Go to APN's Resource Page for all the background and continually updated news, analysis, and commentary.
APN's Iran Deal Resource Page
APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday August 13, 2015
Quote of the day:
"We are not interested in war with any country, but if Israel attacks us - and that includes
assassinating nuclear scientists - Iran will attack back.”
--Iranian MP Mohammad Hassan Asafari, a hardliner and a former officer in the Revolutionary Guards, answers the question of a visiting Jewish-American journalist about whether Iran wants to destroy Israel.
--Iranian MP Mohammad Hassan Asafari, a hardliner and a former officer in the Revolutionary Guards, answers the question of a visiting Jewish-American journalist about whether Iran wants to destroy Israel.
Breaking News:
Report: Israel will lift Gaza blockade in exchange for 7-10 year truce with Gaza Strip
Al-Hayat newspaper reported that in negotiations being brokered by Tony Blair in his meeting with Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal in Turkey, Hamas would agree to the long-term ceasefire in return for naval passageway. (Times of Israel and Maariv)
My father, Victor Goldberg was in 195th Field Artillery Battalion during World War Two, landing on Utah Beach nine days after D-Day. Like other members of his unit he was given Battle stars for being in five bloody battles against the Nazis in Normandy. Later he was among those American troops who liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany.
APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday August 12, 2015
Quote of the day:
"A temporary directive was issued to underscore the ways in which troops on the ground must handle situations
that do not constitute an imminent threat to their lives."
--An IDF statement on the important change (or clarification) to the rules for opening fire on
Palestinians: no more shooting at people who are running away.
Statements/letters issued by groups of expert validators, opinion leaders
Since the JCPOA was signed on July 14, a variety of group statements have been issued, including from veteran national security leaders, retired top military officials, scientists and nuclear experts, etc. The most important of these letters are included below.
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8/31: 74 Prominent Iranians Urge Congress to Support Nuclear Deal with Iran
8/31: Growing List of U.S. Rabbis (440 and counting) Urge Congress to Support Nuclear Deal with Iran
8/31: 71 Former Senators and Representatives Urge Congress to Support the Iran Nuclear Agreement (text of statement here)
8/29: Majority of DNC Delegates Sign Letter to Obama in Support of Iran Deal
8/27: 70 national organizations (including APN) Implore Congress to Support Iran Deal
8/27: 11 Jewish ex-lawmakers call on Congress to back Iran deal (text of New York Times ad is here)
8/24: Letter from more than 50 Christian leaders supporting the Iran deal (Politico article here)
8/20: 26 Former Jewish Leaders Call on Congress to Approve Iran Deal (text of and full list of signers is here)
8/17: Statement from 75 Nuclear non-proliferation specialists in support of the Iran deal
8/16: 340 Rabbis Urge Congress to Support Nuclear Deal with Iran
8/12: 98 Prominent Hollywood Jews Back Iran Nuclear Deal in Open Letter (including text of letter & list of signers)
8/11: Dozens of retired generals, admirals back Iran nuclear deal -- Text of letter here
8/8: 29 U.S. Scientists Praise Iran Nuclear Deal in Letter to Obama -- Text of letter is here (# of signers as of 8/12/15 is 32).
8/3: US Steelworkers (USW) Voices Support of Proposed Nuclear Agreement with Iran
7/24: European Leadership Network members express support for the Iran nuclear agreement - Group statement signed by over 70 members
7/22: U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Urges Congress to Support Iran Deal
Last week, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) – prominent Jewish members of Congress – announced they will oppose the deal negotiated between Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Germany Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States) to curb Iran’s nuclear program. Earlier in the week, two other leading Jewish members of Congress, Reps. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), did likewise. All of these members of Congress should reconsider this misguided, flawed position.
APN's daily news review from Israel
Tuesday August 11, 2015
Quote of the day:
"I ask you not to turn Barzilai Hospital into an Israeli Guantanamo Bay in which prisoners are allowed
to be tortured when other hospitals refuse to do it."
--MK Basel Ghattas (Joint List) wrote in a letter to Barzilai Hospital director, after Israel transferred hunger-striking Palestinian administrative, Mohammed Allan, to hospital, likely in order to force-feed him.
--MK Basel Ghattas (Joint List) wrote in a letter to Barzilai Hospital director, after Israel transferred hunger-striking Palestinian administrative, Mohammed Allan, to hospital, likely in order to force-feed him.
You Must Be Kidding:
"As your eyes can see, gathered together at the sacred site are the ‘Red Cow’ organization, the ‘Builders of the Temple’ organization, the ‘Pulsa de Nora Rabbis,’ the ‘Hilltop Youth,’…’The Beast Destroyers,’ the ‘Altar Slaughterers,’ the ‘Tree Cutters,’ the ‘Mosque Burners,’ the ‘Church Arsonists’ and other various comrade activists and representatives of the secret gangs that operate within the enemy organizations of our people, who wear masks out of fear that they will be identified by rats of the Shin Bet who planted them within our forces, but we know who they are and we will expose them at the time and place that we determine….”
--Commentator Natan Zehavi shares his prophecy of how the 25th anniversary of the death of Rabbi Meir Kahane will look.
This week, Alpher discusses the European Union and Israel's shared issues and interests that mitigate against tensions on Israel regarding the settlements and the peace process including energy, illegal immigration, and intelligence; how European Jewish immigration to Israel affects Israeli-European ties; where the Greek financial crisis fits in; and what happens if EU economic sanctions against Israel because of the Palestinian issue grow stronger and even develop into political and cultural sanctions; where this leaves the European-Israeli relationship and what Israel should do about it.
APN's daily news review from Israel
Monday August 10, 2015
Quote of the day:
"Will the (Israeli) government now tell Jewish communities around the world how to run the family
unit?"
--A source explains one reason why the Jewish Agency pulled out of Netanyahu's 'Diaspora Initiative.'
--A source explains one reason why the Jewish Agency pulled out of Netanyahu's 'Diaspora Initiative.'
You Must Be Kidding:
“…these (Jewish) guys are organizing, acting, going out, throwing fire bombs, beating Arabs, publishing incitement on internet blogs in ways you wouldn't believe - and that's not considered terror or a security risk in legal terms."
--Former Shin Bet official explains how different sets of Israeli laws for Palestinians and for Israelis let Israelis literally get away with terror.
APN's daily news review from Israel
Sunday August 9, 2015
Quote of the day:
“Which do you prefer burning: a church or a baby?”
103FM Radio talk show hosts ‘Shai and Dror’ ask Beni Gopstein director of racist right-wing organization Lehava in a surprise phone call after Palestinian baby burned to death in arson attack and Gopstein says he believes churches need to be burned.
103FM Radio talk show hosts ‘Shai and Dror’ ask Beni Gopstein director of racist right-wing organization Lehava in a surprise phone call after Palestinian baby burned to death in arson attack and Gopstein says he believes churches need to be burned.
You Must Be Kidding:
"I can deliver a message to Ruby Rivlin: you can sleep peacefully at night…Nobody is going to kill him. He is not important enough for someone to kill him."
-- Daniella Weiss, a settler activist and supporter of hilltop youth believed to be behind murder of Palestinian baby and father, 'reassures' Israeli President he doesn't need to worry about threats to his life.