For months APN has been working to get President Barack Obama to step up his efforts in support of peace for Israel. We've called on him to be prepared to confront Israel, the Palestinians, or the Arab states when they fail to play ball.
Last week the Obama administration did just that.
Following the Israeli
announcement of new settlement plans in East Jerusalem, Vice President
Joe Biden spoke out loudly and clearly while visiting Jerusalem and
Ramallah. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to task in a 45 minute phone call. David
Axelrod and other administration officials spoke about the problem on
the Sunday morning talk shows.
There are some, however, who are trying to cut President Obama's efforts off at the knees. AIPAC issued a statement voicing "serious concern" with the administration's statements. ADL's Abe Foxman said he was "shocked and stunned" by the American "gross overreaction."
We need your help to show our fellow Americans that AIPAC and ADL do not speak for us. Click here to send letters to the editors of your local papers.
Israel publicized the approval of a plan to build 1600 new housing units in East Jerusalem just after the Obama administration announced that indirect Israeli-Palestinian peace talks would begin. While the Israeli government later apologized for the timing of the announcement, it never addressed the heart of the matter: the massive expansion of a settlement in territory over which Israel committed to negotiate undermines the prospects for peace.
Americans are not stupid. We know that peace for Israel is more important than the expansion of settlements. We also know that America's interests are directly tied to Middle East peace and to Israel.
Peace talks will not succeed without genuine, sustained American leadership. All sides must know that there will be a price to pay for frustrating peace efforts. Our role, today, is to show Washington that President Obama enjoys a groundswell of support when he demonstrates such leadership.
Stand for peace for Israel. Click here to send letters to editors of your local papers.
There are some, however, who are trying to cut President Obama's efforts off at the knees. AIPAC issued a statement voicing "serious concern" with the administration's statements. ADL's Abe Foxman said he was "shocked and stunned" by the American "gross overreaction."
We need your help to show our fellow Americans that AIPAC and ADL do not speak for us. Click here to send letters to the editors of your local papers.
Israel publicized the approval of a plan to build 1600 new housing units in East Jerusalem just after the Obama administration announced that indirect Israeli-Palestinian peace talks would begin. While the Israeli government later apologized for the timing of the announcement, it never addressed the heart of the matter: the massive expansion of a settlement in territory over which Israel committed to negotiate undermines the prospects for peace.
Americans are not stupid. We know that peace for Israel is more important than the expansion of settlements. We also know that America's interests are directly tied to Middle East peace and to Israel.
Peace talks will not succeed without genuine, sustained American leadership. All sides must know that there will be a price to pay for frustrating peace efforts. Our role, today, is to show Washington that President Obama enjoys a groundswell of support when he demonstrates such leadership.
Stand for peace for Israel. Click here to send letters to editors of your local papers.