Forward to The Dove

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 Labor and Zionist Union leader Isaac “Bougie” Herzog's just published ten-point plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace, and its context; why this one is important; what Herzog’s proposal comprises; his view of the proposal’s relevance and validity; what we have learned from this drama, beginning with the abortive Aqaba summit and ending in Herzog’s proposal.

Fox News: February 3, 2017
"Trump to Israel: Settlements 'May Not Help' Achieve Peace in the Middle East," in the wake of Netanyahu's promise to build new West Bank settlements after the evacuation of Amona, Peace Now reports that Israel has not built new settlements since 1992, but has only expanded upon existing ones.

Deutsche Welle: February 2, 2017
"'Israeli Settlements are Not an Obstacle for Peace,'" Peace Now reports that more than 130 Israeli settlements and 909 outposts have been built without government approval in the West Bank since 1967, threatening the viability of two states living side by side in peace and security.

Washington Jewish Week: February 1, 2017
"Israeli peace camp must respond to people's fears, says Peace Now head," David Hozel features Avi Buskila, Peace Now's new director general, in a piece for the Washington Jewish Week.

Haaretz: February 1, 2017
"Amona Live Updates: After Years of Delay, Israel Evacuates Illegal West Bank Outpost," Peace Now condemns Netanyahu's decision to build new settlements in the West Bank for settlers recently evacuated from Amona.

CNN: February 1, 2017
"Israel to Build Entirely New Settlement in West Bank," according to Peace Now, Netanyahu's announcement of 2,500 new housing units marks one of the largest settlement expansions since 2013.

Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata: February 1, 2017
"Peace Now 'Alarmed' by 3,000 More Settler Homes in West Bank," Peace Now speaks out against Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent settlement expansion in areas not likely to be under Israeli jurisdiction in future agreements.

APN's Ori Nir in Haaretz: February 8, 2017
“As Netanyahu Cozies Up To Trump, American Jews' Alienation From Israel Escalates”

Israel’s newly adopted, patently unconstitutional “Regularization Law” further distances most American Jews from the government of Israel and the State of Israel.

It does so by further underscoring the similarities between Israel’s leadership and U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign of constitutionally controversial executive orders. It thus further deepens the sense of dissonance in the minds of American Jews regarding the U.S.-Israel relationship. Continue Reading...

Haaretz: February 9, 2017
“Trump's Israel Ambassador Linked to New Expansion of Radical West Bank Settlement,” Peace Now opposes Donald Trump’s pick for David Friedman as Ambassador to Israel and condemns the organization he heads, American Friends of Beit El, which funds construction of Israeli settlement homes on private Palestinian land.

The New York Times: February 7, 2017
“Israeli Allies Condemn Settlement Law as Lawsuits Loom,” in light of Israel’s new law, retroactively legalizing settlements built on private Palestinian land, Peace Now’s spokesperson, Lior Amichai, declares their plans to challenge the law in court.

Haaretz: February 7, 2017
“Explained: Israel's New Palestinian Land-grab Law and Why It Matters,” APN explains that the new law authorizes retroactive legalization for more than 50 outposts and settlements.

Haaretz: February 7, 2017
“U.S. Jewish Leaders Come Out Against Land-grab Law: 'This Isn’t the Israel We Want to See',” Peace Now, alongside the New Israel Fund, J Street, American Jewish Committee, Rabbi Rick Jacobs of the Union for Reform Judaism, and the Anti-Defamation League, criticized the law for making theft “an official Israeli policy.”

The Boston Globe: February 7, 2017
“Israel Passes Provocative Law to Retroactively Legalize Settlements,” Anat Ben Nun, Peace Now’s Director of External Relations, warns that the law is “deteriorating Israel’s democracy, making stealing an official policy and bringing us one step closer to annexation.”

