared future for both Israelis and Palestinians based on these lessons and how to inspire others to join me in doing so.

I am committed to working for peace for several reasons. Next year will mark the occupation’s 50th anniversary. This past week, Netanyahu promised to “continue to take care of settlements in Judea and Samaria,” expressing support for the Israeli settlers whose occupation over the West Bank undermines prospects for peace. The Israeli government has threatened to demolish the Palestinian village of Susya, and has until November 15th to make a final decision. If they decide to move forward with demolition, they will be paving space for more illegal Israeli settlements. And Israel, the beautiful country I called home for nine months after high school, is not living up to its ideals as a just and democratic state- the ideals that form the backbone of both my relationship to Israel and my Jewish identity.

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APN Weekly Update - APN on Trump Election, Alpher on Israeli Impact, Peace Now remembers Rabin, and More

Americans for Peace Now
Americans for Peace Now: November 9, 2016


"It's time to pick yourself up and you fight for what you believe in, and stay true to the kind of world you want to live in - not just during a campaign, but every day. That's something we on the Israeli left learned long ago."

Mairav Zonszein, Israeli writer, in +972: We feel you, America — it's lonely at the bottom.


Hard Questions, Tough Answers with Yossi Alpher

 

Yossi Alpher is an independent security analyst. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.

November 7, 2016 - Netanyahu’s urgent concerns

Q. What is the Netanyahu government’s most immediate preoccupation regarding the outcome of the US presidential election (bearing in mind that many readers will see this after the election is decided)?

A. ...Netanyahu’s primary concern with the outgoing Obama administration has to be its approach to the Palestinian issue between now and January 20, 2017...

Q. Doesn’t a lot depend on who wins, Trump or Clinton?

A. ...in a Trump presidency Obama could easily opt for the more far-reaching and long-lasting option of delivering his ideas for the parameters of a solution by means of a United Nations Security Council resolution...

Q. And if Clinton wins?

A. ...Obama will almost certainly feel bound to consult with her...

Q. You’re assuming Obama really intends to launch a last-minute policy initiative.

A. ...it is entirely possible that the threat of such an initiative on Obama’s part is mainly bluff...

Q. Turning to domestic Israeli issues, there seem to be a lot of heavy controversies on the Netanyahu government’s near-term agenda. Can you elaborate?

A. ...strains and internal contradictions in this coalition are showing....

Q. Start with the High Court?

A. Within months, four High Court justices will be retiring...

Q. The media issue?

A. Some time ago Netanyahu... engineered a move to dismantle the sovereign Israel Broadcasting Authority...

Q. Lastly, religious pluralism?

A. Last January, Netanyahu yielded to a concerted campaign by non-Orthodox Jews, backed by the US-based Reform and Conservative movements, and agreed to set aside an area of the Western Wall, south of the Orthodox prayer areas, for men and women to pray together and woman rabbis to lead prayer...

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Peace Now at the Tel Aviv rally marking the 21st anniversary of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination

Top left: Peace Now Director Avi Buskila; Top right: young supporters of Peace Now

On Saturday, November 5th in Tel Aviv, Peace Now joined tens of thousands of Israelis in a rally marking the 21st anniversary of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassination.

Go HERE for more pictures. Share


Recommended Reading

The Eagle: "To Honor Rabin, Condemn the Occupation and Support the Two-State Solution"

by Naomi Tamura, APN Intern

...We have a choice: Rabin’s 21st yahrtzeit can be just another year of rhetorical support and empty promises, or it can be the start of a united and honest effort toward working together for peace.

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In The News

Stay informed on the impact of the US Presidential Election on Israel

Today's News Nosh included the item that Netanyahu congratulated Donald Trump by phone, and it will continue to cover all the relevant reactions and analysis from Israel on the outgoing and incoming US Administrations.

Go HERE to read and subscribe to APN's daily email news review from Israel


Significance of Israeli-Palestinian peace to US national security

With a new US President elected, it is worthwhile to remember that US leadership in Middle East peace efforts has global implications.

Go HERE for the item in APN's They Say, We Say publication on why the US should care about Israeli-Palestinian peace.


The APN Weekly Update can be
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Press Release: With Trump’s Election, We Recommit to Israeli-Palestinian Peace

As Israelis and Palestinians struggle to make sense of this week’s presidential election results, so are we, Americans who support Israeli-Palestinian peace, anxiously wondering about the fate of our mission under President-elect Donald Trump.

The American people have spoken. We at APN obviously acknowledge the results. We doubt, however, that by electing Trump, the people have spoken about their desired foreign policy priorities. Candidate Trump did not clearly indicate such priorities. His foreign policy agenda was sparse and ambiguous, often confused. What will President Trump’s foreign policy be? What will his Middle East Policy be?

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News Nosh 11.10.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday November 10, 2016  
 
Quote of the day:
"He does not carry in his genes the genetics that every American politician (including Hillary) carries: the deep automatic commitment to Israel in any situation and in any weather. Trump broke all possible rules and it will not be a problem, if he wishes, to smash that one, too. Therefore, I don't think any one in Jerusalem opened bottles of champagne the morning after the elections."
--Senior Maariv political commentator Ben Caspit writes about US President-elect Donald Trump and Israel.*
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News Nosh 11.11.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday November 11, 2016  
 
Quote of the day:
“We believe Trump’s limited familiarity with the international arena will make the team he brings with him to the White House even more important, since it will have broad influence in setting the administration’s foreign policy.”
--In an internal document, Israel's Foreign Ministry concedes Israel has no idea what the policies of US President-elect Donald Trump will be towards Israel.**
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News Nosh 11.13.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday November 11, 2016  
 
Quote of the day:
“I hope that because he's pro-Israeli, he'll be able to use his weight and force Israel to take steps with the Palestinians. He's capable of doing that. That's in his power."
--Miami based millionaire Israeli businessman, Yaakov Shaham, who is friends with President-elect Donald Trump and donated ‘a six-figure amount’ to Trump’s campaign.*
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