APN's daily news review from Israel - Sunday December 6, 2020

Quote of the day:

“We cannot accept the imprecise, overreaching wording of the definition’s examples. We can’t accept it because we are witnessing how it is already being abused, indeed weaponized, to quash legitimate criticism and activism directed at Israeli government policies by tarnishing individuals and organizations as antisemitic.”
--Leaders of Americans for Peace Now explain to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations why APN can't sign on to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism.*

1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters
2. Hearings & Markups
3. On the Record

Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Legislative Round-Up was conceived. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.

U.S. Jewish nonprofit says the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition is ‘already being abused to quash legitimate criticism and activism directed at Israeli government policies’

The following is the text of a letter that APN sent to the leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in response to a request to sign on to the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism (with the accompanying examples).

25 November, 2020

Dear Arthur, William, and Malcolm,

We are writing to inform you that Americans for Peace Now will not adopt the full version of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism (with the accompanying examples) and to explain why.

First, it is important for us to clarify that we are alarmed by the recent rise in antisemitic acts and antisemitic speech. Of particular concern is the horrifying trend we have all been witnessing in the past several years of violent antisemitic acts by neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other right-wing extremists.

APN's daily news review from Israel - Thursday December 3, 2020

Quote of the day:

“The officer admitted that he shot, why are they closing the case? There’s no justice in this world.”
—Wael Issa, a Palestinian father from E. Jerusalem, said after the Justice Ministry closed the case against the Border Police officer who shot his son, Malek, in the face.*

Americans for Peace Now congratulates Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), the incoming Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

APN is pleased to be a Partner Organization for the Other Israel Film Festival - this year presented virtually December 3-10. The festival presents films that provide an in-depth look into Israeli and Palestinian societies, as well as other underrepresented populations in Israel.

Go HERE for more on the films and to get tickets (including for related Q&A's) - use the code 'APNOI20' for a 20% discount!

APN's daily news review from Israel - Wednesday December 2, 2020

Quote of the day:

"...the assassination was intended to provoke the Iranians to a response that would lead to a joint Israeli-American bombing. Luckily for us, the Iranians in this case are the responsible adult."
--Maariv commentator Ran Edelist writes that the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was not intended to delay the race for the bomb.*

Breaking News:
Bill to go to elections passes preliminary reading
By joining the opposition in passing a bill to dissolve the Knesset, Kahol-Lavan voiced its dissatisfaction with Netanyahu, accusing the prime minister of putting his own personal interests ahead of those of the country. (Ynet and Israel Hayom)

When progressive American Jews, including our organization, protested the anti-democratic, discriminatory Nation State Law passed by the Knesset two years ago, Israeli officials and members of their US echo-chamber said we were overreacting to legislation that merely stated the obvious.

When we warned that this law would serve as a platform for deeper discrimination of non-Jewish Israelis and for further anti-peace policies, they reassured us that the law is declarative in nature, that it merely reiterates Israel’s being the national homeland of the Jewish people.