Together with seven fellow progressive American Jewish organizations, Americans for Peace Now (APN) today sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging the Department of State to take a clear, proactive position regarding Israel's designation of six Palestinian human rights groups as "terrorists organizations."
August 23, 2022
Honorable Antony Blinken
Secretary of State
US Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20230
Dear Secretary Blinken,
We are writing to express our deep concern with the latest escalation of the Israeli government’s campaign of suppression against Al Haq; Addameer; Defense For Children International-Palestine; Bisan; the Union of Agricultural Work Committees; and the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees –six Palestinian nongovernmental organizations engaged in human rights and civil society work that the Defense Ministry designated as “terrorist organizations” in October of last year.
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: During August, the Round-Up will shift to a flexible schedule – as in, if there is something to report, there will be a Round-Up, but it may not always be on Fridays. And if there is little to report, the Round-Up may take a break. Thanks for your patience! [And yep, so far this has meant that the Round-Up continues to be produced on its regular schedule during August – sigh].
Events:
- 8/18/22: New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast – This is Not a Drill: Israel Brings the Hammer Down on the Palestinian NGO Sector, ft. Omar Shakir (Israel and Palestine Director at Human Rights Watch) in conversation with FMEP’s Lara Friedman
- 8/16/22: New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast – Treated as subhuman, deprived of rights and dignity,” Gazans need “to heal, be heard, and be free, ft. Jehad Abusalim (non-resident FMEP Fellow and the Education and Policy Coordinator of the Palestine Activism Program at the American Friends Service Committee) in conversation with FMEP’s Sarah Anne Minkin
Also of note: With respect to Israel’s escalation this week of its assault on Palestinian civil society & human rights defenders, FMEP’s Lara Friedman has published several commentaries/analyses in the form of Twitter threads – here, here, and here. You can also see FMEP’s resource page: On Israel’s Declaration of Palestinian Human Rights Groups as “Terrorist Organizations” (Oct 2021 to the present).
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.
Today marks 100 days since the Palestinian-American journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh was killed. 100 days that
her loved ones have been grieving the loss of their beloved aunt, sister, friend and colleague. 100 days in which
the Israeli government has obscured the truth and attempted to shift blame. 100 days of which the United States
avoided conducting its own independent investigation into her killing. 100 days and no justice.
Americans for Peace Now (APN) urges the Biden administration to demand that the government of Israel immediately cease its suppression campaign against Palestinian civil society organizations.
Earlier today, Israeli military units raided the offices of prominent Palestinian rights organizations in the West Bank, confiscated documents and other property, soldered shut their doors to prevent access to the offices, and left notices informing the organizations that they have been outlawed.
At a press conference in Berlin on August 16th, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that Israel committed “fifty massacres, fifty Holocausts” against the Palestinians. His offensive comparison to the Holocaust, in the plural, on German soil, in reference to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, justifiably triggered outrage in Israel, the US, Germany and beyond. We at APN were equally outraged. We strongly condemn this kind of discourse.
Upon his return to Ramallah the following day, Abbas clarified that “the Holocaust is the most heinous crime in modern human history,” adding that his Berlin statement “was not intended to deny the singularity of the Holocaust that occurred in the last century, and condemning it (sic) in the strongest terms.” According to Israeli media reports, Abbas made this clarification at the request of Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz.
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: During August, the Round-Up will shift to a flexible schedule – as in, if there is something to report, there will be a Round-Up, but it may not always be on Fridays. And if there is little to report, the Round-Up may take a break. Thanks for your patience!
1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters
None.
LETTERS
None.
None.
Media & Members – Elections
General
The Nation 8/12/22: AIPAC vs. Democracy
The Jewish Chronicle 8/11/22: If AIPAC is really trying to buy the Democrat Primaries, it should ask for a refund
Responsible Statecraft 8/9/22: AIPAC’s new strategy: Spend millions on elections, don’t mention Israel [“The lobbying org’s first foray into electoral politics has been marked by spending GOP megadonor dollars on Democratic primaries. Why?”]