Algemeiner: February 6, 2017
“Jewish Leaders Denounce Palestinian Authority’s ‘Fort of Torture’,” APN’s Ori Nir disapproves of the Palestinian security services’ actions to torture detainees, despite any cooperation they might have with Israel in the battle to fight terrorism.

The Palm Beach Post: February 17, 2017
“Israeli Settlement Sees Friendly Face in Trump Ambassador Pick,” Peace Now reveals that Israel’s latest approved settlement plans were developed by Sukkat Ovadia Learning Center, a beneficiary of Friends of Beit El, an organization supported by David Friedman and his family.

i24: February 16, 2017
"Former ambassador calls Trump's Israel Envoy pick 'unqualified,' too 'extreme,'" APN among groups opposing confirmation of David Friedman as US ambassador to Israel.

The Forward (JTA Story): February 16, 2017
"Jewish Groups Slam 'Dangerous' Trump For Trashing Two-State Solution," quoted APN's statement in a story on US Jews' reactions to the Trump-Bibi meeting.

Haaretz: February 16, 2017
“American Jewish Leaders Call Trump’s Ideas on Israel 'Terrifying' and 'Bizarre',” APN’s Ori Nir warned that the discussion of the possibility of a one-state solution undermines Israel’s chances for peace and its future as a democratic and Jewish state.

The Times of Israel: February 16, 2017
“Trump’s Pick for Israel Ambassador Faces Dicey Senate Hearing,” APN, the New Israel Fund, and the National Democratic Jewish Council urge American Jews to call their senators to oppose David Friedman’s nomination.

Times of Israel: February 15, 2017
"Israel's envoy to apologize for calling liberal Jews 'kapos,'" APN among groups advocating against confirmation of David Friedman as ambassador to Israel.

Times of Israel: February 15, 2017
"For some left-wing groups, Trump-Bibi meet-up is not top protest priority," quoted APN's press release on the meeting: "Prime Minister Netanyahu knows what agenda he should advance in the White House if he wants to demonstrate true statesmanship and prudent leadership. If, however, he wants to continue importing Israel's petty politics to Washington - as he has been doing for years - he will be serving neither the interest of Israel nor that of the United States."

JTA: February 14, 2017
"Letters from rabbis, Holocaust survivors decry Trump Israel envoy pick David Friedman," APN and other groups supporting the two-state solution have been organizing the push to block Friedman's nomination as ambassador to Israel for his use of the term "kapo," among other reasons.

UPI: February 14, 2017
“Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss tough line on Iran,” APN’s Ori Nir said Trump will only get tougher on Iran after his meeting with Netanyahu earlier this week.

VOA: February 13, 2017
"Trump Interview in Israeli Press Renews Confusion Over US Mideast Policy," Ori Nir quoted saying "As a dealmaker, Trump should know that actions speak louder than words. If he really wants to make a difference and make a deal, he should resist being manipulated by Israeli, Palestinian, or other politicians and pursue what he knows best serves America's national security interests: a two-state solution based on guidelines set by consecutive U.S. administrations. This imperative should guide the president when he meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu next week."

The Arab Weekly: February 13, 2017
"Trump and Netanyahu to discuss tough line on Iran," Ori Nir quoted saying "Netanyahu will try to pocket some of the toughening in the US attitude towards Iran and present it as his own achievement. He really believes in getting tougher on Iran."

Haaretz: February 13, 2017
“Over 600 Rabbis and Cantors Sign Petition Opposing David Friedman as U.S. Ambassador to Israel,” APN, in collaboration with other progressive Jewish organizations, helps collect signatures to petition Donald Trump’s nomination for David Friedman as US Ambassador to Israel.

Americans for Peace Now / (February 22, 2017)
Briefing call with Peace Now's Anat Ben Nun, who discusses the challenges that Israel’s Peace movement is facing, and further addresses the political situation following the Trump-Netanyahu meeting in Washington, issues relating to West Bank settlements, and anti-democratic Knesset legislation. Read More >