Together into 2021, from APN President and CEO Hadar Susskind

This past week saw the shortest and darkest day of the year. But now, going into the new year, we see the light beginning to return to us. A new administration offers a brighter future for the United States and for its global allies. A vaccine has begun paving the way for an end to the pandemic that has robbed us of over 300,000 American lives, and nearly 2 million globally. And as we live through the havoc climate change is wreaking on our world, the U.S. is about to reenter the Paris Agreement. And of course we are on the verge of new elections in Israel, where the possibility of change seems stronger every day.

There is no question that it has been a year of darkness and despair. But there are bright spots to note, even in the most bitter of times.

Seven months ago when I became CEO of Americans for Peace Now, I knew a fair amount about Israel and working for peace. But I didn’t know a lot about APN. I didn’t know about all of you – the peacebuilders – who have been here, with us, marching this work forward for nearly 40 years.

I didn’t know about our extraordinary staff who, from its founding days to today, have worked tirelessly for peace, relentless in their job to educate, inform and advocate. I didn’t know about our Board of Directors, many of whom have been with us on this journey for nearly all of the 40 years of our existence, inspiring and guiding us. And I didn’t know about you, our supporters, who have been the backbone of APN.

But over these seven months I have had the honor to meet many of you – virtually, of course – and learn from you about your passion for peace and your deep connection to our movement. It is your commitment to the mission that keeps us vital and moving forward every day. It’s your energy that sustains our movement when things seem most difficult. You are the lights in the darkness.

We have begun to carve out a new space for ourselves, bringing APN’s scholarship, knowledge and experience to the next generation of peace activists.

And in doing so, we have shown ourselves not afraid to take a stand for peace:

» In my first days at APN, we were confronted with the prospect of de-jure West Bank annexation. We immediately called it out as anti-democratic and a threat to peace. We joined with like-minded partners, Israeli and American, to send thousands of emails to the White House and to Prime Minister Netanyahu denouncing the move, and supported our partner in peace, Shalom Achshav, as they organized protests in the streets of Tel Aviv.

We also publicly called for then-nominee Joe Biden to speak out clearly in opposition to annexation. And of course we helped get 191 Members of Congress to raise their voices in opposition to annexation.

» We hosted the first webinar with journalist Peter Beinart where he laid out his bold and controversial theories on the prospect of one-state. Over 900 donors and supporters joined in to learn about and wrestle with his ideas.

Our goal is clear. We’re not here to argue among ourselves. We’re here to build the movement for peace and justice

» We became the first member organization of the Conference of Presidents to publicly call out Mort Klein, head of the Zionist Organization of America, for his racist tweets regarding the horrific killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and the Black Lives Matters protests of the spring and summer. Klein is a right wing, racist Islamophobe and I’m not afraid to say it.

» When the Conference of Presidents called on its members to endorse the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, we were the only ones to stand up and say no. We won’t stick our heads in sand and pretend that all is well while this definition is used across the globe to squash legitimate criticism of Israeli policy and to attack those who speak out.

» APN had the great honor to host a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, MC-ed by our Board member, Mandy Patinkin, who was joined by a panoply of activists, educators, singers and storytellers coming together to mark the moment and offer hope for the future.

 

Finally, as we move towards the final days of the year, I am pleased to tell you that we have been working closely with the incoming Biden administration and its transition team to ensure that peace remains a priority on their agenda. They are smart, qualified, and good people. But they are going to need to be pushed. And together, we will do just that.

Change is coming. But we cannot take advantage of this moment without you by our side.

As you consider your final year-end donations, please include APN in your plans. If you have already made a gift, consider making another. And if you haven’t yet given to APN this year, there is still time.

Our work is more critical than ever before; our voice never more needed. You are an essential part of our future – together we are the peacebuilders, a movement forged in a desire to make the change we want to see.

Thank you for your generosity and your commitment. All of us at APN send you and your family warmest wishes for a healthy, safe and peaceful new year.

Sincerely,

Hadar Susskind
President and CEO
Americans for Peace Now

Continue reading

New Year, New President, New Congress - from Hadar Susskind, APN President & CEO

How many times in the past few days have you wished someone a happy new year and were told “well, it can’t get worse than 2020”?

