APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday August 27, 2013
Quote of the day:
"Israel's behavior conveys the following message: 'If you compel me, I will engage in peace talks.' In
other words, the only interest that guides the Israeli government is to avoid a colossal crisis with the
world."
--Uzi Baram writes in Haaretz how the right-wing description of 'peace' must be ignored and the real meaning of
peace must be adopted.**
Rob Eshman / Jewish Journal (August 21, 2013)
Interview with Mark Rosenblum, an Israel-Palestine peace activist since 1978, describing why a peace agreement is
in the interest of both sides and why he won't give up on peace. Read More >
Peace Now (Shalom Achshav) has released
research findings by Lior Amihai of settlement watch, showing over 1000 units being advanced despite the
ongoing negotiation process. Some of these plans (approx. 300) had been removed from the previous Higher
Planning committee agenda due to the press coverage (including those of Shalom Achshav) of these being brand new
plans, and the pressure from the then recently announced EU guidelines.
They write, "We are obviously concerned by these units, the legalization of an outpost and the impact this will have on the negotiation process.It is hard to argue about whether this is in contradiction to Netanyahu's recent commitment to limit new tenders to 1000 units over the negotiaiton process, but suffice it to say, this exemplifies that Netanyahu is placating to the interests of the settlers."
Jewish Virtual Library (2013)
Statistical breakdown of the armed forces for each country in the Middle East. Includes troop totals as well as
military vehicles, ships, and aircraft. Read More >
APN's Ori Nir was a panelist on Public Radio International's To The Point with Warren Olney on
Wednesday, July 31, discussing the newly restarted Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
In October 2011 the Israeli government, with a huge majority including most of the Likud's ministers, voted in favor of releasing more than 1027 Palestinian prisoners, 280 of them having been convicted for murder and assisting in the murder of Israeli citizens, in return for the release of the kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. The released prisoners were received as kings, and the Hamas movement used the opportunity to the utmost in order to show how violent resistance is the best way to make Israel bow down.
The EU decision is limited to the settlements, but if construction in the occupied territories continues, a
boycott of Israel at large is only a matter of time
By Yariv Oppenheimer
Ian Black, the Middle East Editor of the Guardian, was APN's guest on a briefing call on Monday, July
22. He spoke about the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, from the European perspective, and focused on
the European Union's new policy regarding Israeli West Bank settlements.
On July 11, 2013, APN hosted its founder, Professor Mark Rosenblum of Queens College for a briefing
call on the situation in the Middle East and prospects for progress toward Israeli-Palestinian peace.
On June 28, 2013, APN hosted Professor Shibley Telhami of the University of Maryland and the Brookings Institute's Saban Center for a briefing call on Arab public opinion and on how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict plays in the Arab public's worldview.