Note: News Nosh will be off for Shavuot holiday Friday through Sunday, May 22-24.
--Assaf Appelboim, one of many Israelis to Tweet on the program to prevent Palestinians from traveling on buses in West Bank buses.**
Israel’s new government should be seen as a call to action for anyone who cares about Israel’s
future, about its character and about its wellbeing. This call applies not only to citizens of the state of
Israel, but also – maybe even mainly – to those who are looking at Israel from outside, and, as outsiders, are
best positioned to put a mirror before the Israeli public, to serve as a reality check.
The reality is that this government distinctly represents and expresses what the enlightened world, including progressive Americans who care deeply about Israel, have in recent years grown to resent about Israel’s conservative political elite.
The reality is that this political elite, characterized by a combination of jingoistic nationalism and religious conservatism, ethnocentrism and xenophobia, intolerance of dissent and disrespect for basic democratic principles, represents a set of values that is diametrically opposed to the values that most Americans, particularly young Americans, hold dear. More to the point, the reality is that this combination of reactionary beliefs, often zealously proclaimed in the name of Judaism, is the very antithesis of what most American Jews define as “Jewish values.”
On Shavuot, we celebrate the giving of the Torah and the Ten Commandments.
In the spirit of this holiday, let us all remember that the two-state solution we seek is anchored in a two-slate imperative…
Americans for Peace Now wishes you a Hag Sameah, happy Shavuot.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to APN on this holiday, to help us work even harder to advance the two-state solution – the only way to achieve long-lasting peace, security, stability and dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Thank you from all of us at APN.
This week, Alpher discusses whether Netanyahu’s new right-wing governing coalition-of-61 survive, or if it is possible that it will expand to include the center-left; why Labor leader Isaac Herzog angrily condemned the new coalition as a “circus;” how the US and the Palestinians are dealing with the fact that this new government is almost certainly not a candidate for a peace process; were US efforts to smooth ruffled Middle East feathers regarding Iran last week (when President Obama hosted Arab leaders from the Persian Gulf at a Camp David summit and he reassured them about American intentions toward Iran and offered more security coordination) in any way significant; and whether Palestinian economic progress promotes peace.
Los Angeles Jewish Journal - May 11, 2015
APN's Debra DeLee op-ed: When the Knesset tries to muzzle free speech
http://www.jewishjournal.com/opinion/article/when_the_knesset_tries_to_muzzle_free_speech
The Hill - April 27, 2015
APN's Lara Friedman op -ed : 'Pro-Israel' is not 'pro-settlements'
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/240037-dear-congress-pro-israel-is-not-pro-settlements
Haaretz - April 19, 2015
APN's Lara Friedman: Supreme Court decision is a defeat for Israel and a victory for settlers and BDS
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.652586
The Daily Star (AFP story) - May 14, 2015
Peace Now: Israeli government issues tenders for 85 new homes in West Bank settlement
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/May-14/297968-israel-invites-bids-for-85-wbank-settler-homes-ngo.ashx
Politico - May 11, 2015
APN: AIPAC's legitimizing settlements in the guise of defending Israel is "disingenuous and dishonest"
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/trade-bill-israel-aipac-117815.html
The Jewish Week - May 10, 2015
APN comments on House letter regarding Iran diplomacy
http://www.thejewishweek.com/blogs/political-insider/obama-gets-backing-iran-talks
i-24 News - May 8, 2015
Peace Now: More construction planned in East Jerusalem settlemen
http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy-defense/70306-150507-israel-approves-900-homes-in-contested-east-jerusalem-area
Israel Hayom (Reuters report) - May 8, 2015
Peace Now: Israel planning more construction in East Jerusalem settlement
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=25325
Al-Monitor - May 7, 2015
APN welcomes House letter supporting Iran diplomacy
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/05/senate-iran-review-vote-approval-partisan.html#
Reuters - May 7, 2015
Peace Now: Israel planning new construction in East Jerusalem settlement
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/07/us-israel-palestinians-un-idUSKBN0NS22Q20150507
The Independent (UK) - May 7, 2015
Peace Now: Israel advances new plan for construction in East Jerusalem settlement
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/palestinian-statehood-fears-israels-new-coalition-government-will-bury-the-possibility-of-a-twostate-solution-10233858.html
UK Daily Mail (AFP story) - May 7, 2015
Peace Now: Government approves new East Jerusalem settlement construction
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-3071923/Hardline-Israel-government-emerges-angering-Palestinians.html
Times of Israel - May 7, 2015
Peace Now: New East Jerusalem settlement construction approved
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-okays-900-east-jerusalem-homes-peace-group-says/
Arutz 7 - May 7, 2015
Peace Now's Yariv Oppenheimer expresses concern over role of extreme right in government
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/325621#.VVUGsvlVikp
Lobelog.com - April 30, 2015
APN's Lara Friedman refutes Elliott Abrams' case re: Settlement blocs
http://www.lobelog.com/elliott-abrams-shell-game-on-settlements/
Huffington Post - April 23, 2015
APN criticizes Congress vote against European boycott of West Bank settlements
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/23/congress-israel-settlements_n_7129064.html
Algemeiner - April 24, 2015
Peace Now among Israeli NGO recipients of European government funds
http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/04/24/new-report-documents-extensive-foreign-funding-behind-left-wing-israeli-ngos/
JTA - April 24, 2015
APN decries bill amendment discouraging boycott of WB settlements
http://www.jta.org/2015/04/24/news-opinion/politics/auto-draft-86>
Washington Post - April 20, 2015
Peace Now's Yariv Oppenheimer, Israel's biggest critic of settlements, is guarding one on reserve duty
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/04/20/why-one-of-israels-biggest-settlement-critics-is-now-guarding-one/
Ynet - April 19, 2015
Peace Now's Yariv Oppenheimer on reserve duty securing WB outpost
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4648489,00.html
Arutz 7 - April 19, 2015
Peace Now's Yariv Oppenheimer gets to know the settlers up close while guarding them at WB outpost