 "We strongly oppose settlement activity, which is corrosive to
the cause of peace. These steps by Israeli authorities are the latest examples
of what appears to be a steady acceleration of settlement activity that is
systematically undermining the prospects for a two-state solution."
State Department Spokesman John Kirby, in a statement in response
to Israel's recent string of announcements approving new construction past the
Green Line (See
Washington Post: State Dept. criticizes Israeli settlement expansion,
demolitions)
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.
August 1, 2016 - Bluffing or confronting history: Palestinians and
Balfour Declaration; recovering Jewish property from Arab states; Bibi and Arabs in
Israel
Q. Last week, the Palestinian leadership asked the Arab League to
support its initiative to sue the British government "because the Balfour
Declaration led to the Palestinian Nakba." Is this serious?
A. Next year, 2017, will mark a century since the Balfour
Declaration...
Q. At the other end of the historical spectrum, Gila Gamliel, minister
for social equality in the Netanyahu government, has declared that she is promoting
a project to demand the restitution of property left behind in Arab countries by
Jews who fled in the 1950s. Is this an equally fruitless attempt to reverse the
course of history?
A. Gamliel is a serious and hardworking minister not known for
demagogic grandstanding. Yet it is hard to take her seriously...
Q. Apropos politics and neglect, why did Netanyahu last week
“apologize” to the Israeli Arab community and call upon it to “participate in
Israeli society, en masse”?
A. ...The timing appears to be designed to upgrade Netanyahu’s
image globally as a man of Israel-Arab peace in anticipation of attempts at the
United Nations in September to condemn Israel and/or to mandate new action on the
two-state solution....
 
 TOMORROW, Thursday, August 4, in
Washington DC: Israeli Journalist and News Nosh Editor Orly Halpern Speaks at
APN Offices
Is Netanyahu following in the footsteps of Erdogan and Putin? is the topic
of the roundtable discussion with Orly Halpern, hosted by APN.
Thursday, August 4, 10:00-11:30am
APN Offices in Washington, DC - Go HERE for address
RSVP to asuskin@peacenow.org
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APN Ad
featuring Tzipi Livni, Former Israel Minister and Mossad
Agent
The woman who has held eight different Israeli cabinet positions, including foreign
minister, stated: "Making an agreement with the Palestinians is not weakness but
represents the interest of the state of Israel and the entire Jewish people."
Go HERE to see
the full ad as it will appear in Jewish newspapers.
Peace Now
Settlement Watch: Tenders (approval for new construction) Published for 323
Housing Units in East Jerusalem
Peace Now: "on the one hand the government does not allow for Palestinian
construction, and on the other hand it promotes massive construction for Israelis."
Israeli
Government's Legal Opinion Submitted to Attorney General Crosses a Red Line --
Would Violate Private Property Rights
Peace Now: "...it could lead to the establishment of dozens of new settlements and
to the multiplying of the land taken up by settlements in the West Bank."
 Taming the
Settlements
When the Washington Post wanted to learn the facts about Israeli settlements
from an authoritative source, they turned to Peace Now's Hagit Ofran, whose
expertise and unflagging determination has done more to expose and tame the
settlements than otherwise would be the case.
Go HERE
to read more about the work and impact of Peace Now and its Settlement Watch.
New Peace Now
Activists Tour East Jerusalem and West Bank
Recently, new Peace Now activists went on a tour to East Jerusalem and the West
Bank to learn about the need for a two state solution and about the negative impact
of settlements. Peace Now organizes regular educational tours to the West Bank for
its activists and for the general Israeli public.
Debra DeLee -
APN President and CEO on panel in Philadelphia in connection to Democratic
National Convention
The panel discussion in Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention
featured APN President and CEO Debra DeLee, Americans for a Vibrant Palestinian
Economy Chairman Sam Bahour, Columnist and Author Peter Beinart, and Arab American
Institute Founder and President James Zogby.
Read a
Summary and Watch a Video of the Discussion >
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Tisha B'Av (the 9th of Av), which is observed beginning the evening of August 13th this year, is a
fast day commemorating the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. The fast day of Tisha
B’Av is sometimes compared to that of Yom Kippur: whereas the fast of Yom Kippur is one which is intended to
restore and elevate us through the process of repentance, the fast of Tisha B’Av is considered the saddest day
on the Jewish calendar because it commemorates hatred and apathy causing the destruction of that which is most
precious. The Talmud explains that the second Temple was destroyed because, while people were behaving
abominably, the leaders of the community stood by and said nothing.
PRINCETON – Those who lead Israel’s defense establishment often come to consider peace with the
Palestinians a necessary condition for the country’s security. Being tasked with maintaining the territories
Israel has occupied since the Six-Day War in 1967 evidently causes the military and security brass to support
political measures that would end the occupation. And yet the government shows no interest in pursuing a
permanent settlement.
