Americans for Peace Now (APN) is alarmed at recent statements and actions by President-elect Donald Trump's Israel affairs advisers, indicating support for West Bank settlements and dismissal of the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. APN is calling on the President-elect to clarify that he will follow the policies of all recent US administrations – Republican and Democratic – with respect to the Israel-Palestine question.
APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday December 7, 2016
Quote of the day:
"(It’s a) big middle finger in all our faces.”
--Former MK and Tel-Aviv city councilwoman Yael Dayan said of a golden statue of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu mysteriously erected - and toppled in Tel-Aviv's Rabin Square.**
--Former MK and Tel-Aviv city councilwoman Yael Dayan said of a golden statue of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu mysteriously erected - and toppled in Tel-Aviv's Rabin Square.**
APN today sent the following letter to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations regarding its decision to partner with the Republic of Azerbaijan for a Hanukkah party to be held at the Trump International Hotel in Washington:
Stephen Greenberg, Chairman
Malcolm I. Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
(via email and fax)
7 December, 2016
Dear Stephen and Malcolm,
As longtime members of the Conference of Presidents, we were shocked to learn that you have decided to celebrate Hanukkah by partnering with the Republic of Azerbaijan and by choosing the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC as the venue. We take issue with your choice of both partner and venue. Your failure to consult members of the CoP before making these odd decisions further compounds our frustration.
1. Bills & Resolutions & Letters
2. New
Legislation Sailing Through Congress Equates Criticism of Israel with Anti-Semitism
3. Hearings
4. On the Record
[With apologies for the erratic Round-Up publication schedule.]
APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday December 8, 2016
Quote of the day:
"Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan continues to work at a feverish pace to help Israel catch up with
other advanced countries like China, North Korea and Iran."
--Haaretz Editorial slams Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan for his new "McCarthyite approach" of appointing a task force to identify companies, organizations and individuals who call for a boycott of Israel or the West Bank settlements.**
--Haaretz Editorial slams Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan for his new "McCarthyite approach" of appointing a task force to identify companies, organizations and individuals who call for a boycott of Israel or the West Bank settlements.**
Senator George Mitchell and Alon Sachar, the authors of "A Path to Peace: A Brief History of Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations and a Way Forward in the Middle East," will be the featured speakers for the APN Briefing Call on Thursday, December 15, 3:00 pm (Eastern).
To participate on the call, phone 951-797-1058 and enter code 147414
(a recording of the call is posted here)
Israel’s settlement “Legalization Bill”: What it is and what it means
The concept
Israel’s so-called “Legalization Bill” (aka “Regulation Bill” or “Regularization Bill”) is designed to retroactively legalize Israeli civilian construction in the West Bank (outposts and parts of recognized settlements) built on privately-owned Palestinian land, in violation of Israeli law.
The bill comes in reaction to years of legal efforts, led by Shalom Achshav (the Israeli Peace Now movement) to compel the Government of Israel to meet its obligation to respect and impose the rule of law by removing construction by settlers that violates Israel’s own laws. For years, the government of Israel has resisted these efforts, dragging out cases in courts with repeated requests for delays, allowing illegal construction to grow further.
APN Update - APN action on Trump and Conf. of Presidents, Briefing Call with Sen. Mitchell, Letter from Israel, and more
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It took me a couple of seconds to realize that this was neither a joke, nor the latest satirical
"Borowitz Report.” The invitation to the Hanukkah celebration of the Conference of Presidents of Major American
Jewish Organizations joyfully noted that the party will be co-sponsored by the Republic of Azerbaijan, will be
celebrating religious freedom and diversity, and will be held at the Trump International Hotel. REALLY???
When I realized that it was neither a joke nor a hoax, I wrote a letter, together with my friends Jim Klutznick and Marty Bresler, the current Chair and the immediate past Chair of APN'S Board of Directors, explaining to the leaders of the Presidents’ Conference why they should count us out unless they change their choice of partner and venue. And, after sending the letter to the Conference’s Stephen Greenberg and Malcolm Hoenlein, we made it public.
APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday December 9, 2016
Quote of the day:
"Amona's eviction is underway! Everyone, come to Amona now! By all estimates, the eviction is set for
Saturday night. Roads will be blocked -- come early. Spread the word, because you don't destroy a Jewish
community."
--A text message sent Thursday night to tens of thousands of Israelis by Amona outpost campaign activists, who fear police will evict them before the December 25th deadline.*
--A text message sent Thursday night to tens of thousands of Israelis by Amona outpost campaign activists, who fear police will evict them before the December 25th deadline.*