APN welcomes President Obama's decision to nominate Senator John Kerry as the next Secretary of State of the United States. We know Senator Kerry well from his years as a leader of U.S. foreign policy in the Senate. Throughout his time in office, Senator Kerry has demonstrated extraordinary courage and leadership in the foreign policy arena. He has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the complex foreign policy challenges facing the United States in the Middle East and around the world, and a profound appreciation of and respect for the vital role that U.S. diplomacy can and must play in addressing these challenges. He is clearly an eminently qualified candidate for the position of Secretary of State.

Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now (APN) today condemned the Israeli government's approval this morning of plans for a new settlement in East Jerusalem, Givat Hamatos - the first new settlement to be established since Prime Minister Netanyahu, in his first term in office, defied the international community in the 1990s to establish Har Homa.

Americans for Peace Now today issued the following statement:

APN supports President Obama's right, as the president of the United States, to name members of his cabinet.  With respect to Senator Hagel, APN strongly rejects attacks on Senator Hagel's record on Israel and Middle East-related issues.  We know Senator Hagel well from his time in office.  In the Senate he was a thoughtful legislator with a deep commitment to U.S. national security and a keen understanding of the full gamut of complex foreign policy issues, including the vital importance of achieving durable Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Open letter to PM Netanyahu says controversial settlement expansion could be 'final blow to a peaceful solution'

Washington, DC - More than four hundred US rabbis, cantors, rabbinical students and cantorial students are expressing grave concern about Israel's plans to advance the construction of settlements in the controversial E1 area of the West Bank and authorizing thousands of new housing units in East Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, Israel - On a tour to E-1, the corridor that extends between East Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement of Maale Adumim, Americans for Peace Now leaders on Sunday strongly condemned the government of Israel's intention to expedite settlement construction at this sensitive spot.

(Pictured: APN Study Tour Group in E-1 on Sunday, December 2, one day after the announcement of the Israeli Government)