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Peace Now in the Press: July 2008 Archives

Peace Now petitioned the High Court of Justice on Tuesday demanding that the IDF remove civilians living in the former central bus station in Hebron, which has been used as an army base since 1983.

JTA: "Poll: Jews down on Lieberman, Hagee"

"On the eve of the (Christians United for Israel conference) event, Americans for Peace Now also asked Lieberman to take a pass."
"This is not about exchanging niceties here and there. This is a situation where the state of Syria is telling the state of Israel that we desire to end this state of war between us..."

Extraordinary APN podcast sparks hope for Syria talks

The interview was a top item in Israel Army Radio's news report and covered prominently by nearly every mainstream news organization.
"Syria's Ambassador to the U.S., Imad Moustapha, Monday told the American branch of Peace Now that a peace deal with Israel, Syria and Lebanon was possible."

The National (UAE): "Israel `chokes' Jordan Valley"

"Peace Now...said the construction, if approved...as seems likely, would signal the construction of the first new settlement in more than a decade."
The new round of talks is gearing up a day after Syria's Ambassador to the U.S., Imad Moustapha, told the American branch of Peace Now that Syria is ready to make peace with Israel.
"The negotiations are a historic opportunity for Israel to make peace, not just with Syria and Lebanon, but with the whole Arab world,"
Peace Now letter: "building in Maskiot is against the commitment of the government not to establish any new settlements and not to expand existing ones."
China Central Television: "Israel plans to build new West Bank settlement" 07-26-2008 Israel's Defense Ministry has revived a plan to build a new Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank. The plan, which had previously been shelved due to U.S. pressure, has drawn condemnation from Palestinians and Israeli human rights groups. Israeli officials said a ministry committee approved the construction of 20 housing units in Maskiot, an abandoned military base in the Jordan Valley, for some of the ...

Guardian (UK): "Who speaks for American Jews?"

in a June 2007 poll conducted by James Zogby for Americans for Peace Now, 63% of American Jews supported a "settlement freeze" and 81% support Israel-Syria peace negotiations
Yariv Oppenheimer, head of the Israeli group Peace Now, said pressure on the government from the settler movement often appeared to outweigh international pressure against expansion.
Americans for Peace Now said it hoped Saturday's meeting was "the beginning of real engagement rather than an isolated exception."
Instead of a tour, a confrontation ensued between settlers, police and individuals from the tour outside the city, where police and soldiers were waiting to turn the buses around.
"Israel is struggling to persuade America to help it negotiate peace with an Arab state? Unfortunately, yes."
Among those calling on lawmakers to turn down the proposed resolution is Americans for Peace Now, a dovish Jewish group that is pushing for a peaceful solution to the standoff with Iran.
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), initially gathered more than 230 cosigners, but several backed away after Americans for Peace Now and other groups argued that the resolution called for a virtual naval blockade of Iran.

Jerusalem Post: "Ariel gets OK for 27 new factories"

"Everyday, the Annapolis process is becoming more virtual than it was before," said Peace Now executive director Yariv Oppenheimer.

The Economist: "The battle for the territories"

Peace Now, a veteran peace organisation, is inviting people who have never been to the West Bank to take one-day tours of the settlements, checkpoints, separation barrier, segregated road system (some roads for Israelis, others for Palestinians) and other paraphernalia that support Israel's presence in the occupied territories.
"...the plan has met with severe criticism by Peace Now."
"The blood boils, the stomach clenches at the sight of Efrat Onterman, the baby who in an instant became an orphan on Wednesday...."
(Peace Now's) Hagit Ofran argues that the barrier was designed not only to protect Israel but also to protect many of the settlers, who are now included within the barrier's reach.

Ynet: "Peace Now organizes settlement tours"

A first tour to settlements and outposts in the Binyamin region was held over the weekend with 80 participants.
"The Defense Minister is giving the settlers everything they ask for and is avoiding any confrontation with them," said Hagit Ofran, who heads the Peace Now settlement-watch team.

Boston Advocate: "Peace Now"

"Yariv Oppenheimer, the 32-year-old director of Shalom Achshav - Peace Now in Israel, met us for coffee on Emek Refaim in Jerusalem..."

New York Jewish Week: "All Eyes On Ofra"

The petition could establish a troubling precedent because it relies on official West Bank land registries obtained from the government by Peace Now
Peace Now Secretary General Yariv Oppenheimer said: "In an attempt to cling to every spot, the settlers are breaking new records and importing settlers from foreign countries.
England's first professor of Israel studies was a founder of the British Friends of Peace Now
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