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 rising tensions with Syria; the outlook on Trump's upcoming meeting with Abbas and trip to Israel; whether Abbas or Netanyahu are in a position to "deal"; possible ramifications of Germany's increasing pressure on Israel; tension between Israel and North Korea; and celebrating Israel's Independence Day in light of the present mood.

Times of Israel: April 28, 2017
"Police prevent left-wing rally at outpost against settler violence," Peace Now (and other activists) blocked from reaching West Bank outpost to demonstrate.

JTA: April 26, 2017
"Reform head asks Netanyahu to clarify how anti-boycott law will affect Israeli trip participants," Following APN's cancellation of their Israel trip, Reform Movement sends letter to Netanyahu re: "Entry Law."

Jerusalem Post: April 26, 2017
"Israeli NGOs after German Foreign Minister meeting: We don't take orders from Netanyahu," Peace Now criticizes Netanyahu for delegitimizing dissenting non-profits.

Arutz 7: April 24, 2017
"Netanyahu issues ultimatum to German foreign minister," Netanyahu to German Foreign Minister: If you meet with Peace Now, I won't meet with you.

JTA: April 24, 2017
"Americans for Peace Now cancels annual Israel trip over anti-boycott law," APN cancels annual Israel trip for the first time in 30 years.

Haaretz: April 22, 2017
"First Jewish-American Group Cancels Trip to Israel Over Travel Ban Against Boycott Supporters," APN cancels tour due to new "Entry Law." 

Jerusalem Post: April 22, 2017
"Peace Now: New West Bank outpost built in last two weeks," Peace Now condemns establishment of new illegal outpost in the West Bank.

Haaretz: April 22, 2017
"Israeli Sets Up New 'Jewish-Arab' Outpost, to Chagrin of Settler Neighbors," Peace Now condemns establishment of new illegal outpost in the West Bank.

APN hosted a briefing call with Professor Shibley Telhami, an expert on Palestinian politics and on U.S. Middle East policy, on Tuesday, May 2nd, at 11:00 am, Eastern Time.

One of America’s leading experts on the Middle East, Professor Telhami shed light on U.S.-Palestinian relations on the eve of President Trump’s meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, intra-Palestinian politics, and the current state of efforts to advance a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Professor Telhami is the Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland, College Park, and non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. He is the author of The World through Arab Eyes: Arab Public Opinion and the Reshaping of the Middle East, the co-editor of The Peace Puzzle: America’s Quest for Arab-Israeli Peace, 1989-2011, and a leading pollster of public opinion in the Middle East and U.S. public opinion about the region.

Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now (APN) commends Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his staff for acknowledging the important role that Israel’s civil society and particularly Israeli progressive non-profit organizations play in Israeli society.