Moving forward can involve risk. But standing still can bring disaster.
March 2009 Archives
The resolution encourages "continued United States efforts to foster constructive initiatives to resolve existing
conflicts and mitigate current and emerging threats to a just and lasting Middle East peace"
The resolution encourages "continued United States efforts to foster constructive initiatives to resolve existing
conflicts and mitigate current and emerging threats to a just and lasting Middle East peace"
Today, the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 282, a resolution introduced March 24, 2009 8th by Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) in honor of the 30th anniversary of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel." This timely resolution, which passed by a vote of 418-1, is reminder of the importance of the Israel-Egypt peace treaty and, in the words of the resolution, the example it set of "reconciliation following decades marked by nearly unremitting tension and confrontation..." APN strongly supported H. Res. 282 from the time of its introduction, mobilizing APN supporters to contact their representatives and urge them to support the measure (see our Action Alert at: http://www.peacenow.org/updates.asp?rid=0&cid=6081).
APN commends Reps. Fortenberry and Ellison for introducing H. Res. 282 and applauds the leadership of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, as well as House leaders, for recognizing the value of this resolution and acting swiftly to bring it to the floor for passage.
APN today wished success to Netanyahu's government and challenged it to make pursuit of peace with the Palestinians and
with Syria a top priority.
Continue reading APN Challenges Netanyahu Government to Pursue Peace.
Today the Newsweek-Washington Post site (PostGlobal) has an op-ed by me (Lara Friedman) and Hagit Ofran, my Israeli colleague at Peace Now who runs Peace Now's Settlement Watch. Enjoy!
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/needtoknow/2009/03/freeze_israels_settlements_for.html
APN joins with Jewish, Arab American and religious based organizations in encouraging Congress to take immediate action
in fulfilling its pledge
Continue reading UNRWA's Gaza Director Briefs Congress on Humanitarian Crisis.
ISRAEL'S NEW GOVERNMENT; IDEOLOGUE OR PRAGMATIST?; SETTLEMENT CONSTRUCTION IS UP; SOLIDARITY IN UMM EL-FAHM; TENSIONS
RISE IN JERUSALEM
Continue reading March 30, 2009 - Vol. 10, Issue 29.
Write your representative about this timely resolution of the importance of the Israel-Egypt peace treaty and the
example it set
1. Bills and Resolutions; 2. APN Commentary on New Israeli Government (blog posting); 3. APN Op-Ed: "Where Is Abba Eban
When We Need Him?" (Baltimore Sun)
Continue reading APN Legislative Round-Ups - March 20 & 27, 2009.
What a settlements freeze means, the likelihood of one being implemented, and the relevant actions that the Government of Israel can and should take.
Continue reading Settlements in Focus: "How to Freeze Settlements: A Layman's Guide".
Haaretz's Anshel Pfeffer penned a powerful critique today of the knee-jerk Israel propagandists, for whom it is always easier to "blame the messenger" than to explore and internalize troubling Israeli actions.
Continue reading A reflection on knee-jerk propagandists.
Benjamin Netanyahu is offering what sounds like a tantalizing commitment. He said that his government will be a
"partner for peace."
Continue reading New York Times Editorial: "Being a Partner for Peace".
Many have predicted in recent days that Binyamin's Netanyahu's premiership - he is expected to be sworn in shortly - means the end of the peace process. How can a prime minister who refuses to utter the phrase "two-state solution" pursue a meaningful peace process with the Palestinians, they ask.
The answer is vigorous encouragement. Encouragement from within Israeli society, which is still solidly supportive of the two-state solution, from within the American Jewish community - also solidly supportive of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, as recent polls have shown - as well as from the Obama administration and the international community.
Continue reading Bibi "Partner for Peace"? Hold him to his Words!.
Peace Now issued a statement saying "Barak flaunts the rule of law. In the past few years, he has become the settlers'
darling."
Continue reading Jerusalem Post: "State will not evacuate Ofra residents".
"...along with Jewish supporters from the Hadash and Meretz parties and Peace Now, who were also protesting the march."
Continue reading Ha'aretz: "28 injured, 13 arrested as rightists march in Umm al-Fahm".
Monday's Middle East Peace Report covered the revelation that Defense Minister Ehud Barak did not intend to demolish illegally constructed settlement buildings in Ofra anytime soon.
Continue reading Will the High Court hold its ground?.
Go HERE to see the video of this program held in Washington, D.C., on March 20, 2009, sponsored by Middle East Progress, Americans for Peace Now and American Task Force on Palestine.
Yesterday's Middle East Peace Report covered the discussion in Israel sparked by the statements of Israeli soldiers who served as combatants in the Gaza war this winter. The testimony of these soldiers deserves reading, and it bears mention that there are other similar accounts now being made public.
Continue reading Coming to terms with the war in Gaza.
IDF ON TRIAL; DEATH TOLL; LABORING FOR A GOVERNMENT; COALITION TALLY; INACTION ON SETTLER LAND GRAB; OUT OF EGYPT;
Continue reading March 23, 2009 - Vol. 10, Issue 28.
