Progressive Coalition at the Celebrate Israel Parade
Sunday, June 5th,
Meetup Time: 10:30AM SHARP
Meetup Location: 55th Street & 5th Ave
Register here - TAKE
ACTION! RSVP NOW TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
For the second in a series of ads from APN. This week's message is from Shlomo Gazit, a former Major General in the Israel Defense Forces and head of Israel's military intelligence service, who later served as President of Ben-Gurion University and head of the Jewish Agency. He currently serves as member of the staff of Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at the Tel Aviv University.
You can support additional ads by donating here.
APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday June 01, 2016
Quote of the day:
"The short answer to the question, 'What does Avigdor Lieberman’s declaration about his commitment to
the two states for two peoples mean' is: ‘nothing.’"
--Yedioth Op-Ed contributor Aviad Kleinberg has a more interesting answer regarding the long version.*
You Must Be Kidding:
Former Mossad chief Ephraim Halevy said in an interview with Al-Jazeera, “Let me let you into a secret. If you go now to Israel and you speak to the commanders in the field, and the IDF…every brigade commander who has been commanding a unit opposite the Gaza Strip believes the best situation for Israel at this point is that Hamas should be there rather than anybody else.” But it was all but ignored by the Hebrew media.
--Yedioth Op-Ed contributor Aviad Kleinberg has a more interesting answer regarding the long version.*
You Must Be Kidding:
Former Mossad chief Ephraim Halevy said in an interview with Al-Jazeera, “Let me let you into a secret. If you go now to Israel and you speak to the commanders in the field, and the IDF…every brigade commander who has been commanding a unit opposite the Gaza Strip believes the best situation for Israel at this point is that Hamas should be there rather than anybody else.” But it was all but ignored by the Hebrew media.
June 6, 2016 marks the 49th anniversary of Israel’s miraculous victory in the Six
Day War. This was a war fought against terrible odds, in self-defense of the young nation of Israel. And it is
a war whose victory gave birth to an historic opportunity for Israel to have different, better relations with
the Palestinians and her other Arab neighbors, by trading lands captured in that war for peace.
All of us at Americans for Peace Now (APN) look forward to a future in which June 6 is a day of true celebration. But tragically, that day has not yet come – and, indeed, seems further away than ever. Because June 6, 1967 also marked the beginning of Israel’s catastrophic policy of open-ended, ever-deepening military occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip.
Over 49 years, that occupation has grown in the West Bank and East Jerusalem into a complex, far-reaching network of civilian and military modes of domination, control, and usurpation of territory and resources, increasingly interwoven with the economic, political, social, and national-security fabric of Israel proper. Territory that years ago should have served as a bargaining chip in a land-for-peace deal has been transformed into an incubator for malignant ideologies whose adherents rob Israel's citizens of the right to live in peace within recognized borders, with a recognized capital, enjoying international respect. Occupation has likewise robbed millions of Palestinians of their most basic rights.
APN Weekly Update - June 1, 2016: Thousands rally in Tel Aviv, 49 year anniversary of ’67 War, Israel Study Tour schedule, and more...
Ehud Barak, former Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister in a previous Netanyahu Government, in an interview with Israel Channel 10 on the appointment Avigdor Liberman as defense minister in place of Moshe Ya'alon
Yossi Alpher is an independent Israeli security analyst. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions. May 31, 2016 - The fallout from the new Israeli government Q. Last week, you described the involvement of the international community--Kerry, Blair, Sisi--in an abortive attempt to facilitate the formation of a more centrist government in Israel, one more oriented toward a peace process. Now that Lieberman is defense minister and Netanyahu's government is solidly right wing, how would you describe the fallout?
A. PM Netanyahu's new, broader and even more right-wing coalition is quite understandably pledged to a right-wing domestic agenda...
Q. What is the right-wing domestic agenda and what are its prospects?
A. The new and broader right-wing coalition plans to push four controversial laws...
Q. But both Netanyahu and Lieberman hastened on Monday, the day Lieberman officially joined the government as minister of defense, to pledge their allegiance to the two-state solution.
A. ...the two Israeli leaders were following through on a commitment to do so that they reportedly made to Egyptian President Sisi via Tony Blair a few weeks ago...
Q. In retrospect, were the abortive efforts of Kerry, Blair and Sisi to facilitate the formation of a broad, centrist Israeli coalition that includes the Labor party an exercise in futility?
A. Worse, they offer a glaring example of how well-meaning attempts to facilitate an Israeli-Palestinian solution can...prove counter-productive...
Q. What are (the near-term) conflict alerts and ongoing Israeli plans?
A. ...UN special envoy Nikolay Mladenov predicted that "unless radically more is done to address the chronic realities in Gaza, it is not a question of 'if,' but 'when' another escalation will take place"...
Peace Now: Construction for settlers in Silwan expected to be approved
The Jerusalem Local Planning Committee is expected to approve the construction of a large building for settlers in the heart of the Palestinian Batan Al Hawa neighborhood in Silwan, East Jerusalem.
Help APN while purchasing gifts for Father's Day (and any other shopping)
Go to Amazon Smile and link your account to APN. Go to iGive and select Americans for Peace Now before shopping. |
Thousands rally in Tel Aviv against right wing government at a demonstration co-organized by Peace Now
"Building the opposition: A new way for Israel" was the rallying cry for the thousands of Israelis who marched in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, May 28.
Go HERE for coverage from +972, including a video of the rally.
