The Israeli daily, Ma'ariv, recently ran a story about construction in East Jerusalem, and told its readers, "These figures were given to us by Hagit Ofran, who heads the Settlement Watch program for Peace Now [Shalom Achshav]. Ofran carefully monitors each and every construction permit given to neighborhoods beyond the Green Line and documents them. She was the only one who could give us the precise numbers in an orderly Excel chart."
When media, leaders and decision makers want information, to whom do they go? Israelis and Americans, Politicians and legislators, organizations and the press - all depend upon the research, the accuracy and the dogged determination that Peace Now has demonstrated day in and day out.
Today, we are bringing you a new report by Peace Now's extraordinary team on the true cost of the settlements. It shows how the Israeli government disproportionately spends on the settlers and the settlements to the detriment of Israeli citizens living inside the green line.
Anyone who has an interest in peace for Israelis and Palestinians must read this information. We are offering it to you in a new and easy way to access and share. Please forward it to whomever you think needs to see it: American legislators, rabbis and cantors, community leaders and decision makers - and most important of all: your families and friends.
With your help, American friends of Israel will know what Israeli citizens know: West Bank settlements are not only a political and security liability for Israel, but also a financial drain.
Once you have read it, please share it with others (you can share the document while reading it by going to the tool bar at the top of the page and clicking the icon second from the left, shaped like a star). And then, please consider helping us support the excellent work that Peace Now does. Please help us print copies of this important report to share with community leaders and political decision-makers. $18 will allow us to print 10 copies and $54 will help us send copies to 30 people.
Thank you for your support. Together, we can reveal the truth about settlements that so many people would rather hide.