Veteran Israeli political analyst Akiva Eldar was the guest of an APN briefing call on December 9th, commenting on the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, about the West's interim agreement with Iran, and about the impact of the two processes on US-Israeli relations
We Israelis often complain that 'there is no one to talk to.' But for many young Palestinians, Israelis are a
lost cause - and anti-normalization means there is less interaction than ever to prove this wrong.
By Ori Nir
I recently met with a group of about a dozen young reporters and photojournalists from the West Bank. I asked them
whether they had any contacts with Israeli journalists and was shocked to hear they did not. I told them that when
I covered Palestinian affairs for Haaretz in the 1980s and '90s, Palestinian journalists were my primary sources -
and my good friends. Back then, journalists on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide sought contact with
each other, first and foremost because they thought their readers needed and wanted to know about their neighbors.
This week, Alpher discusses the seemingly significant high-level developments and statements regarding both the Israel-Arab peace process and Iran, against the backdrop of Israeli-American relations, how does the American security plan or "thoughts" challenge Netanyahu's security concept regarding the Jordan Valley, what is the significance of Obama's mention of a framework agreement as a negotiating outcome, what is the significance of Netanyahu's linkage of Iran and the two-state solution at the Saban Forum, and thoughts on Nelson Mandela's support for the Palestinians and consistent criticism of Israel.
Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed today that General John Allen, The Obama administration's
special security envoy to the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, briefed Israeli and Palestinian leaders on
the perception of the US regarding security arrangement on the way to achieving a two-state solution as well as
the security regime that would characterize a future Palestinian state.
Speaking to reporters at Israel's Ben Gurion airport, before leaving the region back to the US, Kerry said that Allen's briefing was based on an analysis produced by the US security team that General Allen heads.
Americans for Peace Now (APN) mourns the death of Nelson Mandela, an iconic leader and an inspiration for
peace-seekers worldwide.
APN's President and CEO Debra DeLee said: "Nelson Mandela demonstrated that peace and reconciliation are possible
even in the most intractable conflicts, even when hope for resolution seems distant. Mandela has shown that with
enough resolve and courage, bold leaders can do what is the unthinkable.
This week, Alpher discusses whether Salafist Islamist terrorists in the West Bank is another sign of escalation toward a third intifada, if Netanyahu is inciting Congress and American Jewish leaders against Obama in the wake of the Geneva agreement with Iran, and what's behind the sharp protests by Druze and Bedouin--minorities who generally serve in the IDF.
This week, Alpher discusses whether the Geneva agreement between the P5 + 1 and Iran is a "bad deal" and a "historic mistake" as Netanyahu argues, what about it should realistically worry Israel, what we have learned over the weekend regarding Israel's relationship with the Obama administration, whether Netanyahu's strategy regarding Iran and the international community has failed, what all this may say about the election in recent days of Yitzhak "Boozhi" Herzog to head the Labor party, and whether Netanyahu's invitation to Palestinian President Abbas to speak to Israel's parliament his inviting himself to a reciprocal appearance in the Palestinian parliament is a serious initiative.
Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now welcomes news that an interim agreement
with Iran has been reached in Geneva. APN President and CEO Debra DeLee commented today:
"We are happy that an interim agreement with Iran has been concluded in Geneva.
Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now welcomes news that an interim agreement with Iran has been reached in Geneva. APN President and CEO Debra DeLee commented today:
"We are happy that an interim agreement with Iran has been concluded in Geneva. We congratulate the Obama Administration and its international partners for this important achievement and welcome this demonstration of a new Iranian readiness to seriously negotiate the future of its nuclear program. We believe that anyone who cares about U.S. national security, the security of Israel, and stability in the Middle East should likewise welcome this agreement.
