News Nosh 06.01.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday June 01, 2016
 
Quote of the day:
"The short answer to the question, 'What does Avigdor Lieberman’s declaration about his commitment to the two states for two peoples mean' is: ‘nothing.’"
--Yedioth Op-Ed contributor Aviad Kleinberg has a more interesting answer regarding the long version.*

You Must Be Kidding: 
Former Mossad chief Ephraim Halevy said in an interview with Al-Jazeera, “Let me let you into a secret. If you go now to Israel and you speak to the commanders in the field, and the IDF…every brigade commander who has been commanding a unit opposite the Gaza Strip believes the best situation for Israel at this point is that Hamas should be there rather than anybody else.” But it was all but ignored by the Hebrew media. 
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For the second in a series of ads from APN. This week's message is from Shlomo Gazit, a former Major General in the Israel Defense Forces and head of Israel's military intelligence service, who later served as President of Ben-Gurion University and head of the Jewish Agency. He currently serves as member of the staff of Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at the Tel Aviv University.

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 News from Peace Now's (Israel) Settlement Watch:

Tomorrow the Jerusalem Local Planning Committee is expected to approve the construction of a large building for settlers in the heart of the Batan Al Hawa neighborhood in Silwan. The three story building will be located in one of the most densely populated areas in East Jerusalem, near the Yonatan House (see map). The land in the area was sold to the settlers by the Israeli General Custodian without any tender, together with three additional parcels in the neighborhood (Parcels 73, 75, 84, 97). The pretext for selling the land to the settlers was the fact that they already own two other parcels in Batan Al-Hawa (parcels 95-96) that were released to them by the General Custodian in September 2002 (see more here)

Peace Now: While PM Netanyahu and MoD Lieberman just backed the two state solution, on the ground they are supporting actions that are making a future compromise much more difficult. They government can still prevent the construction of the house by withdrawing from the deal of selling the four parcels to the settlers. By approving the construction on the Eve of Ramadan Netanyahu and Lieberman risk igniting the region and compromising Israelis' security for the benefit of extreme settlers.

Silwan-parcel73-map
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Thousands of Israelis marched in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to protest the appointment of Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman as Israel’s new defense minister. Protesters carried banners denouncing extremism, racism, and violence in Israel, as well as signs proclaiming “Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies” and “Israel, Palestine, two states for two peoples.” Marchers were joined by Knesset members, including Meretz leader Zehava Galon and Joint List chairman Ayman Odeh. Peace Now organized the rally together with Meretz and the Joint Arab List.

Peace Now rally 5.28.16-484x252

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May 31, 2016 - The fallout from the new Israeli government

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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 fallout now that Lieberman is defense minister and Netanyahu’s government is solidly right wing; what the right-wing domestic agenda is and what are its prospects; what are the amendments Israel requires in the Arab Peace Initiative as a condition for an "Arab solution;" whether the efforts of Kerry, Blair and Sisi to facilitate the formation of a broad, centrist Israeli coalition that includes the Labor party were an exercise in futility; and the near-term conflict alerts and ongoing Israeli plans regarding the Palestinian issue.

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News Nosh 05.31.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday May 31, 2016
 
Quote of the day:
"Since I don't remember there being any section in the Arab Peace Initiative that deals with the killing of (Palestinian leader from Hamas, Ismail) Haniyeh, then we obviously have a new Lieberman."
--Maariv's political commentator Ben Caspit writes in an analysis about the statements yesterday by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressing support for 'elements' of the Arab Peace Initiative.*
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News Nosh 05.30.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday May 30, 2016
 
Quote of the day:
"A world in which it is not the state that has a leader, but rather a leader who has a state. A feeling that every morning, we need to thank G-d that we have a prime minister of such stature like Netanyahu, who agreed to lead a state that is small for him by a few sizes, instead of being, for example, the President of the United States. That is what the wife of the Prime Minister thinks..."
--Senior Yedioth political affairs commentator, Sima Kadmon, writes a scathing piece about the Netanyahu family in the wake of the police recommendation to indict Sarah Netanyahu.*
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News Nosh 05.29.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday May 29, 2016
 
Quote of the day:
“Instead of condemning and arguing, maybe you should start fixing, because there is some truth in (what I have said)."
--Patriotic veteran Channel 2 News military affairs reporter, Roni Daniel, responds to the backlash for his comments last week that he sees no future for his children in Israel.*

You Must Be Kidding: 
 "Our country allowed me, a Christian Arab from Nazareth, to end the war between my soul and my body. So if it made peace for me, our country is only a country of peace." 
-- Ta'alin Abu Hanna, an Israeli Arab from Nazareth won the country's first transgender beauty pageant on Friday, beating out a contestant from an Orthodox Jerusalem family and a Muslim belly-dancer from Tel Aviv.
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News Nosh 05.27.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday May 27, 2016

Breaking News: 
Environmental Affairs Minister Avi Gabbay resigned from cabinet in protest of the appointment of Avigdor Lieberman as defense minister.

