Today I am excited to share with you some good news - news that is encouraging and energizing. I know that you, like me, are subjected to a daily barrage of discouraging news.

For many years, the settlement movement has sought to portray itself as the vanguard of 'real' Zionism. Simultaneously, Peace Now has worked to take back Israeli Zionism, and to show the Israeli public and the Jewish Diaspora that real Zionism is one that represents Jewish values of justice, democracy and peace. In truth, the settlement movement is a small, fanatically ideological movement which threatens Israel's security, prosperity and its viability as a Jewish, democratic state.

New construction in Judea and Samaria is now proceeding at the highest pace in seven years. If this continues, the Netanyahu-Lapid-Bennett government will put an end to the two-state solution, the Jewish democratic entity, and the Zionist dream.

by Ari Shavit

Few people paid attention to the news that during the first quarter of 2013, there were 865 housing starts in the settlements. That was a 176 percent increase over the parallel quarter last year and a 355 percent increase over the fourth quarter of 2012. Although settlers are only four out of every 100 Israelis, of every 100 housing starts this year, 8.5 were in the settlements. While in sovereign Israel the scope of new construction is slowing, new construction in Judea and Samaria is now proceeding at the highest pace in seven years.

The trend is clear: Within a short time the number of settlers will increase dramatically, as will their ability to block any attempt to divide the land. If it continues this way, the Netanyahu-Lapid-Bennett government will put an end to the two-state solution, the Jewish democratic entity, and the Zionist dream.

Congratulations to APN Board member Jo-Ann Mort and Lara Friedman, APN Policy and Government Relations Director, for their recognition by The Forward as, "9 Must-Read Female Pundits on the Middle East."

Alpher discusses what are the potential security consequences for Israel of the fighting in Syria reaching the UN-patrolled no-man's land between Israel and Syria and more UN forces leaving, whether Russia's President Putin's offer last week to send Russian forces to replace the Austrians who are departing UNDOF makes sense for Israel, what to make of IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz's announcement last week, during all the turmoil in Syria, that for budgetary reasons he is suspending reserve units' training this year, and whether Ethiopia's construction of a massive dam on the Blue Nile -alarming Egypt about being denied water- will result in the water wars predicted by King Hussein of Jordan decades ago.

The first slogan put forward by Shalom Achshav (Peace Now) was hakibbush mashchit - the occupation corrupts. Now, as we approach the 46th anniversary of the corrupting occupation, we can understand how prescient that slogan was.

Alpher discusses Rami Hamdallah's appointment as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority and what this tells us about Palestinian intentions, whether last week's series of Syrian threats against Israel and reports of Russian supplies of weapons means we are edging toward an Israeli-Syrian war, if the violent events in Turkey constitute a "Turkish spring" and whether this is a positive development from Israel's standpoint, and why the IDF does not conscript Arabs, observant Jewish women and, until now, ultra-orthodox yeshiva students, but throw in jail a conscientious objector like Natan Blanc.

Legally controlled land grew from 530,931 to 538,303 dunams over the course of the year, a total increase of 7,372 dunams.

By Chaim Levinson

Israeli settlements in the West Bank legally expanded by nearly 8,000 dunams (1977 acres) in 2012 - land equaling the entire city of Bat Yam and twice as big as Manhattan's Central Park.

Alpher discusses what he thinks Secretary of State Kerry's peace plan might look like, whether either side, the Netanyahu government or the PLO, cold present a unified negotiating position, a possible "laundry list" of confidence building measures (CBMs) and gestures reportedly discussed or initiated by Kerry, whether Hezbollah's openly joining the fighting in Syria on the side of the Assad regime is a turning point, and if the Netanyahu government is making any significant progress on "burden sharing", meaning conscription of Haredi (ultra-orthodox) youth.

Recently, the news broke that Secretary of State John Kerry personally called Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren to protest the Israeli government's decision to "legalize" four illegal outposts - a decision that, if implemented, will mean the establishment of four new settlements. Secretary Kerry reportedly also asked the Israeli government to delay the move or rethink its decision.

Alpher discusses Syria's civil war and Israel's possible involvement, the best Syrian end-game from Israel's standpoint, whether, as long as Assad holds onto power, can the Syria-Israel border remain quiet, whether there are any signs of progress in Kerry's effort to renew final status negotiations,