APN condemns the killing of a Palestinian youth in East Jerusalem. The government of Israel must act swiftly to investigate the murder and bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice. It remains to be established whether Muhammad Abu-Khdeir (16) was murdered as revenge for the kidnapping and murder of the three Israeli youths in the West Bank. What is absolutely clear is that in the wake of the murder of the three Israeli youths, the Israeli government has fomented a mood of revenge among Israelis, beginning with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s promise of “revenge” for the killings. That mood began taking concrete form in demonstrations and marches yesterday in Israel, which were marked with calls of “death to Arabs,” as well as attacks against Arabs inside Israel.
by APN's Summer Intern, Hannah Ehlers
Not by might and not by power,
but by spirit alone shall we all live in peace.
I can still remember as a young girl sitting on the sun-stained carpet of our synagogue’s makeshift music room and allowing my shy, quiet voice to rise with the voices of the other children surrounding me. Our childish, out-of-tune voices sang of our love of God, the Earth, and one another. Debbie Friedman’s song, “Not by Might, Not by Power” became my Sunday school favorite and, when I was brave enough to speak up, I requested it and shouted “ruach!” as loud as I could at the right time.
APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday July 02, 2014
Quote of the day:
"What's the time?"
--Question far right-wing Jews in Jerusalem asked dark skinned passers-by to check for an Arab accent and then
attack them in revenge for the killing of three Israeli teens.**
Please join us for a briefing call with Israeli strategic affairs expert Yossi Alpher on Thursday,
July 3rd at 2:00 PM Eastern Time to analyze the security and political situation following the murder
of the three Yeshiva students in the West Bank.
The details of the call are as follows:
Date: Thursday, July 3rd
Time: 2:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Dial-in Number: 951-797-1058
Participant Access Code: 147414
To receive a link of the recording, please email us at kcunningham@peacenow.org
--Yedioth's top commentator, Nahum Barnea, calls on the government not to heed the calls by far right Economy Minister Naftali Bennett's party, Habayit Hayehudi, for an extreme response to the murder of the three yeshiva teens.**
Americans for Peace Now (APN) stands with the people of Israel as it mourns the death of the three Israeli Yeshiva students, Gil-Ad Shaer, Naftali Frenkel and Eyal Yifrach, who were kidnapped earlier this month in the West Bank. APN strongly condemns the kidnapping and the killing of the three, and sends its condolences to their families. APN calls on the Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority and all Palestinian factions, to prevent further escalation and further loss of innocent lives.
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This week, Alpher discusses new policy departures, including in the Palestinian sphere, that Netanyahu has justified by citing events in Iraq that affect Israel (see also last week's Hard Questions, Tough Answers); Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's new "peace initiative," whereby a solution to the Palestinian issue would be part and parcel of broader Israel-Arab peace arrangements; Netanyahu's support for an independent Kurdistan, which contradicts US policy; and the continuing West Bank kidnap drama.
--Ariella Ringel-Hoffman writes lyrically in Yedioth about the people who attended the solidarity rally for the kidnapped teens.**
--Hatnuah MK Amram Mitzna compared Habayit Hayehudi party to Hamas, causing outrage among the right-wing.**