Yossi Alpher, Israeli security expert, in this week's Hard Questions, Tough Answers issue brief done exclusively for APN.
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 Americans for Peace Now: January 8, 2020 |
 "...the escalation that led to Soleimani’s assassination actually began with Trump’s ill-advised 2018 withdrawal from the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal, followed by his ineffectual economic boycott of Iran."
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. Q. American political and public opinion is sharply divided regarding the wisdom of the US assassination of Iran’s Qasem Soleimani early last Friday morning. Is Israeli opinion as divided? A. No. With the exception of Israel’s Arab sector, opinion is near unanimous that Israel is well rid of Soleimani... Q. And Israel, in contrast? A. Israel perceived Soleimani solely as the mastermind of Iran’s drive to project power westward through Iraq and into the Levant (Syria, Lebanon)... Q. And Gaza? Hamas? Palestinian Islamic Jihad rockets fired at the Gaza periphery settlements? What was Kochavi’s message here? A. ...the IDF wants to sharpen its focus on an impending clash to Israel’s north by deescalating to the greatest extent possible on the Gaza front... Q. What were Soleimani’s strategic goals? A. Iranian Shiite hegemony in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon... Q. How will Iran respond toward the US? Toward Israel? A. Iran has already escalated its nuclear response, further distancing it from the JCPOA nuclear deal... As for a direct response, I doubt Iran will risk frontal military escalation... Q. In a better world, with a genuine strategic-thinker as US president, what should he do at this point? A. Follow up on the Soleimani assassination with a strategic conciliatory move... Q. Turning to the Israeli political arena, with elections looming in under two months, where is the focus now? A. The focus is on PM Netanyahu’s appeal for Knesset immunity... Q. Finally, there are growing indications that Israel’s non-governmental peace advocacy organizations are losing their immunity and folding... A. This is yet another aspect of the sorry state of affairs...
"Good news from Israel" - Peace Now's Shaqued Morag
Good news from Israel? Yes. Not enough, just yet, to offset all the bad, but, for the first time in many years, enough to give us a concrete hope for change. Written for the end of 2019, Shaqued's letter remains relevant and compelling.
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Listen to the Americans for Peace Now briefing call from Tuesday, January 7, with strategic affairs expert Yossi Alpher, on what Qassim Suleimani’s assassination means for Israel and the Middle East
If there was ever a time for these groups to demonstrate resolve and courage, to show that they can be a responsible friend of the State of Israel, beyond serving as a cheerleader of its unhinged government policies, that time is now.
VIDEO: Peace Now (Shalom Achshav) 2019 in Review Click on the graphic above or HERE to see the video featuring snippets from the many activities and accomplishments of Peace Now in 2019.
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Washington, DC - Monday, January 27, 10 am
Israel’s democratic institutions are under ever-growing threat, including attacks and delegitimization from Israeli political leaders, with a final push to formal annexation looming. Come hear Yehuda Shaul, Co-Founder of Breaking the Silence, in conversation with Debra Shushan, Director of Government Relations, J Street. APN is a co-sponsor of this Foundation for Middle East program. Go HERE for more information and to RSVP. |
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