APN Policies and Positions: Believe in Israel. Believe in Peace.

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The Gaza/Hamas Challenge

The Gaza-West Bank split poses real challenges to peace efforts. It is clear today – five years after Hamas, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, took control of Gaza – that efforts to pressure Hamas through boycotts and blockade have failed. Read More...

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Jerusalem

No one can deny the Jewish connection to Jerusalem, which is and forever will be Israel’s capital. Likewise, no one can deny the deep Palestinian connections to Jerusalem, which they view as the only possible capital of a future Palestinian state. Read More...

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Iran

The U.S. must deal soberly with the serious challenges posed by Iran. This requires a policy driven by clear goals that reflect vital U.S. national security imperatives, including getting the Iranian regime to: accept stringent oversight of its nuclear program; end support for terrorist groups; cease activities that undermine U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan; stop belligerent anti-Israel rhetoric; and respect human rights inside Iran. Read More...

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Settlements

Israeli politicians today, from across the political spectrum, acknowledge that most settlements – Israeli civilian neighborhoods built on land occupied by Israel in 1967 – will have to be removed as part of any final peace agreement. Read More...

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Iran on Capitol Hill

Congress this past week made an effort to send a tough message on Iran - both to Iran and to the White House - as the Obama administration and its allies prepare for the May 23rd talks with Iran. APN expressed concern about some of this congressional action, but also welcomed some of this week's developments on Capitol Hill regarding Iran.

For APN's full report on this week's fascinating developments on Capitol Hill, read the latest edition of Lara Friedman's weekly Legislative Roundup. Lara Friedman is APN's Director of Policy and Government Relations.
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APN Board Member Mandy Patinkin in the West Bank with Peace Now, and Speaking at Peace Now Conference

Americans for Peace Now Board Member Mandy Patinkin today toured the West Bank and East Jerusalem with Israel's Peace Now movement and spoke at an annual conference of Israel's peace camp, addressing a crowd of 700 progressive activists.

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Hard Questions, Tough Answers with Yossi Alpher - May 14, 2012
Netanyahu's last-minute unity government

Alpher discusses why PM Netanyahu reversed himself last week at the last minute, canceled the September 4 general election, and brought Kadima into a broad unity government, and what do he and Mofaz stand to gain or lose.
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Israeli leading columnist explains Likud-Kadima alliance
APN hosted leading Israeli political commentator, Akiva Eldar of Haaretz on May 10th, for More...

Ambassador Oren Gets it Right on "Pro-Israel" (LFriedman at The Daily Beast)

May 10, 2012

Thank you, Ambassador Oren.  On Sunday you told an audience in Detroit what "pro-Israel" means.

You said that "The person who is pro-Israel recalls what Jewish life was like without a Jewish state and works to ensure that there always will be a Jewish state." Someone who "knows that there is a place at our table for divergent views. But irrespective of politics... asks, 'how can I contribute to Israel, how can I enrich it and be enriched by it...?'"  Someone who "appreciates the immense threats the people of Israel face every day" and "understands the threats to Israel of not achieving peace but also understands the threat to Israel of making a peace that will quickly unravel..."
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A Balance of Interests: Reading Hamas (LFriedman at The Forward)

May 2, 2012

The Forward's interview with Mousa Abu Marzook highlights some fundamental truths about peacemaking: You make peace with your enemies, not your friends; you make peace not to be nice, but because it is in your self-interest; real peace must reflect a balance of interests, not an imbalance of power, and security arrangements, not trust, will be the foundation of any peace treaty.

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'Crying terrorism': Israel's political use cheapens the term (LFriedman at +972)

April 26, 2012

In characterizing all non-violent Palestinian measures as terrorism, Israel insults the memory of victims of real acts of terror.

Yesterday was Yom Hazikaron, Israeli Remembrance Day. Every year on this day Israelis stop to remember their fellow citizens who have given their lives for the sake of Israel, whether in wars or at the hands of terrorists.



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APN Welcomes Clarifications on H. Res. 568; Urges Members to Sign Letter Supporting Diplomacy

May 16, 2012

Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now (APN) today welcomed clarifications offered last night on the House floor regarding the intent behind H. Res. 568 (to be passed by the House later today) and called on House members to sign a congressional letter supporting diplomacy with Iran.

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APN Denounces New West Bank Settlements

April 26, 2012

Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now joins its Israeli sister organization, Peace Now, in strongly denouncing the Israeli government's authorizing of three new West Bank settlements, thus violating its commitment not to establish new settlements and reneging on its longstanding commitment to remove illegal outposts.

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APN to Obama: Prevent Gaza Escalation

March 12, 2012

Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now (APN) today called on the Obama Administration to work with Israel, Egypt, and Palestinian leaders to urgently advance diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire on the Israel-Gaza border. 

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Washington Post: Under Netanyahu, Israel is stronger than ever

May 10, 2012

While incumbents around the world are struggling to hold on, one is thriving. By bringing the rival Kadima party into his ruling coalition, Benjamin Netanyahu has become "king of Israel," in Aaron David Miller's phrase. He has an unusual, perhaps unique, opportunity to use his new power to secure Israel's future.

Netanyahu's coalition now commands the largest parliamentary majority in Israeli history. He faces no plausible rival as prime minister. When pushed on the Palestinian issue, Netanyahu has often cited the constraints of his coalition to explain why he had not taken bolder steps toward resolution. Perhaps he liked being constrained: He refused to form a national unity government in 1996 (with Shimon Peres) and refused again in 2009 (with Tzipi Livni). But now he has a broad enough base of support -- with many moderates -- and could move toward a peace settlement without endangering his hold on power.

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YNet: Moving closer to one state

May 1, 2012

Hourglasses don't tick. They make no sound, unless you bring them up to your ear and focus on the grains of sand that fall down slowly. The hourglass has no mechanism, only gravity. Nature works by itself.

 
Hourglasses don't tick, and therefore they do not disturb those who wish to let time do its thing, quietly. Nonetheless, they have a drawback: At one point in time, the sand runs out. Suddenly everything stops and the hourglass must be turned upside down to keep functioning.

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Los Angeles Times: Israeli Cabinet to legalize three West Bank outposts, Netanyahu says

April 26, 2012

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that his Cabinet has decided to retroactively legalize three West Bank outposts that previous governments had conceded were built without permission, marking the first step toward what critics fear will become Israel's first official new settlements since 1990.

The decision late Monday by a Cabinet committee begins a long administrative process to authorize the small settlements of Rehalim, Sansana and Bruchin.

The move infuriated Palestinians and frustrated the international community, which has been pushing Israel to freeze settlement construction in the West Bank and refrain from taking actions that might hinder efforts to restart peace talks.

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