While it’s hard to argue with this truism, my take on our transition from 2020 to 2021 is less about just putting 2020 behind us and more about what we can do together in 2021.

I am looking forward to the new year on the merits of its own promise, regardless of the scorched earth that 2020 is leaving behind.

I’ll tell you what I mean by that.

First, in less than three weeks, we will have in the White House a President who is committed to a responsible, level-headed foreign policy, who will not deposit the Israel-Palestine file into the hands of his ignorant, smug son-in-law and his former bankruptcy lawyer, a messianic zealot, who thinks progressive Jews like you and me are “worse than kapos.” Yes, Trump’s ambassador to Israel David Friedman actually said that – among the other vile, incendiary things he said and did.

Continue reading

Mandy Patinkin Video – I support Peace Now, not peace later!

In a recent letter they sent on behalf of Americans for Peace Now, Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody included the story about Mandy’s experience following a concert he gave to benefit APN. The above video was of Mandy telling it, with his recognizable flair, at a 2012 Peace Now conference in Israel.

Join Mandy and Kathryn in supporting Americans for Peace Now with a tax-deductible donation.

Go HERE to read their letter. You will find reflections about past visits to Israel and the West Bank, and a compelling account of why they are so committed and passionate about supporting Americans for Peace Now.

Continue reading

Hope and Determination - Letter from Kathryn Grody and Mandy Patinkin

Dear Friend,

Thirty-eight years ago, when my wife Kathryn and I were expecting our first child, we went to Israel to research the movie Yentl. I stayed at an Orthodox Yeshiva, and Kathryn at The American Colony Hotel. The next day we spent a beautiful day in Hebron, surrounded by curious children happy to meet visiting Americans, and went on a tour of a vibrant neighborhood, guided spontaneously by a sweet stranger at the Cave Of The Patriarchs and Matriarchs. Our baby boy moved fiercely when visiting this tomb, and we decided that was a sign that he should be named Isaac. Fast forward almost 40 years, when I was filming an episode of Homeland, and I traveled to Israel and Palestine. Once again, I visited Hebron. But this time, traveling with Israeli peace activists from Shalom Achshav, those thriving streets Kathryn and I had seen were no longer.

CONTINUE READING


Ginna Green: "I am grateful to be on this road with you"

Earlier this fall, when my friend Hadar asked me to be a part of APN’s commemoration of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, marking 25 years since he was killed at a peace rally in Tel Aviv, I immediately said yes. For not only am I, like Hadar and all of you, a seeker of justice and peace and have dedicated my life to healing the world, but Prime Minister Rabin holds a particular place in my history and my heart. 

Those of you who heard me speak in October may remember that I described how Rabin’s assassination took place in my senior year of high school. Each graduating senior was asked to give a senior speech around the time of their birthday. After dithering and waiting to write my speech, unsure as to what I would say that might sound prophetic or at least a little bit interesting, as I watched the terrible news unfold on November 4, 1995, I knew at last what I would talk about.

 
Click HERE or the above photo to watch Ginna Green's remarks at APN's Yitzhak Rabin 25-Year Memorial Event 

CONTINUE READING


Message of Hope and Commitment, and Supporting APN, from Hagit Ofran, Peace Now Settlement Watch Director

Last week, over 150 APN supporters joined me and Hadar Susskind and Ori Nir to discuss the latest developments in the ongoing annexation of the West Bank, and to begin to predict the impact the incoming Biden administration may have on this seemingly intractable issue.

We at Settlement Watch, the Shalom Achshav program designed to monitor and evaluate the impact of Israel’s settlement enterprise on the chances for a two state solution and on Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, are grateful for your keen interest and concern over the growing threat that the settlements pose to peace.

Knowing that our APN family is championing our work helps us renew our commitment each day to fighting the expansion of the settlements and the de facto annexation that has been taking place for years, and which has ramped up shamelessly during the four years of the Trump/Bibi alliance.

CONTINUE READING

Continue reading

Ginna Green: "I am grateful to be on this road with you"

Earlier this fall, when my friend Hadar asked me to be a part of APN’s commemoration of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, marking 25 years since he was killed at a peace rally in Tel Aviv, I immediately said yes. For not only am I, like Hadar and all of you, a seeker of justice and peace and have dedicated my life to healing the world, but Prime Minister Rabin holds a particular place in my history and my heart. 

