An article written by APN's Ori Nir, published in today's edition of the Boston Globe, reminds us that the realistic attitude -one endorsed by all six of the most recent leaders of Israel’s General Security Service (Shin Bet) - is the one that advocates a two-state solution.
Americans for Peace Now works to advance Arab-Israeli peace and to highlight that such peace is not only necessary, but also possible. Support APN's message of peace and a two-state solution.
This week, Alpher discusses why the PLO toughened its statehood resolution at the Security Council at the last minute instead of waiting a few days for a friendlier roster of Council members; whether, with France voting for the resolution and the UK abstaining, if this is a breakthrough for the cause of Palestinian statehood at the level of international institutions; what is likely to happen now that the Palestinians are going to the International Criminal Court; possible US and Israeli punitive measures against the Palestinians’ UN and ICC moves; what does the Fateh movement, the mainstay of the PLO and PA, and which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary on January 1, have to show for its efforts and how do they tie in with the UN and ICC; and -- what about Israeli elections?
I have written to you in past years to alert you to Americans for Peace Now’s annual Israel study
tour, which I lead. These tours focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and efforts to resolve it, and examine
Israel’s security and diplomatic challenges, as well as the situation on the Palestinian side.
This year’s tour is different. For one thing, it takes place earlier than the usual – April 25 to April 30 – which
means that time for registration is short.
The timing of this year’s tour gives us a unique opportunity to observe Israeli society right after general
elections, as a new government coalition takes shape, and with it new policies – for better or worse. By the time
we start our tour, five weeks after the March 17 general elections, we should expect a government coalition to have
been formed and maybe even sworn in. Considering the importance of these elections, and regardless of their
results, the period following the elections will be pivotal for Israel’s future as is the ever-revolving Middle
Eastern regional kaleidoscope.
Dear Friend,
What is your vision for 2015?
Those of us who care about Israel know that the coming year will be a critical one in determining Israel’s future character. Will Israel pursue the xenophobic vision of the nationalistic extreme-right? Or will it pursue a progressive vision, reflecting the values of its majority -- Jewish values of peace, pluralism, and democracy?
Israel’s policy of perpetual occupation is already causing an increase in animosity toward the Jewish people and their state. Perpetuating this policy fosters the beginning of an anti-Israel movement – from within and without the state – that will be difficult to reverse.
Casino tycoon and right-wing political patron Sheldon Adelson has finally spoken to the existential issue of
Israeli democracy absent a Palestinian state. Many observers were shocked by the multi billionaire, hard-liner's
recent statement proclaiming, "Israel
isn’t going to be a democratic state – so what?”
While I passionately oppose Adelson's views, his remarks provided clarity by openly acknowledging that a binational
Jewish state would not be a democracy, an obvious consequence largely ignored by the Israeli right wing.
APN today called on the Obama Administration not to block the Jordanian-backed resolution in the United Nations Security Council regarding Israeli-Palestinian peace. APN president and CEO Debra DeLee commented:
"We urge the Obama Administration, as a true friend of Israel, not to block the Jordanian-introduced resolution in the United Nations Security Council setting out parameters and a timeline for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Notwithstanding the misleading reports and cynical criticisms of this UN effort, the bottom line is this: the substance of this resolution is firmly in line with longstanding U.S. policy regarding a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and passage of this resolution is consistent with the national interests of both the U.S. and Israel. For these reasons, the Obama Administration, if it is not prepared to support the resolution, should not intervene to block its passage.
This week, Alpher discusses the primary strategic developments in the Middle East in 2014 from Israel’s standpoint; strategic lessons do you draw from Secretary Kerry’s peace process failure and the Gaza war; the US-IS conflict that emerged in 2014; the revolutionary situation in general in the Arab Middle East and US-Iran negotiations; the worsening of Israel’s growing isolation; and the bottom line for the Middle East in 2015.
Don’t miss APN’s "What Would Leibel Do? (WWLD?)" awards dinner! Renowned author and commentator Peter Beinart will be joining us - the list of speakers and guests continues to grow - RSVP now to be part of this special event!
Hyatt Regency, 1 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Reception at 5:45 P.M. Dinner & Program at 7:00 P.M.
Please RSVP by clicking here
OR
You may RSVP by calling or emailing 202-408-9898 • apnboston@peacenow.org • www.peacenow.org
Americans for Peace Now (APN) today reiterated its call on the Obama administration to support French-led efforts to gain consensus around a United Nations Security Council laying out terms of reference and a timeline for Israeli-Palestinian, two-state negotiations. APN urged the Obama administration to reject efforts to delay such a resolution until after Israeli elections (March 2015). APN President and CEO Debra DeLee commented:
"As a true friend of Israel, the Obama administration should be working closely with the French and other parties to achieve consensus around a new Israeli-Palestinian peace resolution in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and to help pass such a resolution expeditiously. Passage of a two-state resolution by the UNSC offers an historic opportunity for friends of Israel in the international community, including the Obama administration, to breathe new life into the two-state solution. It can go a long way to strengthening those Israelis and Palestinians – among both the general population and among the current and potential leaders – who stand firmly with such a solution. It can also send a much-needed message to rejectionists on both sides, making clear that the world is out of patience with ideologies and actions that prioritize land over peace, and prefer perpetual war in pursuit of zero-sum outcomes to a negotiated compromise.
Recently, many were dismayed to discover (as reported in the
Forward and +972) that
the iconic photo of two young boys, seemingly an Israeli-Jewish child and a Palestinian-Muslim child, was a
posed photo taken for the Canadian magazine Maclean’s.
Yes, that photo was staged, but there's no need to indulge in the despairing laments echoing around the
internet: there are plenty of real pictures, of real people - Palestinian and Israeli (and two
Jewish-Americans, in day five's picture - APN's own Lara Friedman, and in day seven's picture, APN
Founder Mark Rosenblum), Jewish, Christian, and Muslim - working for a brighter future. In the spirit of
Chanukah, we shared a picture a day on Facebook and twitter for each of the eight days of Chanukah - - of
real, genuine partners for peace.
Well, the internet exploded: hundreds of shares, thousands of likes. It seems that there is a hunger for hope.
And, with
your help, we can provide that hope.
This is the work we do
These people are real, these pictures are real
Share
them and join us in
building a peaceful future.