APN Weekly Update – Peace Parsha, Rabbi Melchior, Israeli/Palestinian Interns, Bibi v Generals, and DO THIS…

Americans for Peace Now
Americans for Peace Now: July 6, 2016


"It must be said honestly: this is the price we are paying for sitting in the midst of a hostile Arab population...There needs to be political courage here, and there need to be other things from what we have done so far."

Former deputy head of Mossad Ram Ben-Barak, to Israel Television Channel 10 news, 1 July 2016 (commenting on the latest Palestinian terrorist attacks).


Hard Questions, Tough Answers with Yossi Alpher

 

Yossi Alpher is an independent Israeli security analyst. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.

July 5, 2016 - Turkey and Israel

Q. Last week, after six years of crisis-ridden relations, Israel and Turkey agreed on a formula for reconciling and normalizing their relations. What did this entail?

A. Israel agreed to pay $20 million in indirect compensation for the death of nine Turks in the May 2010 Mavi Marmara incident...Turkey agreed to block all legal action against Israeli officers involved in the incident and to restore full and normal diplomatic relations with Israel...dropped its demand that Israel end its blockade of Gaza...undertook to block Hamas militant activity...assist in efforts to repatriate to Israel two IDF soldiers missing in action...

Q. This comes across as a one-sided deal: Israel seems to have achieved much more than Turkey.

A. Indeed...

Q. What are those Turkish weaknesses that Netanyahu leveraged?

A. Turkey's acute strategic dilemmas with Syria, Russia, the Kurds and ISIS...

Q. And the Israel-Egypt-Turkey triangle?

A. Egypt has not openly criticized the Israel-Turkey deal...

Q. Last week witnessed a deal with Turkey, and this week Netanyahu is expanding Israel's ties with the countries of East Africa. Is there a broad Israeli regional strategy at work here?

A. That appears to be the case...

Q. The bottom line?

A. Netanyahu's deal with Turkey reflects a largely successful effort to expand Israel's regional and international reach and to minimize the import of the Palestinian issue at the regional level...

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Government Relations

APN Legislative Round-Up: June 18 - July 1, 2016

  1. Bills, Resolutions and Letters
  2. FY17 ForOps Season Opens: House Bill
  3. FY17 ForOps Season Opens: Senate Bill
  4. Hearings
  5. On the Record

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Korach: Challenger of the Status Quo?

APN volunteer and activist Barbara Green discusses the value and import of voicing dissent against the dangerous path being taken by Israel's right wing government today.

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Do This, Not That - APN's new publication

Build Trust, Not Settlements and Draw Borders, Not Blood are two of the pages in APN's new publication

What we do and don't do does indeed influence the prospects for peace in the Middle East. Use APN as your resource, which helps educate on what it means to be pro-Israel and pro-peace.

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APN Events

Israeli and Palestinian New Story Leadership fellows visit APN

The short introductory meeting at APN in Washington, DC turned into a fascinating two-hour discussion about efforts for Israeli-Palestinian peace and prospects for a two-state solution.

APN held the introductory meeting in Washington, DC for the Israeli and Palestinian fellows of the New Story Leadesrhip program. For eight summers, APN has hosted an Israeli and Palestinian intern - sometimes in partnership with the American Tast Force on Palestine.

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Settlement Watch

Peace Now Settlement Watch: Settlement Construction Is Not The Answer to Terrorism

It has been reported that following the deadly attacks against Israelis last week, the Israeli government is advancing plans for 800 housing units in East Jerusalem and the Maale Adumim settlement.

Peace Now: "New housing units in the settlements will not prevent the next victims but rather strengthen the extremists on both sides...The real answer to terror is ending the occupation and reaching a negotiated agreement. Meanwhile, Israeli citizens will continue to pay the price of the extreme right-wing government's policies."

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APN ad features Rabbi Michael Melchior - past Israeli minister, authoritative Jewish scholar, and peace activist

Rabbi Michael Melchior is a former Israeli Minister of Social and Diaspora Affairs, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who has been awarded with numerous prizes for his work on tolearance, bridge-building, peace, and reconciliation.

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Recommended Reading

Politico: "Netanyahu vs. the Generals"
By Amir Tibbon

Israel's prime minister is fighting hard to weaken the most important moderate force in his country. Which is why he's going to be a big problem for the next U.S. president.

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