Those of you who heard me speak in October may remember that I described how Rabin’s assassination took place in my senior year of high school. Each graduating senior was asked to give a senior speech around the time of their birthday. After dithering and waiting to write my speech, unsure as to what I would say that might sound prophetic or at least a little bit interesting, as I watched the terrible news unfold on November 4, 1995, I knew at last what I would talk about.


 
Click HERE or the above photo to watch Ginna Green's remarks at APN's Yitzhak Rabin 25-Year Memorial Event 


Continue reading

Last week, over 150 APN supporters joined me and Hadar Susskind and Ori Nir to discuss the latest developments in the ongoing annexation of the West Bank, and to begin to predict the impact the incoming Biden administration may have on this seemingly intractable issue.

We at Settlement Watch, the Shalom Achshav program designed to monitor and evaluate the impact of Israel’s settlement enterprise on the chances for a two state solution and on Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, are grateful for your keen interest and concern over the growing threat that the settlements pose to peace.

Knowing that our APN family is championing our work helps us renew our commitment each day to fighting the expansion of the settlements and the de facto annexation that has been taking place for years, and which has ramped up shamelessly during the four years of the Trump/Bibi alliance.

Trump promised “the deal of the century” when he took office, but, needless to say, Palestinians were not included in that promise. His policies wound up instituting a total reversal of previous U.S. involvement, and included a complete defunding of all US aid programs to the Palestinians, including humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees.

What’s more, with U.S. backing, the push to strengthen the settlements has intensified, including building roads and infrastructure that will encourage a projected million more settlers to move into the West Bank in the coming years. Everything that might support the development of a two-state solution has essentially withered on the vine over the past four years.

Given this disheartening overview, I was asked on the call if we have reached the point of no return. I still say no. If we succumb to the idea that there is no road to peace, then we’d be dooming Israel to operating as a segregationist, occupying force forever. That is not the future that I want for me, for my children, or for the Palestinians who share this land with us.

Continue reading

Support Americans for Peace Now by Shopping at Amazon Smile

Shop for everyone on your gift list this holiday at Amazon Smile and Amazon will donate to APN (at no extra cost to you!).

Shop now

Continue reading

Chanukah Greetings (and Double Your Donation Offer) from APN Chair Jim Klutznick

We are at an inflection point in the U.S.-Israel relationship.

With our elections over and Israel’s once again looming in the near future, there is an opportunity for a shift. Not just because elections always offer a chance for change, but because we have an incoming U.S. President who understands the nuances and challenges of the relationship we have with Israel. Moreover, he sees the American role not as an advocate for the settler’s movement and a Greater Israel, but as an honest broker helping Israelis and Palestinians walk the path toward peace.

On and off for nearly 25 years, we have been faced with an Israeli leader who has shown himself to be neither a friend to democracy nor a partner for peace. We have struggled to keep our hope alive, to believe that there is a road to negotiations and a better future despite the fact that Israel has maintained its 50+ year occupation, vastly expanded settlements, passed laws to codify discrimination against non-Jewish citizens, and done its best to marginalize and even criminalize the peace movement.

Americans for Peace Now – comprised of tens of thousands of Americans who, like you and me, believe in a peaceful future, has been envisioning that better future for nearly 40 years. Forty years of standing up for the very essence of what makes a successful democracy and a thriving society. Forty years of struggling through botched negotiations, hopes rising and dashed, over and over again. Forty years of dreaming of a life of dignity and peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.

We may be the dreamers, but, as John Lennon once reminded us, we’re not the only ones. Our friends and family in Israel and Palestine dream of peace, as well. And, while it has been a long 40 years, we cannot step away. Peace may be another decade down the road. Or, it may be around the corner. It is up to us to keep the flame burning, should the moment arrive.

Continue reading

Hope and Determination - Letter from Kathryn Grody and Mandy Patinkin

November 2020

Dear Friend,

Thirty-eight years ago, when my wife Kathryn and I were expecting our first child, we went to Israel to research the movie Yentl. I stayed at an Orthodox Yeshiva, and Kathryn at The American Colony Hotel. The next day we spent a beautiful day in Hebron, surrounded by curious children happy to meet visiting Americans, and went on a tour of a vibrant neighborhood, guided spontaneously by a sweet stranger at the Cave Of The Patriarchs and Matriarchs. Our baby boy moved fiercely when visiting this tomb, and we decided that was a sign that he should be named Isaac. Fast forward almost 40 years, when I was filming an episode of Homeland, and I traveled to Israel and Palestine. Once again, I visited Hebron. But this time, traveling with Israeli peace activists from Shalom Achshav, those thriving streets Kathryn and I had seen were no longer.

