 "We are grateful for the efforts of non-governmental
organizations both in the US and in Israel, and that includes Peace Now in the
US, and B’tselem, which continue to inform us about the fundamental issues
that occur on the ground, including the settlements enterprise."
US State Department Spokesperson Edgar Vasquez in a statement to Yedioth
Ahronoth.
Yossi Alpher is an independent security analyst. Views and
positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent
APN's views and policy positions.
October 19, 2016 - The UN, the US and the Palestinian issue
Q. Last week's UN Security Council discussion of the settlements has
generated angry criticism from the Netanyahu government. What in particular angered
the prime minister?
A. A host of issues...
Q. Hold on. APN's Lara Friedman also testified before the Council on
the settlements issue.
A. ...Friedman concentrated on what Peace Now does so
well: chronicling the spread of settlements and the damage this does to the
prospects for a viable two-state solution...
Q. And at the broadest strategic level, what does the Security Council
discussion contribute toward a two-state solution?
A. Friedman was right in arguing before the Council
last week that Israel's settlement policies "reflect a deliberate strategy designed
to prevent the emergence of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state."...
Q. Last week, leaked US presidential campaign correspondence quoted
democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton suggesting, immediately after
Israel’s March 2015 elections, that a "Potemkin" Israeli-Palestinian peace process
would be better than none at all. Do you agree?
A. No. The entire Israeli-Palestinian complex has
careened so far beyond a peace process that a peace initiative emanating from
parties who know it has no chance of success would do more damage than good...
Q. Examples?
A. ...Secretary of State John Kerry's initiative of
2013-2014...Prime Minister Netanyahu's May 2016 initiative to recruit Egyptian
support...
 
Please note that the APN offices will be closed next Monday, October 24 and
Tuesday, October 25, in observance of the Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
holidays.
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APN's Lara
Friedman Addresses the United Nations Security Council on
Settlements
APN's director of policy and government relations spoke on Friday, October 14
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."
Go HERE for a transcript of APN's
testimony delivered by Lara Friedman.
"Haaretz:
Speech Made by Americans for Peace Now at the UN Reflects Love for Israel" by
Lara Friedman
We are proud to have spoken at the Security Council, and we will continue to
speak out, wherever and whenever we believe it can make a difference, until Israeli
policies cease to prioritize settlements over peace, security, democracy and
Israel’s place in the community of nations.
Go HERE for a resource page with links
to videos from the UN Security Council and the Press Conference, news coverage,
and more.
"Deluded" -
Because we dared
In response to APN's measured, fact-based analysis of the damage that West Bank
settlements inflict on Israel’s national security, Prime Minister Netanyahu took to
Facebook to hurl false accusations and saying that APN was part of a "slander
campaign."
 Listen to the post-UNSC Hearing
Briefing Call with APN's Lara Friedman and Israeli legal expert Michael
Sfard
These two experts discussed the United National Security Council special session on
"Illegal Israeli Settlements: An Obstacle to Peace and a Threat to the Two-State
Solution."
LISTEN >
APN Denounces UNESCO Resolution; Urges UN Agencies to Avoid
One-Sided Language on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
APN calls on UNESCO to appropriately amend its resolution, and urges United
Nations agencies, when referring to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to avoid
exclusionary and inflammatory language.
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