At a press conference in Berlin on August 16th, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that Israel committed “fifty massacres, fifty Holocausts” against the Palestinians. His offensive comparison to the  Holocaust, in the plural, on German soil, in reference to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, justifiably triggered outrage in Israel, the US, Germany and beyond. We at APN were equally outraged. We strongly condemn this kind of discourse.

Upon his return to Ramallah the following day, Abbas clarified that “the Holocaust is the most heinous crime in modern human history,” adding that his Berlin statement “was not intended to deny the singularity of the Holocaust that occurred in the last century, and condemning it (sic) in the strongest terms.” According to Israeli media reports, Abbas made this clarification at the request of Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

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.

By Ori Nir

A poll released recently by the Brookings Institute shows that over half of Americans (46% of Republicans and 57% of Democrats) do not know what the Biden administration’s position is on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Surprising? Not really. Because although the administration has a position on the issue, it does not have a solid policy, and definitely not the kind of vision-driven conflict-solving policy that past administrations had.

Based on private conversations and public statements by members of the Biden administration’s Middle East policy team, the administration’s policy on this issue partially stems from Israel’s policy, which can best be characterized as “conflict management” rather than conflict resolution.

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.

Americans for Peace Now (APN) is deeply concerned by the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip. We are pained by the carnage and suffering of innocent civilians. We urge both sides to stop the fighting and reach an immediate ceasefire. 

While Israel has a right to defend itself and proactively fight terrorism, the timing of Israel's choice to initiate an arrest campaign in the West Bank followed by a bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip has predictably led to a renewed cycle of violence and the tragic death of Palestinian civilians. Israel's blockade restrictions on the Gaza Strip are hindering the ability of local hospitals to provide vital health services. In Israel, millions of Israeli citizens are spending sleepless nights in bomb shelters. 

Americans for Peace Now (APN) is deeply saddened by Congressman Andy Levin's defeat last night in Michigan's Democratic Party's primary elections.

Congressman Levin has been a champion of policies aimed at advancing Israeli-Palestinian peace and has been unafraid to confront the harsh realities of Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.