Washington, DC -Americans for Peace Now (APN) is alarmed by the huge increase in West Bank settlement construction, and joins its Israeli sister organization, Peace Now, in calling on the government of Israel to immediately stop settlement construction.

APN praises its Israeli sister organization, Shalom Achshav (Peace Now) for breaking the news about this sharp increase in settlement construction, based on official Israeli government data.

Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now (APN) mourns the death of Senator Frank Lautenberg.

APN's President and CEO Debra DeLee said: "It is with deep sadness that we mark the death of New Jersey's longtime Senator Frank Lautenberg. Senator Lautenberg was a strong advocate - both in the Senate and within the Jewish community - for Israeli-Palestinian peace and for U.S. leadership to achieve it. These positions were a natural extension of his abiding commitment to the U.S.-Israel relationship and of his deep concern for Israel's security and its future.

Today, as we mourn his death, we honor his life and his legacy."

PICTURE: Senator Lautenberg with Yitzhak Rabin

Americans for Peace Now (APN) today commended Secretary of  State John Kerry for his powerful speech advocating Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Americans for Peace Now (APN) mourns the death of Senator Frank Lautenberg. 

APN's President and CEO Debra DeLee said: "It is with deep sadness that we mark the death of New Jersey's longtime Senator Frank Lautenberg. Senator Lautenberg was a strong advocate - both in the Senate and within the Jewish community - for Israeli-Palestinian peace and for U.S. leadership to achieve it. These positions were a natural extension of his abiding commitment to the U.S.-Israel relationship and of his deep concern for Israel's security and its future. Today, as we mourn his death, we honor his life and his legacy."

According to an Israeli radio report earlier today, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently ordered Minister of Housing Uri Ariel not to issue new tenders for construction in settlements.

Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now (APN) warmly welcomes the Arab League's decision to soften its peace initiative to accommodate future land-swaps between Israel and the Palestinians, as a part of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. APN is gratified to see that this positive development does not go unnoticed by Israel's leaders.

Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now (APN) condemns the killing of an Israeli civilian in the West Bank by a Palestinian assailant, who has been arrested. This murder -- the first of its kind since 2011-- cannot be justified for any reason.  Such acts of violence are immoral and unjustifiable.  The victim, a 30 year-old resident of the settlement of Yitzhar, leaves behind a wife and 5 children.

Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now (APN) welcomes amendments made by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) to temper a problematic Iran-war resolution. The amendments to Senate Resolution 65 were adopted today at an SFRC "mark-up" meeting on Capitol Hill.

Americans for Peace Now (APN) welcomes amendments made by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) to temper a problematic Iran-war resolution. The amendments to Senate Resolution 65 were adopted today at an SFRC "mark-up" meeting on Capitol Hill.

Americans for Peace Now (APN) today applauded President Obama's historic speech, delivered to an audience of young Israelis in Jerusalem.

APN President and CEO Debra DeLee stated:

"Today, President Obama did what he does best: he spoke directly and honestly to the people. With compassion, courage, integrity, and a touch of humor, President Obama made the best case for peace that Israelis have ever heard, either from a U.S. president or from their own leaders. In doing so, Israelis finally got a chance to understand the depth of this president's commitment to their security, their prosperity, and their future, and to understand why this commitment is directly linked to the longstanding U.S. commitment to the achievement of peace.