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Americans for Peace Now: April 22, 2020


QUOTE

"What connects all the groups and causes is the shout out for Israeli democracy that is being harmed these days by Netanyahu and his allies."

Shaqued Morag, Peace Now Director, from the pro-decocracy demonstration in Tel Aviv where she further expressed that Netanyahu's plan to annex swathes of Palestinian territories, a move President Trump greenlit in January, is the principal threat to Israeli democracy.

Quote from Time's Israelis Just Showed the World What a Socially Distant Protest Looks Like [ [link removed] ], which includes a helicopter-filmed video from the stunning, social-distanced demonstration.

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Issue Briefs

Hard Questions, Tough Answers with Yossi Alpher [ [link removed] ]

Yossi Alpher is an independent security analyst. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.

April 20, 2020, - If You Were Running a Strategic Think Tank Right Now [ [link removed] ]

NOTE: For Yossi analysis on the governing agreement made between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Blue and White Party Leader Benny Gantz, see next week's Q and A plus participate in the APN briefing call [ [link removed] ] with Yossi on Thursday, April 27.

Q. Israel's coronavirus situation looks less messy than most countries. The country still doesn't have a governing coalition, but that too is beginning to look routine. You used to run a strategic think tank. Suppose you could do so again. What would your research agenda look like in these unsettled times?

A. ...the agenda should be anything but classic...

Q. Corona? Let's start with the hottest category. What should your think tank do?

A. Here the enemy, whether a pandemic or the effects of global warming--the two are almost certainly connected, by the way--is internal...

Q. Moving on to "no peace process", there is certainly still a Palestinian issue. How would you define it for your virtual strategic think tank agenda?

A. Obviously, ways to keep Israel Jewish and democratic by dialoguing with the Palestinians should still be an agenda item...

Q. And next on the agenda?

A. The radically changing nature of Israel's neighborhood...

Q. Finally, issues of internal Israeli societal resilience and cohesion are always begging for attention.

A. Here we can't avoid getting involved in Israel's internal composition and the question of whether it has the most suitable political system...

Q. We began by noting that the absence of a governing coalition (when this was written) is beginning to look routine. Abandoning your think-tank mode of thinking into the future, what is your prognosis for the coming week of Israeli politics?

A. ...Netanyahu is willing to jeopardize everything--governance, national solidarity and the rule of law--to satisfy his own egomaniacal drive for power and immunity...

Read More [ [link removed] ]

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Government Relations [ [link removed] ]

APN Legislative Round-Up: April 17, 2020 [ [link removed] ]

Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace [ [link removed] ] in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Legislative Round-Up was conceived

* Bill, Resolutions, and Letters
* Hearings
* On the Record

Read More [ [link removed] ]

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Briefing Call with Yossi Alpher: "Israel's 'Emergency' Government – The Specter of Annexation and More"

For an analysis of the Netanyayhu-Gantz coalition agreement and other questions relating to Israeli politics, join APN's briefing call with independent Israeli security analyst Yossi Alpher.

Thursday, April 27, 12 noon (Eastern)
Dial-in Number: 951-797-1058
Participant Access Code: 147414 _

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APN Alarmed at Netanyahu-Gantz Annexation Agreement

The agreement for the "emergency" unity government reached between Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his opponent-turned-coalition-partner Benny Gantz allows Israel to embark on West Bank annexation procedures as early as July 1st.

Annexation risks the possibility of Israel ever reaching peace with the Palestinians, jeopardizes Israel's peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt, and will turn Israel into an international pariah.

Read More [ [link removed] ]

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It is not too late for Netanyahu and Gantz to act responsibly. Help APN send this important message to them. Sign our petition "No to Annexation, Yes to Peace"and encourage others through the "tell-a-friend" option.

[ [link removed] ]

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APN in Action

Jewish Journal: "On Israel's 72nd Birthday, We Must Fight For The Two State Solution"

by Mark Bilsky, APN Deputy CEO

This is not a season that invites calm reflection. Too much is in play. The agenda is crowded with controversy. New possibilities tantalize but have yet to come into focus. We are inundated with talk of "competing narratives" alongside the growing controversies over quarantine, democracy, annexation, land, peace, income disparities and ethnic disparities.

Read More [ [link removed] ]

With permission from the Jewish Journal, this piece was re-printed in the Washington Jewish Week [ [link removed] ]

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APN COVID Reports and Reource Page

APN has so far provided three "APN COVID Reports" focusing on Israel and Palestine -- #1 on reporting, #2 WHO funding, and #3 East Jerusalem. These items, along with links to APN statements, PeaceCast podcasts, Alpher Q and A's and more are all on APN's dedicated resource page for pandemic-related issues.

Go HERE [ [link removed] ] to read the reports and link to all the items.

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APN Events

LIVESTREAM - Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Ceremony - Monday, April 27, 8:30 pm (Eastern)

Israel's Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron, is a solemn day in which Israelis remember those who they have lost in decades of war and conflict. The joint ceremony provides an opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians to acknowledge the loss and the pain of those living on the other side and to together walk a path of respect, equality, freedom - and ultimately peace.

APN is a co-sponsor of this event hosted by Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle-Families Forum

RSVP to receive live-streaming information > [ mailto:[email protected] ]

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In Case You Missed It...

"Our organization is all about that pursuit" - Letter from Letty Cottin Pogrebin, APN Board Member

Noted author and APN Board Member Letty Cottin Pogrebin looks realistically at what's at stake now, the obstacles to overcome, and how APN and Peace Now are responding.

Go HERE [ [link removed] ] to read and to help our cause at this difficult, yet crucial moment.

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You can still double your contribution to APN as some funds remain for a short while in the generous matching offer from Jim Klutznick, Chair of the APN Board. [ [link removed] ].


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