Press Release


 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           CONTACT: Lewis Roth
September 30, 2002                                          (202) 728-1893
 
APN Condemns Far Right-Wing Efforts To Defame
Dr. Sari Nusseibeh
APN Releases New Report Responding To Charges
 
Washington, D.C.—Americans for Peace Now (APN) today condemned efforts by the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) and other groups on the far right-wing of Israeli and American Jewish politics for their attempts to defame Dr. Sari Nusseibeh, a leading Palestinian moderate who has worked tirelessly to bring an end to Israeli-Palestinian violence and to gain acceptance for more moderate Palestinian positions in peace negotiations.  APN is in the midst of hosting Dr. Nusseibeh and Israeli Peace Coalition activists in a series of public dialogues being held in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City.  APN’s mission is to enhance Israel’s security through peace and to support the Israeli Peace Now movement.
 
“The attempts by ZOA and its ideological cohorts to defame Dr. Sari Nusseibeh are nothing short of shameful and a tremendous discredit to them,” said Debra DeLee, President and CEO of Americans for Peace Now.  “Dr. Nusseibeh has bravely called for an end to Palestinian suicide attacks against Israelis, argued that Palestinians must abandon their claim to a ‘right of return’ to Israel, joined with Maj. Gen. (res.) Ami Ayalon (the former head of the Israeli internal security service, Shin Bet) in crafting a joint proposal to end the conflict, and helped form the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Coalition.  The impact of his efforts is reflected in the growing number of Palestinian leaders who are now questioning the violence of the Intifada.  For the ZOA and others to misrepresent and distort his positions—labeling him an ‘extremist’ and a ‘supporter of violence against Israel’—is beyond the pale.  These attacks from the far right-wing say more about their abject fear of the possible resumption of peace negotiations than anything else.”
 
 
Americans for Peace Now has just released a rebuttal specifically responding to many of the charges leveled at Dr. Nusseibeh.  You can find the report on the web at:
 
If you cannot access the report on the web, please contact Lewis Roth at (202) 728-1893 to get the report faxed or mailed to you.
 
Lewis Roth, Assistant Executive Director
Americans for Peace Now
1815 H Street, NW  Ste. 920
Washington, D.C.  20006
Phone  (202) 728-1893
Fax      (202) 728-1895
http://www.peacenow.org