APN intern Aparna Clarke attended a June 30, 2016 panel discussion on America’s future Middle East policy, following November’s presidential elections. Following is her report:

What kind of Middle East policy is the next U.S. administration expected to adopt?

The Arab Center Washington DC (ACW) brought together on Wednesday, June 29th four leading Washington scholars on Middle East Policy to consider this question. The panelists were Ellen Laipson, Distinguished Fellow and President Emeritus of the Stimson Center, Aaron David Miller, Vice President for New Initiatives and Distinguished Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Manal Omar, Associate Vice President for the Middle East and Africa at the United States Institute of Peace, and Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland and non-resident senior fellow at the Brooking Institute’s Center for Middle East Policy. The discussion was moderated by ACW’s Executive Director, Khalil Jahshan. 

All four panelists acknowledged the volatile and troubling current climate of the Middle East, emphasizing both the challenges that the next President will face and the necessity for him or her to exercise prudence with regards to policy implementation.

On Wednesday, June 29^th, APN intern Rebeca Feldman attended a panel discussion on the role of Syrian women journalist-activists. Following is her report:

The Middle East Institute hosted an event entitled: Media Activism Amid Civil War: The Role of Syrian Women Journalists. The event, moderated by Kate Seelye, Senior Vice President of the Middle East Institute, featured three speakers with vastly different backgrounds and experiences of the Syrian media. However, all three were unanimous in their belief in a free and empowered media for a democratic Syria, which can be achieved by making the media a voice of the people, representing all classes, communities, and genders.

On Tuesday, June 21st, APN and New Israel Fund co-hosted a a briefing from security expert Yossi Alpher, who was in Washington DC promoting his new book, “No End of Conflict: Rethinking Israel-Palestine.”

Alpher focused on the disastrous impact of the peace impasse with the Palestinians and the dangerous slippery slope Israel and the Palestinians are on, zeroing in on the need for all parties, including global think tanks and policy planners as well as Diaspora Jewish communities, to adopt a new agenda that recognizes the emerging reality and asks how to manage the slippery slope (rather than a non-existent peace process) and to at least delay Israel’s descent towards the status of ugly bi-national state and international pariah.

APN is pleased to invite you to two events featuring Yossi Alpher in Los Angeles - the World Affairs Council Dinner on Thursday, June 23, and the Hard Questions, Tough Answers LIVE lunch on Friday, June 24.

Yossi, the Israeli security expert with many years of experience in Israeli military and national intelligence, at Tel Aviv University's Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, and in conflict resolution and peace process efforts, writes the weekly Hard Questions, Tough Answers Q and A for APN. He has also just released a new book: "No End of Conflict: Rethinking Israel-Palestine." (A bio and more about the book is below)

On Tuesday, June 21st, from 12-2pm, APN and New Israel Fund are co-hosting a brown-bag lunch for Yossi Alpher, who will be in Washington DC promoting his new book, “No End of Conflict: Rethinking Israel-Palestine.”

Yossi is an extremely knowledgeable and perceptive commentator on Israel and the Middle East. His new book focuses on the disastrous impact of the peace impasse with the Palestinians and the dangerous slippery slope Israel and the Palestinians are on. It zeroes in on the need for all parties, including global think tanks and policy planners as well as Diaspora Jewish communities, to adopt a new agenda that recognizes the emerging reality and asks how to manage the slippery slope (rather than a non-existent peace process) and to at least delay Israel’s descent towards the status of ugly bi-national state and international pariah. It’s a sobering, pragmatic book, which very much reflects Yossi’s analytical style. It should be required reading for all candidates for national political office in the US this November.

Please join us from noon to 2pm at the Americans for Peace Now office at 2100 M Street NW, Suite 619.

On Sunday, June 5th, Americans for Peace Now joined the Progressive Coalition at this year's Celebrate Israel Parade. Although the weather was damp, spirits were not as we joined with T'ruah, Partners for Progressive Israel, and New Israel Fund to show the world that there is a strong and vibrant progressive community supporting Israel and thousands of Israelis working for a just and peaceful society.

Pictures below

Progressive Coalition at the Celebrate Israel Parade

Sunday, June 5th,
Meetup Time: 10:30AM SHARP
Meetup Location: 55th Street & 5th Ave


Register here - TAKE ACTION! RSVP NOW TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

Below is the working schedule for Americans for Peace Now's Israel Study Tour, November 12-17, 2016, which illustrates the character and scope of this unique experience. Updates will come as we further develop and tweak the tour. Given that changes will occur, those of you who will be participating should not use this version to plan any personal time while in Israel. 

We are receiving deposits and reserving spaces for the Study Tour. Given the strong interest shown, we encourage you to inform us of your plans to participate and reserve your spot promptly. For details on how to sign up, please scroll down past the schedule. Go HERE for more about the Study Tour.

To reserve your space, print out and complete this FORM and return to APN by mail or email with a $500 deposit (payable by check or credit card). Deposit deadline is August 31, 2016, after which reservations will be accepted if space allows.

Cost

• $3,290 Per Person/Double Occupancy

• $3,990 Single Occupancy

INCLUDES: Hotel Accommodations for 6 nights (check-in Saturday, November 12; check-out Friday, November 18) at The David Citadel, a premier hotel in the heart of Jerusalem, all meals with the exception of one evening and one afternoon off for your own leisure, all touring, tipping, and admissions (does NOT include airfare).

Jerusalem, Israel - Check-in: Saturday, November 12; Check-out: Friday, November 18

Watch this video with highlights of the 2015 Study Tour

For questions and to inform us of your plans to participate, email israeltour@peacenow.org or call our office at 202-408-9898.

APN hosted a briefing call on Wednesday, May 25th, at 2:00 pm Eastern Time with Akiva Eldar, senior political columnist with Al-Monitor’s Israel Pulse and formerly with Haaretz.

Akiva discussed the recent developments in the Israeli political arena: Binyamin Netanyahu’s coalition negotiations with Avigdor Lieberman and before that with Labor’s Yitzhak Herzog; Moshe Yaalon’s resignation from the government and the Knesset, and the increasing tension in Israel between the government and the security establishment.