Lara Friedman, director of policy and government relations at APN, spoke on October 14, 2016 before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at a special session organized to examine the issue of “Illegal Israeli Settlements: An Obstacle to Peace and a Threat to the Two-State Solution.”

Speaking in advance of the meeting, APN President and CEO Debra DeLee stated:

Israeli settlement policies is an issue on which APN and our Israeli sister organization, Shalom Achshav, are justifiably recognized as the leading experts, both in terms of knowing and in terms of explaining the facts about settlements and their implications for peace and the two-state solution. And the facts point to a clear conclusion: the Israeli government’s policy of prioritizing settlements threatens the vital interests of Israel – its people and its national future. This Security Council meeting is a welcome opportunity to highlight the damage settlements are doing to Israel and the quest for peace.

 

VIEW: Full video of the October 14, 2016 UNSC Arria-formula meeting on settlements

READ: Lara Friedman's statement to the UNSC, delivered October 14, 2016
(A pdf of the statement may be viewed/downloaded here).

VIEW: The Post-meeting press conference

LISTEN: To the Briefing Call with Lara Friedman and Israeli legal expert Michael Sfard (immediately following the UNSC meeting & press conference)

Media coverage

Haaretz 10/25/2016: As an Israeli, B'Tselem and Peace Now Protect Me. Who Will Protect Them?
Haaretz (Zeev Sternhall) 10/21: Yes, Israelis, We Must Wash Our Dirty Laundry in Public
Haaretz 10/21/2016: APN's Lara Friedman in Haaretz: Speech Made by Americans for Peace Now at the UN Reflects Love for Israel (text also available here)
Haaretz  (Rabbi Eric Yoffie) 10/20/2016 Americans for Peace Now, You Made a Mistake in Appearing Before the UN
Haaretz 10/19/2016: Israeli Envoy to Security Council: UN Must Stop Interfering in Israeli Affairs by Funding B'Tselem
YNET 10/18/2016: US State Department 'grateful' to B'tselem
Arutz Sheva 10/18/2016: Washington 'grateful' to B'tselem
The Forward 10/17/2016: If Israel Lets in Palestinian Refugees, Will It Lose Its Jewish Character?
Haaretz 10/17/2016: U.S. Defends Israeli Anti-occupation Group, Says 'Freedom of Expression' Must Be Protected
Israel Hayom 10/16/2016: Netanyahu: Peace Now, B'Tselem are 'deluded,' slander Israel
Press TV 10/16/2016: Netanyahu raps Israeli NGOs for anti-settlement UN comments
HaModia 10/16/2016: Netanyahu: Leftist Groups That Testified at U.N. Security Council ‘Beyond the Pale’
ABC News 10/14/2016: Israeli Rights Group Urges UN to End Palestinian Occupation
New York Times 10/14/2016: Israeli Rights Group Urges UN to End Palestinian Occupation
JTA 10/14/20161: At UN Security Council, human rights groups slam Israeli occupation, settlement expansion
Haaretz 10/14/2016: U.S. Tells UN Security Council: Israeli Activities in West Bank Creating One-state Reality
Haaretz 10/14/2016: Americans for Peace Now, B'Tselem to Address UN Security Council
Jerusalem Online 10/14/2016: B’Tselem Executive Director speaks in front of UN Security Council about settlements
Times of Israel 10/14/2016: B’Tselem head urges Security Council to act now on settlements
Arutz Sheva 10/14/2016: Danon: Too bad Israeli organizations join diplomatic terror
Jerusalem Post 10/13/2016 B’Tselem, Peace Now to speak to UNSC against settlements
San Francisco Chronicle 10/13/2016: Palestinians push for UN membership and against settlements
YNet 10/13/2016: B'Tselem to address UN Security Council's informal meeting on West Bank settlements
Haaretz 10/13/2016: Israeli NGOs to Address Special UN Security Council Session on Settlements
Arutz Sheva 10/13/2016: MK Kish: Time to disconnect from B'Tselem and Peace Now
ABCNews 10/13/2016: Palestinians Push for UN Membership and Against Settlements
Times of Israel 10/13/2016: B’Tselem under fire for planned UN presentation on settlements