"We are witnessing the last vestiges of what has been known as the Arab-Israeli conflict.” “The conflict is nothing more than a real-estate dispute between Israelis and Palestinians (…) It will ultimately be resolved when both sides agree on an arbitrary boundary line."

Jared Kushner, Former President Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor on Israeli-Palestinian peace, in a March 14th op-ed in the Wall Street Journal.

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.

Netanyahu Jeopardizes the Absolute Strategic Centrality of Jordan for Israel (March 15, 2021)

Q. A fourth round of Israeli elections is barely a week away. Israel’s corona outlook is surprisingly good. Where and why does Jordan suddenly enter the strategic picture?

A. Jordan entered, or reentered, the picture last week when it responded to a perceived Israeli affront to the Hashemite royal family by preventing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s first visit to the United Arab Emirates. The details are instructive.

Q. All hardly earthshaking . . .

A. It is, when we encounter the multiple regional strategic dimensions involved and the gathering anger and frustration with Israel on the part of the Hashemite leadership. Crown Prince Hussein’s aborted visit was understood as only the latest in a series of slights to the Hashemite family perpetrated by Netanyahu in recent years. 

Q. Can’t Netanyahu and King Abdullah II patch this up? Netanyahu is constantly bragging about his extensive relations throughout the Arab world . . .

A. Netanyahu is persona non grata in Jordan. It all began when, early in his first term as prime minister (1996-99), he visited Abdullah’s father, King Hussein, and promised him that regarding the Palestinian issue “I will surprise you”. (At the time, Netanyahu made a similar promise to Egypt’s President Mubarrak.) In Jordanian eyes, that was the first of a series of lies Netanyahu told them.  

Q. Well, what exactly are those assets? At a time when Israel is normalizing with distant Arab states like the UAE, Morocco and Sudan, why is damage to Jordan-related assets so important?

A. Jordan is Israel’s strategic depth looking east. Indeed, it is the entire neighborhood’s strategic depth. 

Q. So what should the Israeli leadership be doing to repair relations with Jordan?

A. For starters, improve relations with the Palestinian leadership, based on dialogue, concern for shared strategic interests like water and blunting the covid pandemic, and energizing a political process designed to keep Israel Jewish and democratic by aspiring to a two-state solution.  

Read Now: March 12, 2021

Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Legislative Round-Up was conceived. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.

Thursday, March 25, 11:00 am (Eastern)

Webinar: Analyzing Israel's Election Results with Dr. Dahlia Scheindlin

Following an election campaign that pundits depict as the sleepiest in Israel’s history, Israelis will go to the polls next Tuesday for the fourth time in two years. Election fatigue notwithstanding, the results of this round could be more consequential than the past three. Will Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc win the coveted 61 MK majority for him to form a coalition? Will the opposition gain enough votes to foil such a government? Will the Kahanist extremists cross the threshold to make it into the Knesset? Will Meretz? And how are the Arab parties going to fair?

 

Dr. Scheindlin is a public opinion expert and an international political and strategic consultant, as well as a scholar and a writer. She has advised and conducted research on seven national campaigns in Israel over the past twenty years, and has provided research and advising for elections, referendums, and civil society campaigns in fifteen different countries.

 

Members of House and Senate Urge Sec. Blinken to Ensure Palestinians Recieve Adequate Supply of COVID-19 Vaccine

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken received letters from members of both the House of Representatives and Senate urging his intervention with the Israeli government to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Palestinians in the occupied territories. See links below to reach each of these letters. 

 

 

Americans for Peace Now is co-sponsoring the annual joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony, hosted by Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle–Families Forum. On April 13, 2021 at 1:30 PM EST, peace activists worldwide will l gather virtually to call for peace, freedom, and human rights for all. 

 

Israel’s Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron, is a solemn day on which Israelis remember loved ones they have lost in the years of war and conflict. This Yom Hazikaron event acknowledges the pain and bereavement of both Israelis and Palestinians. 

 

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Members of House Renew Concerns Around Palestinian Human Rights in Letter to Sec. Blinken

Join APN in celebrating its 40th anniversary with a visit to our online auction! Bidding will open April 11th and close on April 20th.

 

We are delighted to offer a variety of items, donated by APN supporters from around the world. Inside the auction you'll find vacation homes and airline travel, autographed items from beloved performers and cultural icons, concerts, cooking classes and other other online opportunities, art and food and more. 

 

Your winning bids will support APN's efforts to build bridges between Israelis and Palestinians and ensure a just, secure and lasting peace. 

 

Look for more information about the auction here in future weeks. We hope you'll join the fun!  

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