Each year, APN provides language which can be added to the reading of the Haggadah at Passover.
Continue reading APN Passover Haggadah Insert - 2009.
The security and peace process expert came to L.A. especially for programs and meetings organized by APN
Continue reading Ilan Paz (Brig. General, Ret.) visits L.A. for APN.
The Israeli security and peace process expert, visiting the U.S., discusses prospects for peace given Israeli and
Palestinian political situations
Continue reading AUDIO NOW: APN Interview with Ilan Paz, Israeli Brigadier General (Ret.).
It takes the courage and foresight of a Nachshon to step into uncertain waters and to realize that standing still is
not an option...
Continue reading APN Passover Ad.
Q. What's holding up formation of the Netanyahu government? Q. How do you explain the failure of negotiations to free
IDF soldier Gilad Shalit?
Continue reading Hard Questions, Tough Answers with Yossi Alpher - March 23, 2009.
"If he is going to be the face of Israel around the world," said Yariv Oppenheimer, director-general of the leftist
lobbying group Peace Now, "then I don't think this is the right thing to do."
Washington, D.C. - Come to a presentation and discussion with the veteran analyst, advisor to the Oslo negotiations,
Geneva Initiative participant, and author
Continue reading Menachem Klein: "A New Approach to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict".
The event will be at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn
The Olmert government, seen as moderate and pragmatic, didn't succeed in reaching or even taking a single step toward a
solution to the conflict in the national arena.
Mr. Netanyahu cannot bring himself to utter the words "two-state solution." Mr. Lieberman is a serial provocateur who
has called for the execution of Arab members of parliament...
"But according to the 'Peace Now' movement, this settlement (Betar Illit) grew by eight per cent in the last year."
According to the Israeli group Peace Now, which closely tracks settlements, the Israeli government is planning to build
more than 73,000 housing units in the West Bank, doubling the settler population there.
Continue reading Philadelphia Inquirer: "Worldview: Decision time on Mideast for Obama".
On March 2 the anti-settlement group Peace Now said Israel's housing ministry has plans that would nearly double the
number of settlers in the territory.
Continue reading AFP: "Two Israeli policemen shot dead in West Bank".
My new op-ed on the vision for Israel and its relations with the Palestinians was just published in the Baltimore Sun. Here it is
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.viewpoint18mar18,0,2793131.story
baltimoresun.com
Viewpoint: Where is Abba Eban when we need him?
By Ori Nir
March 18, 2009
Remember Abba Eban?
As Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to (again) become the prime minister of Israel, as hate-monger Avigdor Lieberman prepares to be sworn in as Mr. Netanyahu's foreign minister, and as security hawk extraordinaire Moshe Yaalon prepares to take over the defense ministry, I really miss Abba Eban. I miss Israel's quintessential diplomat, who fought so eloquently and effectively to portray to the world a just, moral and peace-seeking Israel in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Continue reading New op-ed: The vision of Israel's new government.
HAMAS-FATAH TALKS; BUILDING A TEAM; HOW BARACK SHOULD HANDLE BIBI; IS SYRIA PRESSURING HAMAS?; FREE SHALIT; JERUSALEM
HOME DEMOLITIONS
Continue reading March 16, 2009 - Vol. 10, Issue 27.
A moderated discussion to examine key issues -- how to best rebuild Gaza, avoid strengthening Hamas while bolstering
Palestinian moderates, and United States engagement
Evaluation of Olmert as prime minister? Foreign governments and Lieberman? Are we on the verge of dramatic changes in
the Israeli-Palestinian sphere?
Continue reading Hard Questions, Tough Answers with Yossi Alpher - March 16, 2009.
1. Bills and Resolutions; 2. Omnibus Update - Final; 3. Congress Continues to Weigh in on Palestinian Aid; 4. Senators
Leahy and Gregg on Kyl Amendments; 5. APN arguments against Omnibus Amendments; 6. APN Policy Statement: Time for
Rational Approach in the Israeli-Palestinian Arena
Continue reading APN Legislative Round-Up - March 13, 2009.
Americans for Peace Now is glad that two Middle East-related amendments to the appropriations bill failed -- and a
third was withdrawn...
Continue reading JTA: "You can't trust those e-mails".
The retired Israeli intelligence officer writes: "...Israel cannot stop the rockets - or make peace - with military
power alone."
The retired Israeli intelligence officer writes: "While Israel's military must be second to none, Israel cannot stop
the rockets - or make peace - with military power alone."
The time has come for the U.S. to establish a serious political process to deal with the core issues, including a
smarter policy regarding Hamas.
The time has come for the U.S. to establish a serious political process that can deal with the core issues at stake in
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including a smarter policy regarding Hamas.
Send letters to the editor using APN's online system that provides a sample email/letter and will generate contact
information for your local media outlets
Continue reading Encourage Obama's Continued Leadership.
