APN Legislative Round-Up: June 7-10

1. Bills, Resolutions, & Letters
2. FY17 NDAA – Senate Madness Continues
3. Hearings
4. On the Record

Note: On June 5, 2016, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an Executive Order (EO) entitled: “Directing State Agencies and Authorities to Divest Public Funds Supporting BDS Campaign Against Israel.”  Americans for Peace Now (APN) opposes boycotts of Israel. APN also opposes legislation (and the equivalent, like this executive order) that seeks to outlaw boycotts or other forms of legal, non-violent activism against Israel. We believe such initiatives are the wrong way to combat BDS. Our full policy is here.  Our explainer, laying out our objections to the new EO in New York (and which apply equally to similar legislation being considered/adopted elsewhere in the country) – including an explanation of the constitutional issues involved, can be found here.

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APN and Peace Now in the News: June 03,2016 - June 10, 2016

News Nosh 06.10.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Friday June 10, 2016
 
Quote of the day:
“They will put up fences, demolish homes, and make life harder [for Palestinians]. These solutions cause hatred and despair. We voted for you so that you would stop the cycle of bloodshed. For 49 years you have been trying to solve this using tactical methods and you aren’t succeeding.”
--Avi Ben-Ari, father of Ido, who was killed in Tel-Aviv attack, wrote in Op-Ed published on front page of Yedioth Ahronoth.**
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Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai was interviewed today by IDF Radio, following yesterday’s shooting attack in Tel Aviv. Huldai’s words, albeit not the most eloquent, were unusual in the environment of inflammatory rhetoric that typically characterizes Israeli politicians’ reactions to terrorism. Here are selected quotes, translated into English:

“This is the most central question that we face, the question that the state of Israel and the Israeli society has been facing throughout the years: Is this a matter of fate, are we destined (to live with terrorism)? Are there things that we can do to temper and minimize the motivations of enmity between the two peoples? The leader of Egypt, where there was immense enmity, understood, that it was imperative to arrive at a certain political settlement to reduce these motivations and to channel the energies for the benefit of other issues.”

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AlpherOn Tuesday, June 21st, from 12-2pm, APN and New Israel Fund are co-hosting a brown-bag lunch for Yossi Alpher, who will be in Washington DC promoting his new book, “No End of Conflict: Rethinking Israel-Palestine.

Yossi is an extremely knowledgeable and perceptive commentator on Israel and the Middle East. His new book focuses on the disastrous impact of the peace impasse with the Palestinians and the dangerous slippery slope Israel and the Palestinians are on. It zeroes in on the need for all parties, including global think tanks and policy planners as well as Diaspora Jewish communities, to adopt a new agenda that recognizes the emerging reality and asks how to manage the slippery slope (rather than a non-existent peace process) and to at least delay Israel’s descent towards the status of ugly bi-national state and international pariah. It’s a sobering, pragmatic book, which very much reflects Yossi’s analytical style. It should be required reading for all candidates for national political office in the US this November.

Please join us from noon to 2pm at the Americans for Peace Now office at 2100 M Street NW, Suite 619.

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News Nosh 06.09.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday June 09, 2016
 
Quotes of the Day following the attack by two Palestinians in Tel-Aviv:
#1: MK Bezalel Smotrich from far right-wing Habayit Hayehudi party: "I am very troubled by the fact that the terrorists came out alive from the scene yesterday. A terrorist who comes to harm Jews must not remain alive. Period...It's because of the Elor Azariya affair [soldier on trial after he was filmed executing neutralized Palestinian assailant - OH] we have a fear of shooting and if it weren't for his trial...it would have ended in the terrorists' deaths."

#2: Opposition leader MK Isaac Herzog: "I do not want to think what would happen if the opposition leaders were Lieberman and Netanyahu. I do not believe in bombastic statements, but in deeds and actions that can extricate Israel from this terrible cycle of bloodshed."

#3: Tel-Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai: "Only if there is a terrorist attack here bigger than one we have ever known, then our leaders and the Israeli (people) will understand that we need to end the occupation and turn to peace."
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Four people were shot dead and six badly injured when two young gunmen, Palestinian terrorists, opened fire at a Tel Aviv coffee shop. One of the suspects was shot dead and the other apprehended. 

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APN Weekly Update - Alpher: From Paris to Entebbe, 49 years, Nir's tough speech, and our "two-slate solution"

Americans for Peace Now
Americans for Peace Now: June 8, 2016


"You can't be in favor of the land of Israel in Hebrew and establish a Palestinian state in English."

