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.
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.
Continue Reading...
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
|
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.
Washington, DC – Americans for Peace Now (APN) denounces a resolution adopted last week by the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and ratified this week by the body’s Executive Board.
APN agrees with critics of the language used by UNESCO’s resolution, which refers to the Holy Basin in Jerusalem’s Old City only by its Muslim title, the Haram al-Sharif (the Nobel 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.
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 what in particular in last week’s UN Security Council discussion of the settlements angered the prime minister; B'tselem's Hagai El-Ad's and APN’s Lara Friedman's testimony before the Council on the settlements issue; at the broadest strategic level, what the Security Council discussion contributes toward a two-state solution; and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's suggestion that a “Potemkin” Israeli-Palestinian peace process would be better than none at all.
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.