World Union of Meretz Links

editor — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:43:32 +0000

Meretz/Yahad Meretz/Yahad is the Social Democratic party of Israel, the liberal Zionist party most often associated with a negotiated peace solution and an active approach to equality and civil rights. The main (Hebrew) web page is here.
Meretz UK Meretz UK is the British affiliate of the World Union of Meretz. It shares a common vision and a common philosophy - that of a liberal humanistic Zionism that strongly seeks peace and encourages human and civil rights - with the other organizations in the Union.

Israeli Organizations

editor — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:48:41 +0000

Adva Center The Adva Center conducts policy analysis, advocacy work, and public outreach to inform policy makers and the general public in Israel and abroad about equity and social justice issues in Israeli society. Adva analyzes equality and inequality in Israel in a way that integrates gender, ethnicity and nationality.
Ariga Ariga is a web-based source of news and resources from Israel, emphasizing the peace process. It carries information from pro-peace and human rights groups in Israel and Palestine.
B'Tselem An Israeli human rights organization, B'Tselem strives to change Israeli policy in the Occupied Territories and ensure that the Israeli government protects the human rights of residents there and complies with its obligations under international law.
Center for Jewish-Arab Economic Development (CJAED) is an Israeli non-profit organizations, established in 1988 by a group Jewish and Arab Business people. The guiding principle of the Center and its activities is that Jewish-Arab economic cooperation in Israeli is essential for peace, prosperity, and economic stability in Israel and the region at large. CJAED acts through a wide range of programs on the premise that Israel's primary resource is its people; that Israel's strength lies in its pluralism and democracy, and that the Arab community must be integrated into Israeli mainstream economy and society.
Council for Peace and Security The Council for Peace and Security is an association of national security experts, including former high-ranking officers in the army, police and security agencies, retired diplomats, directors general of government ministries, and academics. The Council for Peace and Security believes that peace is a necessary requirement for Israel's security.
Courage to Refuse Courage to Refuse ("Ometz Lesarev") is the group of over 550 (and counting) Israeli reserve soldiers who have declared their unwillingness to serve in the Occupied Territories.
The Geneva Initiative The official home page of the Geneva Initiative includes a wealth of information, mostly in Hebrew, about the Initiative, such as background info., press clippings, interviews, key elements, and maps. The full text of the Initiative is also available here in English (as it is on the Meretz USA web site) and Arabic. Also check out the Joint Partner Campaign in English.
Givat Haviva Institute Givat Haviva, the educational, research and archival center of the Kibbutz Artzi Federation, is Israel's premier institute devoted to Jewish-Arab rapprochement, trade union studies, kibbutz education, and diverse other areas of educational and cultural content.
Israel-Palestine Center for Research and Information The only joint Palestinian-Israeli public policy think-tank, IPCRI is devoted to developing practical solutions for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
MidEastWeb - Middle East News, Views & ReferenceMidEast Web strives to promote dialogue and coexistence through the internet by weaving a world-wide web of Arabs, Jews and others who want to build a new Middle East based on coexistence and neighborly relations.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website contains a wealth of valuable information about Israel.
Peace Now Peace Now (Shalom Achshav), the largest grassroots movement in Israel's history, was founded in 1978 by 348 reserve IDF officers who believe that while Israel must always be ready to defend itself, violence and occupation are not the answers to the Middle East conflict. Of particular interest is Peace Now's "Settlements Watch" project.
The People's Voice The People's Voice ("Hamifkad HaLeumi") is an Israeli-Palestinian public intiative spearheaded by Sari Nuseibeh and Ami Ayalon that aims to advance the peace process by collecting signatures of Palestinians and Israelis on a joint statement of intentions based on the "two states for two peoples" formula.
Rabbis for Human Rights Rabbis for Human Rights is a multi-denominational group of rabbis and rabbinical students that seek to counter Israeli abuses of human rights in the Occupied Territories.
Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research A multi-disciplinary academic framework shared by the faculties of the humanities, social sciences, and law at Tel Aviv University, the TSC promotes systematic research and thinking on issues connected with peacemaking processes and conflict resolution.
The Other Israel The Other Israel is the bimonthly publication of Gush Shalom - the Israeli Council for Israeli/Palestinian Peace, founded by Uri Avnery. Their positions tend to be somewhat left of Meretz.
Yachad Yachad (aka "Yahad" or "Yakhad") - Social Democratic Israel, the successor to the Meretz party in Israel, changed its name on June 26, 2005 to Meretz/Yahad. See above.
Zionism-Israel Information Center Zionism-Israel.com is a website that provides a wealth of general information in English about Zionism and its history, including many links and source documents.

