Maxxe Albert-Deitch (she/her) joined Americans for Peace Now in the summer of 2022 after five years researching and engaging in archaeology projects related to the topic of conflict transformation in Israel, Palestine and the Middle East. 

She earned a Master’s degree in History from the College of William and Mary, as well as Bachelor’s degrees in Art History, History, and Anthropology from Drew University. She is fluent in Spanish as well as English, and has growing familiarity with Hebrew, French, Portuguese, and Romanian.

Outside of her professional interests, Maxxe can often be found hiking, running, writing novels, or with her nose in a good book.

Shifting tactics, Israel’s Peace Now movement last weekend used nonviolent civil disobedience practices during an innovative protest against the Israeli government’s refusal to enforce the law and dismantle illegal settlement outposts in the West Bank.

Turning the tables on the settlement enterprise, Peace Now and its partner organizations hired a bulldozer – one of the symbols of the occupation and the settlement project – to dismantle the outpost of Homesh in the northern West Bank.

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

NOTE: Check out this powerful analysis/commentary from FMEP non-resident fellow Dr. Maha Nassar – How media reports of ‘clashes’ mislead Americans about Israeli-Palestinian violence

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.

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. Members Weigh in on Nakba Resolution
3. Hearings
4. On the Record

New from FMEP:

• FMEP podcast 5/1/22: “1948: Creation and Catastrophe”, ft. FMEP non-resident fellow Dr. Maha Nassar in conversation with Dr. Ahlam Muhtaseb, professor of media studies at California State University, San Bernardino, about her award-winning documentary, “1948: Creation and Catastrophe.“

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.

Dear Mr. Secretary and Director Wray

We are writing you regarding the recent death of Shireen Abu Akleh, a 51 year-old Palestinian American. Ms. Abu Akleh, a journalist for Al Jazeera, was fatally shot in the West Bank city of Jenin on May 11, 2022. We request the State Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) launch an investigation into the death of Ms. Abu Akleh.

AP News reported that Ms. Abu Akleh was fatally shot in the head on the outskirts of the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank. Her producer, Palestinian journalist Ali Samoudi, was hospitalized in stable condition after being shot in the back. It was also reported that Palestinian journalists who were with Ms. Abu Akleh and Mr. Samoundi at the time said that they made their presence known to Israeli soldiers, and they did not see militants in the area. The Israeli military claimed that the victims were caught between gunfire between Palestinian militants and Israeli Defense Forces.  However, media and eyewitnesses had conflicting reports. Shaza Hanaysheh, another Palestinian journalist among the reporters, also said that there were no clashes or shooting in the immediate area. News reports from the Washington Post, New York Times, CNN, and Aljazeera also highlight these conflicting reports.

As Members of Congress, we are deeply concerned by the death of Ms. Abu Akleh. Journalists worldwide must be protected at all costs. The U.S. State Department called Ms. Abu Akleh’s death “an affront to media freedom.” We welcome the actions and statements taken so far by the U.S. Department of State supporting a thorough investigation by the Israeli government. However, given the tenuous situation in the region and the conflicting reports surrounding the death of Ms. Abu Akleh, we request the State Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) launch an investigation into Ms. Abu Akleh’s death. We also request the U.S. Department of State determines whether any U.S. laws protecting Ms. Abu Akleh, an American citizen, were violated.

As an American, Ms. Abu Akleh was entitled to the full protections afforded to U.S. citizens living abroad. We, the undersigned Members of Congress, urge you to uphold the values that our nation was founded on, including human rights, equality for all, and freedom of speech. We have a duty to protect Americans reporting abroad.  We look forward to your timely response.

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 5/12/22: The Weaponization of Israel/Palestine in US Elections Campaigns, ft. Rania Batrice (Organizer, communications and legislative strategist, mediator, and advisor to elected officials, candidates, and non-profits both domestic and around the globe) & Peter Beinart (Newmark J-School and CUNY Graduate Center; editor-at-large for Jewish Currents, MSNBC political commentator, and fellow at the FMEP) in conversation with Lara Friedman (FMEP).