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.

Download to print here.

 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. Are House Democrats Really Rallying Against an Iran Nuclear Deal?
3. Ritchie Torres & a Lesson About Who can say What on the Hill
4. Hearings
5. On the Record

New this week:

• The Foundation for Middle East Peace (FMEP) and the Middle East Institute (MEI) are proud to present our 2022 Congressional briefing series: Israel & Palestine – Hot Topics in Congress (also here). This 8-part series was co-convened and co-moderated by MEI’s Khaled Elgindy and FMEP’s Lara Friedman, and featured an array of Palestinian and Israeli voices, weighing in on some of the most pressing and timely Israel/Palestine-related topics in Congress. This series was held virtually, in the form of weekly webinars held February 11-April 1, 2022. Participation in these webinars was open exclusively to members of Congress and Congressional staff. However, given the importance — both of the issues dealt with in this series and of the expertise featured on each panel — we decided to make the full series available to the public. Also, check out MEI’s Middle East Focus podcast’s episode discussing the briefing series with Khaled and Lara.

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.

Americans for Peace Now (APN) is horrified and outraged by the series of terrorist attacks in Israel during the past few weeks, including the shooting attack in Tel Aviv today which left two people dead, and at least eight others injured.

Following are reflections by APN's former President and CEO Debra DeLee, on her close friend, APN Board Member Sidney (Sid) Topol, who passed away last week:

"I just want to live long enough to stand on the White House lawn as the peace agreement is being signed."

For days now I've been hearing Sid Topol’s voice in my ear, repeating his oft'- stated desire to have a front seat as the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the occupation are officially ended.    

It's always hard to lose a friend, but Sid was so much more. I loved Sid, and I admired him.  I learned much from him, and begrudgingly, he learned some things from me as well.  He could make me laugh, and he could get me more frustrated and angrier than almost anyone I've known, and vice versa. A true Jewish friendship!  

Being asked to write some personal thoughts about Sid gave me a way to structure the plethora of memories that have been swirling through my mind these past few days. 

Much has been written over the past week about Sid's many accomplishments. They are significant and enduring. I'd like to share instead some of those things that I found to be so special, endearing and unique about Sid beyond those achievements.  

Many of you have read about the victory last week in the Israeli Supreme Court regarding  al-Walaja – the East Jerusalem village in which the homes of 38 Palestinian families have been under demolition orders. 

The State of Israel deems the houses to have been built illegally because the owners had not received construction permits. But the residents of al-Walaja cannot apply for permits because there is no zoning plan for the village. And Israeli authorities have refused to create a plan. What’s more, when the residents of al-Walaja submitted their own plan, the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee rejected it.

It was clear to us that American diplomatic pressure was needed to help the residents of al-Walaja preserve their homes. APN worked with our closest allies on Capitol Hill and asked them to sign and send a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging the Biden administration to call on Israel to immediately freeze all demolition orders in al-Walaja.

This is APN at its best – identifying an opportunity to open a path to a peaceful resolution in the conflict and working with colleagues and community to use the right channels to get the results we want and need.

On March 30, the Israeli Supreme Court ruling halted the demolition plans – giving the residents of al-Walaja six more months to come up with an agreed-upon zoning plan.

The powerful voices of our closely allied Congressional leaders – Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. David Price and Rep. John Yarmouth – along with 45 additional Members, were instrumental in stopping the demolitions and ensuring that over 300 Palestinian residents in the village get to stay in their homes. 

When you support APN, you make efforts like this possible. We are grateful to all the Members of Congress who signed the letter to Secretary Blinken and helped stop the al-Walaja demolitions. And we are grateful to you for your partnership and support in helping us do our important work. 

Please make a gift to APN today to help us continue to help the residents of al-Walaja – and all who live in Israel-Palestine – find a peaceful resolution to the 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. Hearings
3. On the Record

New from FMEP:

• FMEP Webinar 3/30/22: Policing the Narrative: Israel & Apartheid in the US Debate, ft. Paul O’Brien (Amnesty International), Dr. Maha Nassar (University of Arizona), and Peter Beinart (CUNY), in conversation with Lara Friedman (FMEP)
• FMEP Occupied Thoughts podcast 3/31/22: Palestinian Politics, Arab Normalization, & Escalating Violence: A Deep Dive with Dalia Hatuqa, ft. Dalia Hatuqa (journalist) in conversation with Lara Friedman (FMEP)

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.