U.S. Organizations

editor — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 19:55:15 +0000

Ameinu The successor to the Labor Zionist Alliance, Ameinu envisions Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, at peace with its neighbors, committed to religious pluralism and social and economic justice for all its citizens. Ameinu's political agenda addresses a range of domestic and international issues, including protection of the environment, support for universal healthcare, preservation of civil liberties, and the ending of foreign and domestic sweatshops.
American Editorial Review Assembled and maintained by the Obermayer Foundation, the American Editorial Review includes editorials and op-ed columns from the 15 largest US newspapers concerning Israel and the Middle East.
Americans for Peace Now The leading US advocate for peace in the Middle East, APN's mission is to help Israel and the Shalom Achshav (Peace Now) 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.
The Avalon Project The Avalon Project at Yale Law School contains a collection of documents in law, history and diplomacy, including a section on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Bitterlemons.org Bitterlemons.org is a website that presents Israeli and Palestinian viewpoints on prominent issues of concern, primarily the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and peace process.
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom Brit Tzedek v'Shalom is a Chicago-based American-Jewish organization working toward a just, viable and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinian people. Its political viewpoint is close to that of Meretz USA.
CALME The Campaign for American Leadership in the Middle East (CALME) seeks to demonstrate the American public's strong support for American leadership toward a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and for the leadership of President Bush in helping the parties reach it. Read CALME's Online Journal here.

Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation Established in 1989 by S. Daniel Abraham and Congressman Wayne Owens, the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation sponsors activities aimed at bringing policy makers and private sector leaders together to foster the atmosphere necessary for the promotion and protection of Middle East peace.
Engage Engage is a British weblog founded in respose to the actions taken by the Association of University Teachers (AUT) in Britain to launch an academic and cultural boycott of Israel. The boycott decision has since been reversed by a general vote of the AUT membership, but the struggle continues on other issues, such as a boycott of the Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem.
Foundation for Middle East Peace The Foundation for Middle East Peace is a nonprofit organization dedicated to informing Americans about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and assisting in a peaceful solution that brings security for both peoples. Its excellent website contains a wealth of information, and it publishes the bi-monthly Report on Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories.
Givat Haviva Educational Foundation Givat Haviva Educational Foundation is the North American representative and fundraising arm of the Givat Haviva Institute in Israel.
Habonim Dror North America Habonim Dror, the Labor Zionist youth movement, operates seven summer camps and 30 city chapters across North America. The movement educates towards Zionism, Socialism, social justice, Judaism, and self actualization.
Hashomer Hatzair North America Hashomer Hatzair is a youth movement, based on the principles of Progressive Zionism, Social Justice, Progressive Judaism and self-actualization, and committed to peace and equality.
Israel Policy Forum The Israel Policy Forum is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization that supports active and sustained American efforts to resolve the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
Jewish Virtual Library The Jewish Virtual Library is a good source for information about things Jewish and Israeli. Their angle tends to be a bit right-wing, but the wealth of material is impressive.
New Israel Fund The New Israel Fund works to safeguard civil and human rights, promote Jewish-Arab coexistence, advance the status of women, foster tolerance and religious pluralism, bridge social and economic gaps, pursue environmental justice, and encourage government accountability.
New Voices -- Jewish Student Press Service New Voices is a pioneering magazine for Jewish college students.
Palestine Mission to the UN The website of the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations is a good source for documents and background information from the Palestinian perspective.
Progressive Zionist Alliance The Progressive Zionist Alliance (PZA) is a Philadelphia-based group of American Jews deeply committed to a just and secure settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to preserving and strengthening Israel's democratic character.
Seeds of Peace Seeds of Peace is a non-profit, non-political organization that helps teenagers from regions of conflict learn the skills of making peace.
Seeking Peace, Pursuing Justice Seeking Peace, Pursuing Justice is the Reform Movement's campaign to educate and mobilize North American Jewry to support peace efforts and social justice causes in Israel.
Shalom Center Led by Rabbi Arthur Waskow, the Shalom Center is a network of American Jews who draw on Jewish tradition and spirituality to seek peace, pursue justice, heal the earth, and build community.
Union of Progressive Zionists A joint venture of Meretz USA, Habonim Dror North America, Hashomer Hatzair and the Labor Zionist Alliance, UPZ is a new campus-oriented initiative to support liberal pro-Israel student activism.

Press Links

editor — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 20:00:17 +0000

Links to media and press resources that cover Israel, the Middle East, the Jewish and the Arab World: