 "A solution of two national states -- a Jewish state --
Israel; an Arab state -- Palestine. The Palestinians are our closest neighbors.
I believe they may become our closest friends."
Shimon Peres, Former Israeli Prime Minister, President, and Nobel
Peace Prize recipient (pictured receiving the prize), who passed away today at the
age of 93.
Yossi Alpher is an independent Israeli security analyst. Views
and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily
represent APN's views and policy positions.
September 26, 2016 - The outgoing year, 5776
Q. Where did Israel position itself in the Middle East during the
outgoing year?
A. From the standpoint of its own self-interest, Israel moved in
two distinct and essentially contradictory directions......
Q. The Israel-US relationship appears to have suffered.
A. Definitely. Here too, the prism of two distinct strategic
directions helps us understand what has happened......
Q. How did events in the surrounding Middle East affect the mood of
Israelis?
A. Overall, Israelis seemed more frightened by the very visible
Islamist onslaught in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya, coupled with the Assad regime's
barbarism and Iran's machinations in the region, than encouraged by the
behind-the-scenes Israel-Arab cooperation this has engendered......
Q. And the so-called "lone wolf intifada"? How did it affect
Israelis?
A. The effect of Palestinian knifings and car-rammings of the past
year appears to have meshed with the overall negative Israeli reaction to the
surrounding Islamist revolutions and contributed to the country's increasingly
jingoistic and at times messianic mood...
Q. What in your view are the prospects for progress between Israel and
the Palestinians in the year ahead?
A. All other things being equal, both Netanyahu and Palestinian
leader Mahmoud Abbas will remain in office and neither will evince a serious
interest in the renewal of meaningful negotiations...
<
Q. To sum up the outgoing year?
A. On balance, and despite some bright spots of strategic
achievement, 5776 was bad for Israeli interests and for US interests in the Middle
East...
 
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APN Mourns the
Death of Shimon Peres
Shimon Peres was an icon of Israel's founding generation, a visionary of peace and
security for Israel, a dedicated leader who led Israel through wars and in the
quest for peace. APN President and CEO Debra DeLee: "Shimon Peres' memory and
legacy are a blessing to anyone who cares about Israel and its well being as a
democracy that is guided by progressive values."
Prominent
American Intellectuals Echo APN on Settlement Boycotts
The letter from more than 70 American intellectuals includes APN Board members
Michael Walzer and Edward Witten.
APN warmly welcomes and endorses the
open letter published in the New York Review of Books from
more than 70 American intellectuals, whose message echoes and validates APN's
position on the boycott of Israeli settlement goods.
Go HERE for more on APN's position and
record on this issue.
Go HERE for some actions that can be
taken today to fight settlements and the occupation.
APN Ad Series
features Major General (res.) Gadi Shamni on the necessity of ending the
occupation
The former military secretary to Israeli Prime Ministers Sharon and Olmert,
military attache to the US, and top commander of IDF forces in the West Bank,
recently said: "We have elevated the occupation to an art form...Every step we
take should stem from one strategic goal - separation from the Palestinians."
Go HERE to see the entire ad.
 Peace Parsha for the New
Year
 APN volunteer Barbara Green begins her Rosh Hashana thoughts
with: This is an awkward time of the year for some secular Jews like
me.
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