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J Street works to promote an open, honest and rigorous conversation about Israel. The opinions reflected in articles posted in the News Roundup do not necessarily reflect J Street’s positions, and their posting does not constitute an endorsement from J Street.
U.S., Iran at Loggerheads over Nuclear Deal after Russian Interruption, Reuters
Iran and the United States were at loggerheads over reviving the 2015 nuclear deal on Thursday after Tehran suggested there were new obstacles and Washington said hard issues remained. The differences emerged just as Western powers were already grappling with last-minute Russian demands that threatened to torpedo otherwise largely completed talks.
In Heated Session, Israel Votes to Re-ban Palestinian Family Unification, Haaretz
Israel’s coalition passed a law effectively barring Palestinians from the West Bank or Gaza who are married to Israeli citizens from gaining citizenship or residency on Thursday, in a fraught final session before the Knesset breaks for recess. The bill passed with 45 votes in favor and 15 against, with both the United Arab List and Meretz of the coalition opposing the law.
Dozen House Dems: ‘Hard to envision supporting’ new Iran deal, Jewish Insider
A bipartisan group of House members, including 12 Democrats, sent a letter, obtained by Jewish Insider, to President Joe Biden on Thursday indicating plans to oppose the forthcoming Iran nuclear agreement and expressing their concerns about some of the publicly reported provisions. They’re joined by a few other House Democrats who expressed similar concerns about the deal to JI.
Bennett Says Israel ‘Must Open Doors and Hearts’ to Jewish Ukrainian Refugees, The Times of Israel
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told ministers on Thursday that Israel must “open its doors and hearts” to Ukrainian Jewish refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as the war entered its 15th day with no end in sight. His comments came during a cabinet meeting in which he officially announced the launch of the “Oliym Habaytah” (Coming Home) operation to help Jews from Ukraine and other former Soviet countries immigrate to Israel.
Israel’s Far Right, Shunned by AIPAC, Is Embraced by Mike Pence, Haaretz
Former Vice President Mike Pence visited Israel this week, and while his visit made little headlines, on Wednesday he did manage to draw public attention after touring the West Bank city of Hebron with two of Israel’s most notorious right-wing extremists, MK Itamar Ben-Gvir and far-right activist Baruch Marzel.
Resist Israel’s Academic Occupation of the Palestinians, Haaretz
The Haaretz Editorial Board writes, “Israel must respect the Palestinians’ right to determine which foreign academics and businesspeople will work at their institutions. Academic institutions in Israel must take action against the infringement of Palestinian academic freedom. And the Labor Party and Meretz must remember that in their passivity in the face of predatory intervention in the lives of Palestinians, they are betraying the positions and expectations of their voters.”
Israel’s President Visits Turkey in Sign of Thawing Relations, The New York Times
In their highest-level meeting in 14 years, Israel and Turkey sought to rekindle an alliance after years of turbulence.