Yossi Alpher is an independent security analyst. He is the former director of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, a former senior official with the Mossad, and a former IDF intelligence officer. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.
November 12, 2024- Americans for Peace Now President and CEO Hadar Susskind said: The priority of the United States vis-a-vis Israel right now should be to secure a ceasefire and ensure the release of hostages. Security experts in Israel and the United States agree that can only come about through diplomatic measures.
Right now, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening by the day. The Biden administration’s 30-day period for Israel to increase humanitarian aid access is nearly over, yet Israel has not met its obligations. Reports from the UN warn that famine, starvation, and preventable deaths are becoming an everyday reality for countless people in northern Gaza.
We cannot stand by and let this crisis continue without response.
November 11, 2024- As we near the end of the 30 day period for Israel to significantly increase humanitarian
aid allowed into Gaza on Wednesday, it is clear that Israel continues to fall short of its obligations under
Section 620I of the US Foreign Assistance Act.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire. Last week, the UN’s Famine Review Committee stated that it could be "assumed that starvation, malnutrition, and excess mortality due to malnutrition and disease, are rapidly increasing" in northern Gaza, warning that "famine thresholds may have already been crossed or else will be in the near future.”
What do we do now? That is the question I have been asked more than any other over these past few days. This
coming Thursday we will come together for a webinar discussion to talk about what the Trump administration will
hold for Israel-Palestine peacebuilding work. Our Director of Government Relations, Madeleine Cereghino, will join
me, and we’ll dig into policy-- looking at possible executive actions, legislation, appointments, and more. We’ll
talk about the UN and about whether Trump might actually pressure Netanyahu in some way. There is much to say and
more to be done as we re-calibrate our efforts and refocus our energies to address the new political
reality.
But that’s not what people have been asking me this week. This week the questions have been more along the lines of “how do we keep going”, “is there any point in this now”, and “is there any hope for peace”?
My answer to all three questions is the same: There is no other option. There is no other choice. There is no choice but to keep going, to keep working, to keep struggling for peace. There is no option besides keeping our heads high and our view on our north star, justice. And there is always hope. There is always a path to a better future. Our job, particularly in times of discord and disappointment, is to be the keepers of that hopeful future. I say this not because I believe it to be close at hand or easily achieved. But exactly because it may not be, and thus it is essential that we use our voices, our bodies, our being, to protect and nurture that hope and that better future.
The following statement was issued by Ameinu, Americans for Peace Now, Habonim Dror North America, J Street, New Israel Fund, New York Jewish Agenda, Partners for Progressive Israel, and T’ruah.
Last week our organizations sent a letter to the heads of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and Jewish Federations of North America expressing our unease regarding the upcoming Stand Together event taking place on November 10, in Washington, DC. We appreciated that the executives of these organizations took the time to meet with us and hear our concerns directly as to why we, unfortunately, cannot comfortably participate in this event. At a time of such divisiveness in our public discourse, it was incredibly important that we were able to discuss our differences with civility while also acknowledging our shared commitment to the Jewish people.
We spoke with special guest Allison McManus about what a second Trump administration may hold for Israel-Palestine peacebuilding work. We covered Trump's recent appointee nominations, the effects of potential policies on our agenda, as well as how the US-Israel relationship could shift with Trump back in the White House.
Allison McManus is a managing director for the National Security and International Policy department at American Progress. Prior to joining American Progress, she was the managing director at the Freedom Initiative, where she advocated for political prisoners in the Middle East and North Africa. She also served as the research director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy from 2014 to 2019.
November 6, 2024- Americans for Peace Now remains deeply committed to our values, our country’s democracy, and the struggle for peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and we will fight for them. Whatever challenges may arise, we will push the incoming Congress and the Trump administration to respect our democracy, and we will never surrender in our struggle to make our world a better place.
November 5, 2024- Earlier today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for the second time, fired Defense
Minister Yoav Gallant. Netanyahu has replaced Gallant with Israel Katz, the current Foreign Minister, and said that
Gideon Sa'ar would replace Mr. Katz as Foreign Minister.
APN President and CEO Hadar Susskind said: “On a day when the corruption of his administration
is the talk of Israel, Netanyahu has fired his Defense Minister. Gallant, who deserves his large share of the blame
for his role in the war, is at least qualified to serve as Defense Minister. He will be replaced by Israel Katz, a
longtime Likud party minion who was a feckless Foreign Minister and has no qualifications to serve as Defense
Minister.