In This Week's Peace Report

News and analysis from the Israeli and Arab press that goes beyond the American headlines:

PRISONER EXCHANGE: The first phase in the prisoner exchange deal negotiated between Israel and Hezbollah will reportedly begin in one week.

CALLING UNCLE SAM: Israel and Syria held their third round of indirect peace negotiations in Turkey on Tuesday.

ISRAELIS SHIFT ON GOLAN WITHDRAWAL? Israeli public opinion may be warming to the notion of returning the Golan Heights to Syria...

NORMALIZATION? Jordan's King Abdullah on Wednesday offered a passionate defense of doing business with Israeli companies.

Read the entire Peace Report here.

Hard Questions, Tough Answers with Yossi Alpher - July 7, 2008

Q. Egypt has been playing a critical role in Israel-Hamas negotiations regarding a ceasefire and prisoner exchange. What is its strategic approach to Gaza and Hamas? What does it hope to accomplish?

A. The Egyptian effort is spearheaded by General Omar Suleiman, who is officially responsible for intelligence operations at ministerial level but in fact holds both the Israeli-Palestinian and US "files" in President Husni Mubarak's entourage. His overall strategic approach is to neutralize or at least distance Hamas as a factor in Egyptian domestic politics (due to its links with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood) and as an agent of Islamist terrorism in the Sinai Peninsula. He is well aware that not a few Israelis would happily "unload" Gaza on Egypt, and wants to make sure the Gaza Strip remains Israel's problem (as part of the Palestinian issue) and does not become Egypt's problem.

More >

Q. The unfolding Hezbollah prisoner exchange and negotiations over an exchange with Hamas have unleashed powerful emotions in Israeli society. What is at stake?

A. A number of important issues touching on societal values are involved. For one, how big a price does Israel pay for a live soldier, Gilad Shalit, being held by Hamas?... Further, do we pay for dead soldiers with live terrorists? This is apparently the substance of the impending deal with Hezbollah.

More >

NEW ESSAY: "Four Observations from Israel"

READ
AND COMMENT >

Americans for Peace Now: July 7, 2008

Peace Now Organizes Settlement Tours

In part to respond to the result of a recent Peace Now poll revealing that some 73% of Israelis have not visited the West Bank over the past few years, summer tours to settlements and outposts will be held to allow people to closely examine the situation there.

A first tour in the Binyamin region was held last weekend and had 80 participants, and additional tours are planned to the separation fence and roadblocks, as well as to the city of Hebron.

Peace Now buses were stoned near the settlement of Shiloh

Other Peace Now items In The News:

Jerusalem Post: "Barak OK's Hebron Yeshiva Dorm Project" - July 3, 2008

"The Defense Minister is giving the settlers everything they ask for and is avoiding any confrontation with them," said Hagit Ofran, who heads the Peace Now settlement-watch team.

More >

 

Ma'ariv: "How do you say in Thai: 'I'm a Kibbutznik from the Jordan Valley'?" - July 2, 2008

Peace Now Secretary General Yariv Oppenheimer said: "In an attempt to cling to every spot, the settlers are breaking new records and importing settlers from foreign countries.

More >

 

New York Jewish Week: "All Eyes on Ofra" - July 2, 2008

Ofra faces another legal challenge that may force the government to come back to carry out nine more building demolitions - this time within the Ofra boundaries...(the challenge) relies on official West Bank land registries obtained from the government by Peace Now.

More >

 

Boston Advocate: "Peace Now" - June 30, 2008

Yariv Oppenheimer, the 32-year-old director of Shalom Achshav - Peace Now in Israel, met us for coffee on Emek Refaim in Jerusalem.

More >

Simcha Levental Letter about his IDF Service and Support of Americans for Peace Now

"I am a 26-year-old Israeli whose army service took me to the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ask me about my politics and I'd say I am a moderate who loves his country and who sees his future here. But I have also seen how Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza has led to daily humiliations and harassment of ordinary Palestinians. And I have learned that being an occupier, even one without malicious intent, means doing shameful, regrettable, and often self-defeating things."

READ THE ENTIRE LETTER >