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.

This week, Alpher discusses the 40 year anniversary of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's visit to Israel and the launch of the Middle East peace process; additional grand strategies from that era; indications of an emerging US-Israeli-Saudi grand strategy; the publication of protocols from Israeli government deliberations held in the months immediately following the Six-Day War of 1967; and whether we are witnessing the emergence of an Iran-Russia grand strategic axis for controlling at least the northern tier of the Middle East.

2017

Fatigue? Fuggetabout it. Letty Cottin Pogrebin is inspired!

Moment: Seeing Israel in Its Contradictory Glory

Haaretz: For 40 Years, I’ve Fought for Israeli-Palestinian Peace. But a Trump-brokered Deal? No Thanks

Haaretz: Am I Too Dangerous to Enter Israel?

2016

New York Times: Bill Clinton Would Be an Ideal Middle East Envoy

2015

May Leonard Nimoy's memory always be a blessing....

Tablet: Remembering Leonard Nimoy’s Wise Jewish Soul

Like many activists in the peace camp, I’m occasionally afflicted with “hope fatigue” as I watch the Israeli government give up on the pursuit of peace.

When I think back to the high hopes we had for the Oslo Accords, the Camp David Summit, the Clinton Parameters, and the Quartet’s Road Map, a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems more remote today than ever before.

I can’t help feeling distressed that both the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority have permitted the extremists on both sides to dominate the political agenda. My despair deepens as I watch Israelis gobble up land in the West Bank and take over Palestinian property in East Jerusalem that’s supposed to be subject to negotiation in a future peace agreement between the two parties.

But the staff and supporters of Americans for Peace Now—and the young leaders and volunteers at Shalom Achshav, our sister organization in Israel—refuse to succumb to hopelessness and fatigue. They just keep plugging away. And because of them and their work, I keep getting reenergized and recommitted to the struggle to put an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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 NDAA – Middle East/Israel-Related Provisions
3. US & Israeli Lawmakers Sign Israel “Victory” Declaration
4. Hearings
5.  On the Record

Daily Mail (AFP story): November 16, 2017
"Watchdog fears Israel will seize more Palestinian land," Peace Now: legal opinion by the attorney general could pave the way for the seizure of more Palestinian land in the West Bank.

Times of Israel: November 14, 2017
"In first, Israel Prize to be awarded for promoting settlements — report," Peace Now slams Bennet for reported intention to award Israel Prize to settlement activist.

Jerusalem Post: November 14, 2017
"Start preparing for one million settlers in the West Bank," Peace Now data quoted in story on settlement growth.

Haaretz: November 5, 2017
"Tens of Thousands Attend 'Depoliticized' Rally Marking Rabin's Assassination," Peace Now participates in Rabin memorial rally.

JTA: November 4, 2017
"Tens of thousands of Israelis attend rally marking Yitzhak Rabin’s murder," Peace Now participates in Rabin memorial rally.

Times of Israel: November 4, 2017
"85,000 attend rally marking 22nd anniversary of Rabin’s murder," Peace Now participates in Rabin memorial rally.

APN Board Member Letty Cottin Pogrebin in Moment Magazine: November 1, 2017
"Seeing Israel in its Contradictory Glory"

Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting (Haaretz story): November 7, 2017
"Americans for Peace Now Calls on Jewish Federations to Cease Settlement Funding," Pulitzer Center republished our story in Haaretz.

Haaretz: November 6, 2017
"Americans for Peace Now Calls on Jewish Federations to Cease Settlement Funding," In response to a Haaretz report, Americans for Peace Now called on the Jewish Federations to cease settlement funding.

Times of Israel: October 27, 2017
"State taps settler leader to head body that legalizes outposts," Peace Now outraged as state appoints settler leader to head committee that would legalize outposts.

Jerusalem Post: October 27, 2017
"Settler leader to head gov’t drive to legalize outposts," Peace Now condemns Netanyahu's appointment of settler leader to head committee that would legalize structures in illegal outpost.

Jerusalem Post: October 26, 2017
"Ministers to vote on bill to annex 19 settlements to Jerusalem," Peace Now blasts government intention to endorse bill that would annex 19 settlements to Jerusalem.

Al-Monitor: October 23, 2017
"Israel, US coordinated on settlement construction," Peace Now data quoted in story on West Bank settlement construction.

Times of Israel: October 23, 2017
"4 new lawmakers sworn in after Meretz, Zionist Union MKs quit," Former Peace Now Secretary General Mossi Raz sworn in as Knesset member.

APN's Aaron Mann in Times of Israel: October 23, 2017,
"Dangerously ‘imprecise’ on Israeli settlements"

Haaretz: October 27, 2017
"U.S. Unfazed by Israeli Bill That Would Annex Settlements to Jerusalem Because It May Not Pass," APN calls on Trump to block Israeli legislation that would annex settlements to Jerusalem.