(Photos: Yair Sagi, Alex Kolomoisky)

 

Israel Education Minister Naftali Bennett, in a backhanded attack against Prime Minister Netanyahu, to which new Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said: "Bennett needs to calm down." Read More


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.

June 6, 2016 - Peace processes: now, 1967, 1976

Q. Last week you expressed skepticism regarding the willingness of the Arab world to sponsor an Israeli-Palestinian peace process that corresponds with the demands of the right-wing Netanyahu government. What has happened since?

A. A French attempt to revive the same peace process...ended in Paris with a watered-down statement that appeared of little immediate consequence.

Q. Nevertheless, let's suppose that Netanyahu brings Labor into the coalition, he and Lieberman continue to preach "two states for two peoples" and the Egyptians and Saudis agree to launch a peace process. What would happen? Put on your optimist's hat and give us a best case scenario.

A. In the best case I can imagine, two negotiating tracks are established: Israeli-Palestinian with Egyptian and Jordanian chaperones to discuss two states, and Israel-Arab talking to Israel about normalization gestures...

Q. Meanwhile, early June is "anniversary" time: we are entering year 50 since the Six-Day War. How would you summarize that war's overall effect on Israel-Arab peace?

A. From Israel's standpoint, seen from 2016 this remains a very just "no alternative" defensive war...But Israel made two huge mistakes in the aftermath...

Q. We're approaching another significant anniversary: July 4 will mark 40 years to the Entebbe rescue. In an interesting new book some Israelis, including rescued Entebbe hostages, argue that the raid "made peace less likely...[and made] it harder for Israeli politicians to push through the compromises required for peace". Where do you stand?

A. ...I disagree with the argument...

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Government Relations

APN Legislative Round-Up: May 21-June 7

  1. Bills, Resolutions, and Letters
  2. FY17 NDAA – In the Senate
  3. Hearings
  4. On the Record

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Recommended Reading

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APN in Action

APN joins the Progressive Coalition at New York City's Celebrate Israel Parade - Sunday, June 5

APN volunteers displaying the Peace Now flag (photos courtesy of Michael Brochstein)

Together with supporters of T'ruah, Partners for Progressive Israel, and New Israel Fund, APN demonstrated the strong and vibrant American Jewish community in support of Israel and a just and peaceful society.


Recommended Reading

APN's Lara Friedman: "49 years: The difficult truths of this conflict"
June 6, 2016, marked the 49th anniversary of Israel's miraculous victory in the Six Day War...(it) also marked the beginning of Israel's catastrophic policy of open-ended, ever-deepening military occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip...This occupation can and must end; 49 years is too long, but it is not too late.

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APN's Ori Nir: "Erosion of Democracy: The Greatest Threat to Israel's National Security"
Speaking at the Israeli Embassy, Nir spoke frankly about the impact of Israel's occupation: "No society can rule over another people for so long -- half a century -- with no end in sight, and not be impacted by it."

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In The News

Times of Israel: "Reform leader says NGO bill would 'weaken Israel's moral and civic fabric'"

Peace Now activists protest an NGO funding bill proposed by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked outside her residence in Tel Aviv, December 26, 2015. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

Rabbi Jonah Pesner calls legislation an attempt to demonize groups critical of Israeli policies

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APN Israel Study Tour

Schedule for the APN 2016 Israel Study Tour

The working schedule has been released for APN's 2016 Israel Study Tour, November 12-17. From Jerusalem to Tel Aviv to the South and North of Israel, this trip offers an experience unlike any other.

Go HERE for the Study Tour Schedule, and how to secure your spot on it.

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


Shavuot - still working for the two-slate solution

For the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah, we offer this cartoon as a reminder that the two-state solution is anchored in a two-slate solution.

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News Nosh 06.08.16

APN's daily news review from Israel
Wednesday June 08, 2016
 
Quote of the day:
"This flag will fly again. But never in sympathy with those who are destroying this land, shattering the Jewish People, and mutilating Judaism itself."
--Haaretz columnist and editor, Bradley Burston, explains why he took down his Israeli flag before Jerusalem Day.**
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On Sunday, June 5th, Americans for Peace Now joined the Progressive Coalition at this year's Celebrate Israel Parade. Although the weather was damp, spirits were not as we joined with T'ruah, Partners for Progressive Israel, and New Israel Fund to show the world that there is a strong and vibrant progressive community supporting Israel and thousands of Israelis working for a just and peaceful society.

Pictures below

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