News Nosh 02.16.14

APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday February 16, 2014

Quote of the day:
"...instead of calling a spade a spade and declaring ‘price tags’ as a terror organization, allows the thugs from the hilltop youth to evade criminal prosecution through the use of administrative orders." 
--Meretz MK Zahava Gal-On blasts Attorney General for copping out.** 

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For Trustees, Advisors, and Attorneys

If you are a trustee, financial advisor or attorney preparing a will or helping an individual prepare a will and need legal information about Americans for Peace Now, please refer to the following.

  • Americans for Peace Now Tax ID Number: 13-3509867

If you are administering an estate that names Americans for Peace Now as a beneficiary, please provide your contact information (name, address, phone number, and email). We will be in touch with you to express our appreciation for the gift and inquire how and to whom we might acknowledge it.

Please direct all estate gift correspondence to the national office of Americans for Peace Now at this address:

Americans for Peace Now
1320 19th ST NWSTE 400
Washington, DC 20036-1635

If you have any questions about any part of the process of making a gift please feel free to contact Rob McCulloch at (617) 686-2265.

Planning Checklist

1. Last will and testament

A will includes your instructions for how your property is distributed after your death. If you die without a valid will, your property will be divided based on the laws of the state in which you live. If you have been saving a precious heirloom to pass on to a favorite relative, that won’t happen unless your will specifies it. If a legacy gift to Americans for Peace Now is in your plans, that won’t happen either unless it is designated in your will.

But a will can do so much more than provide directions for the distribution of your assets. With a valid will, you can decide:

  • Who should serve as your executor, trustee, or personal representative, as well as an alternate, should the person you name be unable to serve in this capacity
  • If there are specific pieces of property you would like to give to certain people, such as your car, antique furniture, or jewelry
  • What arrangements to make for and who will be guardians of minor children or family members with special needs
  • Whether to divide your assets equally among loved ones or give according to circumstances
  • Whether those you are considering leaving assets to can handle an inheritance in a lump sum or whether they should receive the gift over a period of years

A will is a living document. Be sure to review it periodically when life events such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child or grandchild may affect your giving wishes.

2. A living will

Also called an advanced directive for health care, it instructs your physician on what types of life-sustaining treatment or procedures you do or do not want if you cannot articulate your wishes at the time.

3. A health care power of attorney

Appoints someone to make medical decisions for you that may not be included in your living will. Name a trusted family member or friend who lives in your area and who understands your opinions and values about medical decisions.

4. A durable power of attorney for property,

Also known as your agent or attorney-in-fact who has the legal authority to coordinate your affairs and manage your assets if you can no longer do so.

5. A letter of instruction

Communicates your wishes to your family about matters such as funeral plans and obituary information that are not usually included in other documents. Keep your letter of instruction at home where it can be easily found. If the only copy of your letter of instruction is in a safe-deposit box or at your attorney’s office, your wishes may not be known or followed.

6. A list of important documents

To help your loved ones find and access your assets, list all of your financial accounts. Also provide names and contact information for important individuals such as lawyers, accountants, and others with whom you conduct financial business. Other useful documents to keep in a safe place along with estate planning documents include

  • Birth certificates
  • Marriage certificates
  • Adoption papers
  • Divorce agreements
  • Prenuptial agreements
  • Insurance policies
  • Loan documents
  • Real estate titles
  • Deeds
  • Powers of attorney
  • Social Security records
  • Partnership agreements

Once you’ve completed the various components of your estate plan, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that you have a valid plan that addresses your needs and wishes and those of the family members and charities that are important to you.

Exceptions: What Can Override a Will

While a will is a critical legal document, other estate planning tools may supercede what’s written in a will. These include trusts, beneficiary forms, and will substitutes.

Trusts. Property held in a trust is distributed according to the terms of the trust—regardless of what the will says.

