Americans
for Peace Now [APN] was founded in 1981 to support the activities of Shalom Achshav
in Israel. APN is the leading United States advocate for peace in the Middle East. APN's
mission is to help Israel and the Shalom Achshav movement to achieve a
comprehensive political settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict consistent with Israel's
long-term security needs and its Jewish and democratic values. APN strives to
meet the following goals in order to fulfill its mission:
- An American Jewish community and general American public educated about the strategic
and economic benefits of security through peace in the Middle East.
- Active White House and State Department engagement in the peace process, especially
Administration efforts to broker a new interim understanding between Israelis and
Palestinians, facilitate final status arrangements that reconcile Israeli security with
Palestinian statehood, and encourage negotiations between Israel, Syria, and Lebanon.
- Congressional support for the peace process through continued aid to Israel, Egypt,
Jordan, and the Palestinians.
- Broad awareness in the United States of the benefits of Shalom Achshav
programs in Israel.
- A firm financial base for Shalom Achshav and APN activities.
APN has a wide array of educational programs that reach out to communities around
the country, and is a powerful force for mobilizing grassroots support among U.S.
citizens. By demonstrating this support, and by working directly with decision makers and
government officials, APN promotes U.S. policies that further the peace process. Finally,
APN provides critical financial support to the work of Shalom Achshav in Israel.
Shalom Achshav is Israel's most potent advocate for peace. Americans for
Peace Now [APN] is also the premier address in the United States for American Jews who
support the quest for peace. Although APN was originally started to raise funds in the
United States for Shalom Achshav, and remains a major function of our movement,
APN's agenda has expanded over the years to encompass a wide range of
activites.
In addition to supporting its own U.S.-based programs, the dollars APN raises in
America are critical to the funding of Shalom Achshav programming in Israel. Shalom
Achshav depends upon the support and involvement of APN to accomplish its crucial
work.
