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 aftermath of the Temple Mount and Jordanian crises, the resulting tension, and Netanyahu's territorial exchange proposal.

Huffington Post: July 26, 2017
"Read The Small Print. How Nearly 200 Congressmen Could’ve Signed On A Bill Criminalizing Free Speech And Legitimizing Israel’s Occupation Of Palestine," in her op-ed, Marilyn Katz cites APN among organizations opposing a bill criminalizing free speech.

Jerusalem Post: July 26, 2017
"Netanyahu bars IDF from evacuating settlers from Hebron home," Peace Now says settlers' takeover of Hebron home is illegal and provocative.

i24: July 26, 2017
"Netanyahu says settlers should not be removed from disputed Hebron house," Peace Now says to the Israeli government: remove settlers from Hebron building.

Times of Israel: July 25, 2017
"In protest move, 100 settlers occupy contested Hebron home," Peace Now urges evacuation of Hebron settlers from disputed home.

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 ForOps – House Version
3. FY18 DoD Approps – House Version
4. Hearings
5. On the Record

Americans for Peace Now hosted a briefing call with Jerusalem affairs expert Daniel Seidemann on Tuesday, August 1  to analyze the recent events in Jerusalem and their repercussions.

Listen here

The House of Representatives and the Senate are considering the “Anti-Israel Boycott Act,” measures that would criminalize boycotts, divestments and sanctions (BDS) targeting Israel and its occupation of the West Bank.

Americans for Peace Now (APN) opposes BDS targeting Israel.

This legislation, however, intentionally blurs the distinction between Israel and the occupation. It clearly states that under this bill, measures targeting West Bank settlements and the occupation would be regarded as targeting Israel. APN opposes the occupation and supports boycotting West Bank settlements, the most visible physical manifestation of the occupation.

While opposing BDS, APN believes that boycotts are a legitimate non-violent expression of protest, which should not be criminalized.

These measures do just that: they criminalize free speech, as pointed out by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

For the Senate version of the bill see here. For the House version see here.

S.720 and H.1697, if passed, will set a terrible precedent. They must be opposed.

Click here to send your Representative and Senators a letter urging them to oppose these bills.