Moving forward can involve risk. But standing still can bring disaster.

As the Exodus story tells us, the Israelites were faced with a choice at the Sea of Reeds: Enter the waters or stand still and be slaughtered by Pharaoh’s fast-approaching army.

Only one Israelite—Nachshon—had the foresight and the courage to jump into the sea. Jewish tradition says that once he moved forward, the waters parted and Israel was able to walk on dry land to safety.

It sometimes seems that it will take a similar miracle to bring peace to the Middle East.

But Peace Now (Shalom Achshav), the veteran Israeli activist organization, and its U.S. counterpart Americans for Peace Now (APN), aren’t relying on miracles. We believe in moving forward. The wind may not be at our backs, but standing still is not an option.

This Passover, you may observe a traditional Seder and may be blessed by the company of children or grandchildren. They may ask the four questions, one of which is: “Why is tonight different from all other nights?” Yes, we eat matzo; yes, we dip twice; yes, we remember the stranger, but tonight we can no longer afford to be bystanders—we all must jump into the fray.

We “jump” to feed the hungry, to defend the refugee, to protect the environment—now it’s time to “jump” for Israel’s secure future. We want you to be able to tell your family how you helped Israel be the best it can be. Helping ensure a peaceful and secure future for Israel and preserve the Zionist dream does not mean asking how Israel can survive with a Palestinian state by its side. It means asking how Israel can survive without one.

Hineni, here I am. Because of the damaging effects of occupation, I’ll jump. Because settlers build on private Palestinian land, I’ll jump. Because evicting Palestinians from the homes where they have spent their entire lives is dehumanizing, I’ll jump. Because Israel may annex settlements in the West Bank in defiance of international law, I’ll jump.

President Trump’s pick for his third National Security Advisor, John Bolton, is dangerous for American national security and potentially disastrous for the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace. We urge our supporters, and indeed all Americans, to condemn this choice.

Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Legislative Round-Up was conceived

1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters
2. FY18 Consolidated Appros – Mideast Elements in ForOps & DoD Approps
3. FY18 Consolidated Approps – Taylor Force Act
   
4. Hearings
5. On the Record

Shameless plug:

Lara Friedman op-ed on Medium, 3/19: U.S. Politicians Are Backing a Free Speech Exception for Israel — & Creating a Template for Broader Assault on the First Amendment.

Lara Friedman op-ed in EURACTIV, 3/20: Europe must prepare to stand up to Trump on Israeli-Palestinian ‘peace’ plan

Lara Friedman op-ed I Frankfurter Rundschau 3/19: Trumps Weg nach Groß-Israel

President Trump's controversial US Ambassador to Israel has demonstrated that APN was right to oppose his confirmation - and then some. To see why Friedman must go, check out our resources on Ambassador Friedman. These include Friedman Watch, our ongoing APN feature documenting the damage the settlements enthusiast-cum-ambassador is doing in his post.

Join our call and send your own message to the White House asking Trump to tell Friedman what he loves telling others: “You’re fired!”

Jerusalem Post: March 21, 2018
"Since Trump took office, new settlement construction has declined," Peace Now's Hagit Ofran comments on stats showing a decline in West Bank settlement housing starts since Trump's presidency.

Haaretz: March 8, 2018
"Israeli government-funded council spent millions on illegal settlements," Peace Now accuses settlement regional council of breaking the law using tax-payer funds to pay for illegal construction.

Jerusalem Post: March 6, 2018
"Work starts on new industrial zone Kiryat Arba settlement," Peace Now opposes construction of industrial zone in Kiryat Arba.