Beneficiary designations. Beneficiaries you designate for retirement accounts or insurance contracts can supersede the terms of a will. Beneficiaries are commonly named on IRAs and other retirement plans, insurance and annuity contracts, and individual investment accounts.

Will substitutes. A partnership or shareholders’ agreement may dictate how property is distributed. It’s also possible that state law can order how some property is distributed to make sure that a spouse and minor children receive part of the estate.

SodaStream, an Israeli company with a production facility in a West Bank settlement, made headlines recently due to the superstar status of its spokeswoman, Scarlett Johansson. But the real stars of the Israeli business community are those who joined with their Palestinian counterparts in an effort to use their economic heft to urge political leaders to achieve a two-state solution as soon as possible.

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Sample Bequest Language

Specific Bequest

A gift of a specific amount of money or property

You might use or modify the following:

I give and devise to Americans for Peace Now (Federal Tax ID# 13-3509867) located in Washington, DC the sum of $________ [or describe property] to be used for its general purposes.

Email this language to yourself or your advisor:

Again, if you prefer, you can designated your gift to be used for a specific program or project, but please contact us in advance. You might modify the following:

I, [Name], of [City, State, Zip] give and bequeath to Americans for Peace Now (Tax ID# 13-3509867) located in Washington, DC, [amount or percentage of estate property description] for [description of the project or program].

Email this language to yourself or your advisor:

Residual (or Remainder) Bequest

This kind of bequest ensures that your family members are taken care of first and that any debts or expenses are paid so your family won’t be burdened by them. After that, the remainder or a percentage of what’s left of your estate can be given to an organization such as Americans for Peace Now.

You might use or modify the following language:

I, [Name], of [City, State, Zip] give and bequeath to Americans for Peace Now (Federal Tax ID #13-3509867) located in Washington, DC, [all or ____ percent (____%)] of the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, to be used for its general purposes.

Email this language to yourself or your advisor:

If you would like to designate your gift for a particular program or project, please contact us prior to finalizing your plans. We would like the opportunity to discuss your intentions ahead of time to be sure your gift can be used in the way you intend.

APN's Lara Friedman discusses settlements & BDS on Al Jazeera-America's "The Stream" & BDS

Lara-on-al-Jazeera320x265On Wednesday on Al Jazeera America talk show, "The Stream," APN's Lara Friedman discussed settlements & BDS, explaining APN's position opposing BDS targeting Israel and supporting boycotts targeting settlements, settlement products, and the occupation.  She appeared with guests representing the pro-BDS camp -- Josh Ruebner (US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation), and Yousef Mumayyer (The Palestine Center) -- and the camp opposing all Israel-related boycotts -- Avi Mayer (The Jewish Agency for Israel).

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News Nosh 02.14.14

APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday February 14, 2014

Quote of the day:
"For peace I'm ready to wear even a streimel."
--Justice Minister Tzipi Livni calls on Prime Minister to replace Habayit Hayehudi party with the ultra-Orthodox.**

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News Nosh 02.13.14

APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday February 13, 2014

Quote of the day:
"Naftali Bennett and his people are not willing to hear things they do not like in German. And submarines, Naftali? German submarines we can receive in German?"
--Merav Michaeli reminds pro-settler Economy Minister and his party members of the war submarines Germany is selling to Israel after they walked out on the German EU President's speech.**

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News Nosh 02.12.14

APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday February 12, 2014

Quote of the day:
"I have to admit that for me it was a very challenging task. As the day drew near I got very tense and concerned...”
--Former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy on giving a lecture to his granddaughter's fourth-grade class on 'why is it necessary to spy.'**

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The New York Times -Thomas L. Friedman: Israel’s Big Question

I’ve written a series of columns from Israel in the past two weeks because I believe that if Secretary of State John Kerry brings his peace mission to a head and presents the parties with a clear framework for an agreement, Israel and the Jewish people will face one of the most critical choices in their history. And when they do, all hell could break loose in Israel. It is important to understand why.

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