By Zeina Azzam
It is clear that there are changes in the way Palestine and Israel are being discussed in the media and in the progressive movement in the United States. Now that the traditional taboos of criticizing Israel have been brought to light and acknowledged nationally, our work is to continue the momentum toward increased awareness of the Palestinians’ plight.
In light of Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent reelection and his pronouncement about Palestinian statehood, many in Washington are reexamining U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine. This panel discusses possible options and assess their short term and long term implications on Washington’s evolving policy in the region
In 2013 and early 2014, journalist Nora Barrows-Friedman crisscrossed the United States interviewing the young activists who form the core of this movement and their voices ring out strongly from every page of her new book, In Our Power, which reveals the rich political legacy these students are building.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (13 February 2015) – The Jerusalem Fund mourns the passing of Dr. Naseer Aruri, a former board member and Palestine Center Advisor. Chancellor Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and internationally recognized Middle East expert, Dr. Aruri died Tuesday, February 10, at the age of 81 from complications related to Parkinson’s disease.
Washington has insisted that any Israeli-Palestinian peace process must go through it. At the same time, it has failed to produce Israeli-Palestinian peace. Can U.S. mediation succeed? What needs to change? If not to Washington, where should Palestinians look to advance their goals? Can Palestinian liberation be achieved without Washington, Israel’s biggest supporter, involved?
John Judis, author of “Genesis: Truman, American Jews, and the Origins of the Arab/Israeli Conflict” offers a fresh look at the critical Truman years, arguing that if we can understand how this stalemate in American policy originated, we will be better positioned to help end it.
Panel I – Prospect for Palestinian Freedom: Assessing the “peace process” and exploring alternatives; Panel II – Sectarianism Spinning out of Control: The drivers and victims of hate; Panel III – Palestine in the Middle: Effects of regional conflict on the future of Palestine and its Politics; Panel IV – A Return to the Cold War?: The foreign policies of great powers and regional players
Writer and political analyst Josh Ruebner charts Obama’s journey from optimism to frustration in the first hard-hitting investigation into why the president failed to make any progress on this critical issue, and how his unwillingness to challenge the Israel lobby has shattered hopes for peace.
Parliamentary elections in Israel are scheduled for 22 January and are expected to bring forward a pro-settlement government that is more right-wing than the current government. What implications does this have on U.S.-Israel relations? What will this mean for Israeli policy toward Palestinians and Palestinian territory? How will this new political reality effect diplomatic efforts for progress?
Through educational events, humanitarian support, and cultural preservation, the Jerusalem Fund is helping build the movement for Palestinian liberation.
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