 
Quote of the day:
"A defense minister in a country surrounded by enemies isn't just another minister. He is the most important minister...The removal of a professional and reasonable defense minister who in a year managed to calm the uprising is a step I couldn't make peace with."
--Environmental Affairs Minister Avi Gabbay said at a press conference today after resigning.
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APN Weekly Update 5/25/2016 - Eldar briefing call today @ 2 (EDT), security over politics, Alpher on the political drama, and more

Americans for Peace Now
Americans for Peace Now: May 25, 2016


"For the first time I feel - because of these kind of politics ... I’m not sure that I want my children to live here."

Roni Daniel, Israel Channel 2's veteran military correspondent, during his despairing outburst about the Netanyahu-Ya'alon-Liberman machinations. Some have likened the outburst to a real-life "I'm mad as hell and I can't take it any more" moment (see: Even Rambo Is Afraid of Where Netanyahu Is Heading).


Hard Questions, Tough Answers with Yossi Alpher

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.

May 23, 2016 - The Herzog-Yaalon-Lieberman-Sisi-Bibi drama; the real Netanyahu at work

Q. Israel seemed to begin last week with a Likud-Labor unity government, blessed by the president of Egypt. It ended last week with an even more right-wing government and the departure of a defense minister who stood up for IDF commanders with liberal values. What happened, and why?

A. This is all about PM Netanyahu, his values and his tactics. It tells us once again that his only strategies are staying in power and holding onto as much West Bank territory as possible...

Q. And the fallout?

A. (Egyptian President) Sisi was humiliated. He welcomed a peace coalition in Jerusalem and ended up with loud-mouth Lieberman--settler, racist, proto-fascist...

Q. Where does this leave civil-military relations in Israel?

A. The IDF leadership has emerged in recent months as the champion of liberal values and standards in the occupied territories and to some extent even in Israeli politics...

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Government Relations

APN Legislative Round-Up: May 13, 2016

  1. Bills, Resolutions, and Letters
  2. FY17 NDAA - On the House Floor (Mideast-related amdts
  3. FY17 NDAA - Senate Version
  4. FY17 Defense Approps - Middle East-related Elements (HOUSE)
  5. Hearings
  6. On the Record

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The Jewish holiday of Lag B'Omer begins sundown tonight, Wednesday, May 25. This festive day comes on the 33rd day of the Omer, or the counting of days between Passover and Shavuot.

Briefing Call

TODAY - Wednesday, May 25th, 2:00 p.m. Eastern

Recent developments in the Israeli political arena with Akiva Eldar, senior political columnist

Hear about the recent developments in the Israeli political arena: Netanyahu's coalition negotiations with Avigdor Lieberman and Labor’s Yitzhak Herzog, Moshe Yaalon's resignation and the increasing tension between the government and the security establishment.

To participate, phone 951-797-1058; Access Code: 147414

Go HERE for more about the briefing call and Akiva Eldar. Note that the call will be recorded and available at www.peacenow.org.


APN Response

APN Alarmed over Avigdor Lieberman's Imminent Appointment as Israel's Defense Minister

APN President and CEO Debra DeLee: "Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is today once again showing the world that he puts politics and personal political survival above the national security of Israel and its people."

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Go HERE to see and share APN's Internet Meme "Bibi - Israel needs Security, not Politics (partially pictured above).


Recommended Reading

Ha'aretz: "Israel Knew All Along That Settlements, Home Demolitions Were Illegal"
By Gershom Gorenberg
New evidence shows government's adviser on international law said in 1968 that demolishing terror suspects' homes violates Geneva Convention.

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New York Times: "Israel's Army Goes to War With Its Politicians"
In most countries, the political class supervises the defense establishment and restrains its leaders from violating human rights or pursuing dangerous, aggressive policies. In Israel, the opposite is happening...

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APN Israel Study Tour

REGISTRATION OPEN - APN 2016 Israel Study Tour

Reserve your space on Americans for Peace Now's Israel Study Tour, November 12 - November 17, 2016. Coming only days after a new US President is elected, the Study Tour will provide a unique insight into how Israelis and Palestinians perceive the election results and believe it might the conflict and prospects for its resolution.

Go HERE  for more information including on securing your spot with a deposit.

Contact us at IsraelTour@peacenow.org or 202-408-9898 with any questions.


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