Americans for Peace Now (APN) welcomes the news that 13 Senate Democrats– Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Dick
Durbin, (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), as well as Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeff Merkley
(D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tom Carper (D-DE), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT),
Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Ed Markey (D-MA)-- plan to introduce an amendment that would require that weapons
received by any country under the proposed national security supplemental are used in accordance with US law,
international humanitarian law, and the law of armed conflict.
Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.
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.
Dear Friend of APN,
The world changed on October 7th. The horrific attacks by Hamas, and in response the massive bombing of Gaza
by the IDF, have continued the cycle of violence with devastating consequences. We all know that the path to a
better future for Israelis and Palestinians lies only with a political agreement and an end to this conflict. But
we will not get there by doing only what we have done in the past.
President Biden has requested much needed supplemental funds that would provide security assistance to Israel
and deliver crucial humanitarian aid to Palestinians affected by the conflict. Aid to Israel is important, but,
like all US aid, it should align with our values and our policy priorities. Prominent Democrats in Congress are
calling for conditioning aid, and President Biden himself has stated that conditioning aid is a "worthwhile
thought."
It is time we turn thoughts into actions.
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.
Throughout the past week, we have worked closely with Members of Congress on the following letters:
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Reps. Swalwell, Raskin, and Wild's letter on settler violence
On November 16, 58 Members of Congress wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to address escalating violence in and along the West Bank that threatens a two-state solution. -
Rep. Wild's letter on fuel
On November 17, 48 Members of Congress wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking the Administration to work with the Israeli government to facilitate substantial fuel delivery to the Gaza Strip that meets humanitarian needs while protecting Israel's security. -
Reps. Raskin and McGovern's letter on children in the conflict:
This letter, signed by 27 Members of Congress was sent to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday, November 21. The Members urged the administration to continue working to ensure the safety of infants and children living under terror and violence in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank and reiterated the importance of protecting children suffering from the devastating consequences of war as the United States works to secure the immediate release of all hostages and send humanitarian aid to civilians in the region.
Americans for Peace Now (APN) welcomes the news of a deal to release some fifty hostages held by Hamas and other militants in the Gaza Strip, and the agreement to a four day long ceasefire. The taking of hostages is a war crime, and we reiterate our call for the immediate release of all of the hostages, and for Red Cross access to those not being immediately released.
The mutually agreed upon ceasefire is a welcome development. The ceasefire will allow for both the release of hostages and the provision of essential humanitarian aid to Gazan civilians, including food, water, medicine and fuel. In addition, we welcome the reported agreement to release all Palestinian minors held in Israeli prisons.
APN’s President and CEO Hadar Susskind said: “Releasing some hostages is a positive first step. The rest of the hostages should also be released immediately. In addition, I am pleased to see a mutually agreed upon ceasefire that, hopefully, will begin to shape a post-war reality on both sides of the Israel-Gaza border. Such a reality would end the hostilities, provide security and stability for Israel, address the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and kick off the challenging task of rebuilding Gaza. As President Biden thankfully asserts, this road must lead to a new era in Israeli-Palestinian relations, one that is governed by pursuit of an agreement that would result in two sovereign states for the benefit of both peoples.”
The weeks since the horrifying October 7 Hamas attack have been devastating for both Israeli and Palestinian children.
During the atrocities on October 7, Hamas terrorists murdered 1,200 people in Israel, among them at least 38 children and babies. Many children were left orphaned. The terrorists abducted more than 240 hostages, including at least 32 children, among them a 9-month-old baby, and removed them to Gaza. Another hostage was nine months pregnant at the time of her abduction and is believed to have given birth in captivity. Many adult hostages, including nursing mothers, were separated from their infants and children.