Times of Israel: "Housing minister: Government policy not to build in West
Bank"
JUST RELEASED: Schedule for the APN 2016 Israel Study Tour
The working schedule has been released for APN's 2016 Israel Study Tour, November 12-17. From Jerusalem to Tel Aviv to the South and North of Israel, this trip offers an experience unlike any other. Go HERE for the Study Tour Schedule, and how to secure your spot on it. Contact us at IsraelTour@peacenow.org or 202-408-9898 with any questions.
APN Ad features Israeli Major General (ret.) Shlomo Gazit
"I consider the continuation of our occupation...an existential danger. This situation is threatening the main achievement to which I contributed 70 years ago: the establishment of a sovereign and democratic Jewish state" These words come from the veteran of the Haganah, the 1948 War, the first administrator of the occupied territories after 1967, head of military intelligence, and one of the planners of Operation Entebbe.
Go HERE to see the full ad.
Go HERE to see the previous ad featuring the words of former Mossazd director Meir Dagan.
Join APN as we walk with the Progressive Coalition in Sunday's Celebrate Israel Parade In New York City. Let your voice be heard in support of democracy, justice, and peace. Go HERE for more information and to RSVP to the Progressive Coalition.
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"The government of Israel is stricken by budding fascism"
Below is the working schedule for Americans for Peace Now's Israel Study Tour, November 12-17, 2016, which illustrates the character and scope of this unique experience. Updates will come as we further develop and tweak the tour. Given that changes will occur, those of you who will be participating should not use this version to plan any personal time while in Israel.
We are receiving deposits and reserving spaces for the Study Tour. Given the strong interest shown, we encourage you to inform us of your plans to participate and reserve your spot promptly. For details on how to sign up, please scroll down past the schedule. Go HERE for more about the Study Tour.
To reserve your space, print out and complete this FORM and return to APN by mail or email with a $500 deposit (payable by check or credit card). Deposit deadline is August 31, 2016, after which reservations will be accepted if space allows.
Cost
-
$3,290 Per Person/Double Occupancy
-
$3,990 Single Occupancy
INCLUDES: Hotel Accommodations for 6 nights (check-in Saturday, November 12; check-out Friday, November 18) at The David Citadel, a premier hotel in the heart of Jerusalem, all meals with the exception of one evening and one afternoon off for your own leisure, all touring, tipping, and admissions (does NOT include airfare).
Jerusalem, Israel - Check-in: Saturday, November 12; Check-out: Friday, November 18
Watch this video with highlights of the 2015 Study Tour
For questions and to inform us of your plans to participate, email israeltour@peacenow.org or call our office at 202-408-9898.
APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday June 02, 2016
Quote of the day:
“You as Mizrahi Jews have had the experience of living with Arabs, that is why we want you to build
bridges for peace. We welcome everybody because we want to live with you."
--Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said to a delegation of Israeli municipality mayors visiting him at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.*
You Must Be Kidding:
--Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said to a delegation of Israeli municipality mayors visiting him at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.*
You Must Be Kidding:
Breaking News:
Israeli forces shot Palestinian woman after alleged stab attempt at a military checkpoint near Tulkarem in northern West Bank. (Maan)
APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday June 03, 2016
Number of the day:
22.
--The number of mandates a party led by Moshe Yaalon, Gideon Saar and Gabi Ashkenazi would receive if elections were held now, the same number Likud party would receive.**
--The number of mandates a party led by Moshe Yaalon, Gideon Saar and Gabi Ashkenazi would receive if elections were held now, the same number Likud party would receive.**
Earlier we offered this cartoon as a reminder that the two-state solution is anchored in a two-slate solution. Soon, Shavuot begins again. It has come to represent the importance of the Torah and the 10 commandments. This Shavuot, may the two slates help us find a way to two states.
Americans for Peace Now wishes you a Hag Sameah, happy Shavuot.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to APN on this holiday, to help us work even harder to advance the two-state solution – the only way to achieve long-lasting peace, security, stability and dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Thank you from all of us at APN.
On May 26th, 2016, Ori Nir spoke at the embassy of Israel at an event organized by
the Washington DC area chapter of to a group of Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT), the historically Jewish-Zionist
fraternity. This was a panel discussion that focused on threats to Israel’s national security. Other panel
participants were Reuven Azar, the Deputy Chief of Mission at Israel’s embassy in Washington, and Aaron David
Miller of the Wilson Center, a former advisor to Republican and Democratic Secretaries of State on
Arab-Israeli negotiations. Following are his opening remarks.
For years, Israel’s national security has been defined by the combination of its military strength and its international standing – diplomatically, economically etc.
Recently, it is becoming clear that Israel’s National security – like that of any other country and maybe more than most countries -- is not only defined by tanks and fighter jets. And not only by international alliances and secure borders, but also by what goes on within its borders.
Increasingly, I think, it is becoming clear that what goes on within the borders of the territory that falls under Israeli rule – Israel proper as well as the West Bank, and to an extent the Gaza Strip – is more of a risk to Israel’s national security than are any external threats.
It is this notion that prompted Israel’s current IDF Chief of Staff, the Deputy Chief of Staff, its outgoing Minister of Defense, and a whole slew of former generals, former chiefs of Shin Bet and Mossad, as well as politicians – including hawks like Benny Begin and Moshe Arens -- pundits, professors, and people in the press to raise red flags and warn against alarming threats to democracy and trends of budding fascism – no less – in Israeli society.
People – not only on the “left” -- are alarmed at a situation in which national leaders – including the prime minister of Israel – are pandering to the sentiments of the street, acquiescing to nationalistic extremism and national-religious fanaticism. Well, not only pandering, but actually fanning the flames of what once was a small noisy minority on the right margin of Israeli society, and today is a powerful force in Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.