"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

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 >