Halfway through the Obama Administration's first 100 days, President Barack Obama is off to a strong and very promising
start in the Middle East, taking action on many of the central items suggested in APN's Blueprint.
Continue reading APN: Obama off to Good Start in the Middle East.
"Yesterday, a large number of Senators set politics aside and did the right thing with respect to the Middle East,
rejecting amendments that were not only gratuitous but potentially counter-productive."
Continue reading APN Applauds Senate for Rejecting Mideast-related Grandstanding.
A colloquial Hebrew expression says "not every day is Purim," which can be translated loosely to "you can't fool all
the people all the time."
Such actions "demolish not only brick-and-mortar structures but also the prospects for peace," the group's leaders said
in a letter to the secretary...
Read APN's March 9th letter in support of the Secretary of State's comments against the demolition of Palestinian homes
in East Jerusalem
Continue reading APN Letter to Secretary Clinton.
DEMOLISHING PEACE; OPPORTUNITY IN PALESTINIAN UNITY?; PUTTING TOGETHER THE COALITION; COURTING CONTROVERSY; ENGAGING
SYRIA; IF YOU DON'T BUILD IT; THEY WON'T COME; CHECKPOINT IRONY
Continue reading March 9, 2009 - Vol. 10, Issue 26.
(The following article has been sent for syndication by U.S. Jewish weeklies)
NOT EVERY DAY IS PURIM
By Ori Nir
A colloquial Hebrew expression says "not every day is Purim," which can loosely be translated to "you can't fool all the people all the time."
Israelis - and many in our pro-Israel community in the U.S. - in the past wanted to believe that Palestinian economic development is the path to resolving Israel's conflict with the Palestinians: If only the Palestinians have full stomachs and some cash in their pockets, they will forget about Israel's occupation of the West Bank, about their land being gradually eaten up by Israeli settlements, about their aspirations for independence and sovereignty being ignored.
Continue reading Not Every Day is Purim.
Iran's nuclear weapons capability? Prospects of Likud-Kadima unity gov't? Talking peace with Syria? Why did PA Prime
Minister Salam Fayyad resign?
Continue reading Hard Questions, Tough Answers with Yossi Alpher - March 9, 2009.
The Middle East has gotten caught up in the battle over the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill, currently under consideration in the Senate. Yesterday saw a contentious vote over an amendment offered by Sen. Kyl (R-AZ) calling for new Iran sanctions. That amendment was defeated, but Senate leadership has now agreed to allow four Middle East-related amendments to come to a vote on Monday. For background and information about the current state-of-play on the bill, check out this week's and last week's Legislative Round-Ups. APN's message to Senate staffers opposing the additional four amendments is copied here:
Dear XXXX,
It appears that in the coming days your boss will be asked to vote on four amendments to the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Bill (HR 1105) related to the Middle East. Americans for Peace Now opposes all of these amendments, viewing them as little more than political grandstanding at the expense of the very important issues at stake for U.S. foreign policy and national security in the region.
Continue reading The Middle East Gets Caught Up in the Omnibus Battle.
"Syria plays a key role with respect to stability in the region and Israel's security," said Debra DeLee, president of
Americans for Peace Now
Continue reading IPS: "U.S.-SYRIA: Washington Ends Its Diplomatic Embargo".
Distinguishing fantasy from the often dismal reality of the Middle East takes clear eyes and a sober commitment to
pragmatism.
Continue reading APN Says on Purim: "Who are they kidding?".
1. Bills and Resolutions; 2. FURTHER UPDATE on Omnibus in the Senate; 3. Congress on $900 million aid for Palestinians;
4. Chairman Kerry on the Kyl Amendment
Continue reading APN Legislative Round-Up - March 6, 2009.
Such sentiments were echoed on the eve of Clinton's visit by the left-wing Israeli movement Peace Now, which issued a
report condemning new settlement plans.
Continue reading Reuters: "Clinton still sees Palestinian state; many don't".
APN's Ori Nir: "There is great concern here, not about the image that this will create for Israel, but about the real
way that this will affect Israel's national security."
Continue reading Ma'ariv: "Who's Afraid of Lieberman".
APN welcomed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's announcement that two senior U.S. officials will soon travel to
Damascus to explore America's future relations with Syria.
Continue reading APN Welcomes U.S. Reengagement with Syria.
The (Peace Now settlement) report, clearly issued to coincide with Mrs. Clinton's arrival, said some 6,000 new units
had been approved and another 58,000 were awaiting approval.
Continue reading More Articles re: Peace Now Report / Clinton Visit to Mideast.
See coverage from: JTA, BBC, AFP, Israel Army Radio, Reuters, New York Times, Ha'aretz, Jerusalem Post, Guardian,
Xinhua
Continue reading Articles on Peace Now Report Revealing Plans for 73,300 West Bank Homes.
Americans for Peace Now has rallied support for the letter initiated by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
Continue reading JTA: "Dovish groups back Feinstein peace letter".
Construction of 73,300 housing units in the West Bank are being planned...