This “sterile” main street was the vast market of Hebron, known as Shuhada Street. It served the city and surrounding villages and was shut down by the Israeli army. Separation measures were imposed to protect the settlers against attack and further reduce friction between Arabs and Jews. Palestinians’ access to the center of town was severely restricted, their shops closed, a few stores taken over by settlers, and most were boarded up.

The main street looked like a ghost town, its crumbling buildings scarred with Hebrew graffiti: “No Arabs, No Mice.” “Death to the Arabs” and worse.

A nauseous sense overwhelms at the hate-filled words but even more so at the sight of all the boarded-up stores that were once a vibrant marketplace. With Israeli soldiers on guard over this area, Palestinians, because they cannot use the street, must reach their homes via their neighbors’ rooftops or by climbing through windows.

Think about it: Only Jews are allowed on that street, even though Arabs live in the apartments over the boarded-up shops. The very word used to describe this street division, “sterile,” conjures images of unthinkable crimes.

I have long sat on the board of Americans for Peace Now, and Kathryn and I both believe deeply in the prospect of peace. But this experience rattled us to our core, and I began to understand the profound complications for both Jews and Palestinians in a new light.

Continue reading

Join us in honoring Yitzhak Rabin

APN's Yitzhak Rabin 25-Year Memorial Event - Tuesday, October 20

Register to Attend


from Hadar Susskind, APN President and CEO:

In recent days, there has been a great deal of discussion about our decision to honor the late Yitzhak Rabin and his legacy of peace.

There’s a lot to discuss about Rabin’s legacy. But let me be clear, we at APN continue to hold the prospect of peace as the ultimate goal for Israelis and Palestinians, and we honor the legacy of Yitzhak Rabin and his courageous steps towards peace.

We know that you do too. Your support of APN has been a beacon for the movement for nearly 40 years. That is why we need you to help us commemorate Rabin’s life and continue our work as his legacy.

Rabin was a model for the transformation from enmity and conflict to peace and reconciliation that our Israeli sister organization, Shalom Achshav, is fighting to achieve in Israel, and that we at APN support here in the United States.

Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s personal and political transformation inspired hope for peace as no other Israeli leader has. It was Rabin’s power to inspire, as a general-turned-statesman, that led his assassin, Jewish zealot Yigal Amir, to murder him at the end of a peace rally 25 years ago. Amir’s three bullets reversed the process of reconciliation and compromise that Rabin had championed and led us down the path toward 25 years of additional conflict.

Revisiting the peace process: Jordan-Israeli relations - The Jerusalem PostFor Israel’s peace movement and its supporters in the United States, it is natural to honor a man who shifted from hawk to dove, from fighting Palestinians and denying their national identify and collective rights, to formally recognizing them and their national aspirations. Rabin’s personal transformation inspired millions of Israelis and Palestinians, and supporters of peace between the two peoples worldwide, to believe that a peace agreement based on a historical compromise was attainable.

By commemorating this courageous leader and his political transformation, even as we acknowledge the complexity of his legacy, we are reaffirming our belief that a return to his path of reconciliation is the only viable way forward. A peace based on mutual respect and the acknowledgement of national aspirations is not just a dream – it is the only realistic alternative to endless conflict. It is necessary, and, yes, it is within reach. It depends on leadership, the leadership modeled by Yitzhak Rabin..

You have been a part of this quest for many years. With your help, we will keep Rabin’s spirit alive. We will continue to expand our urgent work to educate Israelis and Americans, including elected officials, on the imperative of achieving lasting peace through negotiations and compromise.

Please help us light the path towards peace with a gift to APN today.

 


And we hope that you will join us for our October 20th commemoration of the life and legacy of Yitzhak Rabin. Register HERE and participate in the largest memorial service outside of Israel, marking 25 years since his death.


 

12 3 ...15 16 17