"The government of Israel is stricken by budding fascism"

Ehud Barak, former Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minister in a previous Netanyahu Government, in an interview with Israel Channel 10 on the appointment Avigdor Liberman as defense minister in place of Moshe Ya'alon

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.

May 31, 2016 - The fallout from the new Israeli government

Q. Last week, you described the involvement of the international community--Kerry, Blair, Sisi--in an abortive attempt to facilitate the formation of a more centrist government in Israel, one more oriented toward a peace process. Now that Lieberman is defense minister and Netanyahu's government is solidly right wing, how would you describe the fallout?

A. PM Netanyahu's new, broader and even more right-wing coalition is quite understandably pledged to a right-wing domestic agenda...

Q. What is the right-wing domestic agenda and what are its prospects?

A. The new and broader right-wing coalition plans to push four controversial laws...

Q. But both Netanyahu and Lieberman hastened on Monday, the day Lieberman officially joined the government as minister of defense, to pledge their allegiance to the two-state solution.

A. ...the two Israeli leaders were following through on a commitment to do so that they reportedly made to Egyptian President Sisi via Tony Blair a few weeks ago...

Q. In retrospect, were the abortive efforts of Kerry, Blair and Sisi to facilitate the formation of a broad, centrist Israeli coalition that includes the Labor party an exercise in futility?

A. Worse, they offer a glaring example of how well-meaning attempts to facilitate an Israeli-Palestinian solution can...prove counter-productive...

Q. What are (the near-term) conflict alerts and ongoing Israeli plans?

A. ...UN special envoy Nikolay Mladenov predicted that "unless radically more is done to address the chronic realities in Gaza, it is not a question of 'if,' but 'when' another escalation will take place"...

Recording of 5/25 Briefing Call on recent developments in the Israeli political arena with Akiva Eldar, senior political columnist

LISTEN >

Peace Now: Construction for settlers in Silwan expected to be approved

The Jerusalem Local Planning Committee is expected to approve the construction of a large building for settlers in the heart of the Palestinian Batan Al Hawa neighborhood in Silwan, East Jerusalem.

Help APN while purchasing gifts for Father's Day (and any other shopping)

Go to Amazon Smile and link your account to APN.

Go to iGive and select Americans for Peace Now before shopping.

Thousands rally in Tel Aviv against right wing government at a demonstration co-organized by Peace Now

"Building the opposition: A new way for Israel" was the rallying cry for the thousands of Israelis who marched in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, May 28.

Go HERE for coverage from +972, including a video of the rally.

APN's Lara Friedman: "49 years: The difficult truths of this conflict"
June 6, 2016, marks 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.

Times of Israel: "Housing minister: Government policy not to build in West Bank"
The Peace Now settlement watchdog has said that the number of West Bank settlement homes Israel plans to build more than tripled in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period last year.

JUST RELEASED: 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.

APN Ad features Israeli Major General (ret.) Shlomo Gazit

"I consider the continuation of our occupation...an existential danger. This situation is threatening the main achievement to which I contributed 70 years ago: the establishment of a sovereign and democratic Jewish state"

These words come from the veteran of the Haganah, the 1948 War, the first administrator of the occupied territories after 1967, head of military intelligence, and one of the planners of Operation Entebbe.

Go HERE to see the full ad.

Go HERE to see the previous ad featuring the words of former Mossazd director Meir Dagan.

New York City Celebrate Israel Parade this Sunday, June 5 - Join with the Progressive Coalition

Join APN as we walk with the Progressive Coalition in Sunday's Celebrate Israel Parade In New York City. Let your voice be heard in support of democracy, justice, and peace.

Go HERE for more information and to RSVP to the Progressive Coalition.