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Peace Now in the Press: December 2009 Archives

By SHEERA FRENKEL

McClatchy Newspapers

EFRAT, West Bank -- Efrat, 10 miles outside Jerusalem, has become known for its Anglo-Saxon population.

Nearly 30 percent of the town lies on Palestinian land that was confiscated from the nearby Arab village of al-Khader, according to a survey completed by Peace Now. New York Rabbi Shlomo Riskin and Israeli Moshe Moskovics jointly founded it with money donated by Florida businessman Irving Moskowitz.
Kiryat Netafim Sign 186x140.jpgJerusalem Post: "State supports Kiryat Netafim houses built without permits" follows the Ha'aretz article

By Haaretz Service

In an unusual step, the state announced on Tuesday its plan to promote planning and construction in the northern West Bank settlement of Kiryat Netafim, Army Radio reported Wednesday.

Left wing human rights group Peace Now petitioned the High Court of Justice recently against the construction of 14 structures that were illegally built, some of them on Palestinian land without any authorization, according to the petition. In response to the petition, the Defense Ministry approved the Kiryat Netafim construction plans, to legalize the construction of the 14 structures in question.

(sign in the picture says: "New neighborhood in Kiryat Netafim")



Barrier between Beit Ur al-Fauqa and Route 443 186x140.jpgPeace Now Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer said a High Court of Justice decision to allow Palestinians to travel on Route 443 in the West Bank "is Israel's saving grace in the (Palestinian) territories". He called on the Defense Ministry to implement the orders and to find a true solution to the separation of Jews and Arabs on the roads. (Efrat Weiss)

(Picture: Barrier between a Palestinian village and Route 443)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3826998,00.html

American Prospect: "The Settlement Freeze That Isn't"

If there were any doubt of Benjamin Netanyahu's commitment to the settlement enterprise, he dispelled it this week.

by Gershom Gorenberg

"No Entrance To Bibi's Freeze Inspectors," reads the long, professionally printed banner hanging at the eastern entrance to Ariel. Ariel has a reputation of being a relatively moderate settlement. Its residents are mostly secular suburbanites; its eternally re-elected mayor belongs to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu's mainstream right-wing Likud. The Ariel finger -- the heavily settled strip of land joining Ariel to Israel -- is one of those blocs that centrist Israeli politicians insist will stay in Israeli hands under a peace agreement.
by Stewart Ain
Staff Writer

The Israeli cabinet's vote Sunday to pour money into 91 outlying West Bank settlements has touched off a fierce debate here about the propriety of funneling resources into settlements that may be abandoned in a peace treaty.

"Any resources you add to the outlying settlements are an obstacle to peace either now or down the road," according to Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union of Reform Judaism, a group that has long opposed continuing settlement in the West Bank. "Those settlements have to be removed in order for a Palestinian state to come into being."

JTA: "Obama and Kerry slowing sanctions legislation push"

Only Americans for Peace Now is publicly aligned with the administration in counseling changes to the proposed sanctions.

By Ron Kampeas ยท December 15, 2009

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Unilateral U.S. sanctions against Iran are on track, Senate officials say, but taking the slow train.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, needs time to consider the bill, his spokesman, Frederick Jones, told JTA. Jones strongly refuted rumors that Kerry would keep the legislation from reaching the floor, although that is in his power as a committee chairman.
APN said it can't support the current sanctions measure without sweeping revisions "to focus the legislation on smart, targeted sanctions rather than on 'crippling' sanctions that inflict widespread suffering on the Iranian people."

JTA: "House letters address Gaza crisis"

NOTE: APN is a signatory to the 'McDermott-Ellison' letter
--------------------------------------------

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Two letters circulating in the U.S. House of Representatives address the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

One letter, initiated by U.S. Reps. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) and Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), asks President Obama to press Israel and Egypt for "immediate relief" from the blockade of Gaza in place since Hamas' takeover in 2006, and intensified following last winter's Israel-Gaza war.

Articles on Settlements Included as "High Priority Areas"

Numerous articles covered the controversy of the Israeli Government decision to include settlements as part of "high priority" areas of the nation...

  • Jerusalem Post: "Isolated settlements kept on 'priority map' - to Labor's dismay"
  • CNN: "West Bank settlements to receive more funding under plan"
  • Jerusalem Post: "Ashkelon mayor, Peace Now fume at spending preferences"
  • YNET: "Labor ministers: Help periphery, not settlements"
  • ARMY RADIO NEWS REPORT
  • Jerusalem Post: "Peace Now: Gov't marked high-income settlements as 'priority areas'"
  • Ma'ariv: "At Ashkelon's Expense"

Read the following:

  • AP: "Showdown looms over West Bank construction curb"
  • CS Monitor: "Israel settlement freeze shields dismantling of illegal outposts"
  • Yedioth Ahronoth: "One Hand Freezes, the Other Invests"
  • AP: "Settlers protest in Jerusalem against freeze"
  • Jerusalem Post: "West Bank building up despite freeze"
  • Time: "Protests Mount Against Israel's Settlement Freeze"

Articles on arson attack against West Bank Mosque

Peace Now called the incident "a Jewish pogrom" and warned that continued provocation by extremists could lead to a new Palestinian intifada.

See the articles:
  • Jerusalem Post: "Palestinians protest mosque arson"
  • AFP: "Officials Blame 'Extremist' Settlers for Arson Attack on West Bank Mosque"


Washington Jewish Week: "Unilateral Palestinian statehood?"

This is time for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage, to take advantage of the leadership that this committed U.S. American administration is offering and to do what it takes to bring peace to their peoples.

By Ori Nir, APN  Spokesman
Special to WJW
Rightist reestablished rabbinical body says agreement to free hundreds of terrorists for kidnapped soldier is treasonous. Their recommendation: Another war against Hamas, threat to kill prisoners if captive is not returned to Israel

Kobi Nahshoni Published: 12.09.09, 15:42 / Israel Jewish Scene

"If Gilad Shalit, Heaven forbid, is executed or not returned in peace, prisoners will be executed immediately," ruled the court of the reestablished "Sandhedrin" organization, in a ruling published last week on the backdrop of the negotiations to release the captured Israeli soldier.

YNET: "Settlement freeze gets icy support"

Peace Now Rally - 12-8-09 - Ice Pile 186x140.jpg

Peace Now, Meretz activists place one ton of ice near Defense Ministry's Tel Aviv office during support rally for government plan

 

by Tal Rabinovsky


Several dozen Peace Now and Meretz activists held a rally across from the Defense Ministry offices in Tel Aviv Tuesday, in support of the settlement freeze.


The measure is "akin to using a chainsaw when a scalpel is in order," said APN President and CEO Debra DeLee. "The threat posed by Iran cannot be bludgeoned away. It calls for a careful and delicate approach."


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