Who are they kidding?

A MODERN HEBREW EXPRESSION SAYS: "Not every day is Purim," which can loosely be translated to: You can't fool all the people all the time. Sadly, based on what passes for expert opinion on the Israel- Palestinian conflict, you might think it is Purim every day of the year. Day after day, right-wing "experts" somehow get away with spinning arguments from sheer fantasy, like a year-round Purimspiel.

Who are they kidding?

Distinguishing fantasy from the often dismal reality of the Middle East takes clear eyes and a sober commitment to pragmatism. That's exactly what Americans for Peace Now (APN), the American counterpart to Israel's Peace Now movement, embodies.on Purim, and every day of the year.

We don't try to fool anyone.

We know that if the United States government doesn't participate seriously and vigorously in the peace process, holding each side tightly in its embrace, Arab-Israeli peace will remain a fantasy.

We know that if the Palestinians don't clean house - creating a single government that can negotiate with Israel and can stop attacks against it - the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace will be dim.

And we know that if the Israeli government will not act on its commitments - opening barriers, dismantling outposts, and freezing construction in settlements - then its talk of peace is a masquerade.

Peace Now and APN alone cannot make these things happen. What we can do is speak the sober truth - on the streets of Israel and in the halls of Congress, in synagogues and on college campuses. We can build and sustain a readiness for peace, an openness to opportunities, and a sense that a future settlement is possible. In short, we can prepare the ground for peace and build constituencies that demand leadership toward peace.

We are clear-eyed about these things. We are not kidding anyone. We offer the only way to keep Israel a strong, secure, democratic Jewish state. If anyone tells you otherwise, remember that Purim comes only once a year.