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.
The Israelis Galvanizing Pro-democracy Protests Thousands of Miles From Home, Haaretz
“Are the local demonstrations, together with the ongoing protest movement in Israel, raising awareness of Israel’s internal struggle in America’s Jewish community? Jessica Brown, co-chair of J Street New York, said she believes they are, noting: ‘The average American Jew is waking up to the fact that Israel is in danger of becoming an authoritarian and theocratic state.’”
Two-Way Street | Clergy Reflections on Yom Ha’atzmaut, J Street Blog
For this special edition of The Two Way Street, the Chairs of our Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet each wrote a short reflection on excerpts of Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
5 Wounded in Ramming Near Jerusalem Market, Israeli Police Say, PBS
A car ramming attack Monday near a popular Jerusalem market wounded five people and the Palestinian driver was shot and killed, Israeli police said, as the country memorialized its fallen soldiers.
Netanyahu Meets with Democrats as He Looks to Buck Notion of Strained US Ties, The Times of Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Monday with a delegation of American congressional Democrats, as he continued to dismiss the notion that his government’s ties with the party and the United States more broadly were strained.
Do Not Give Up on Israel, Yair Lapid Tells American Jews, The Jerusalem Post
Dozens of protesters against the judicial overhaul disrupted a panel at the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) General Assembly on Monday in Tel Aviv. Religious Zionist Party MK Simcha Rothman, chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, spoke about the amendment of the Law of Return and the judicial reforms. The protesters prevented him from speaking at times.
Bipartisan U.S. Lawmakers Omit Palestinians From Israeli Independence Day Resolution, Haaretz
Bipartisan U.S. lawmakers are set to introduce a resolution honoring the 75th anniversary of Israel’s founding on Tuesday which excludes language on the Palestinians or the two-state solution.
Political Division Casts Long Shadow Over Israel’s Memorial Day, The Guardian
Israel’s memorial day, in which those killed serving in the armed forces as well as terrorist attacks are honoured, is usually quiet and sombre; then, at sunset, independence day celebrations and fireworks begin.
Palestinian Reporter Breaks Barriers by Reporting in Hebrew on Israeli TV, CNN
Sitting at the oversized crescent desk on a set lit up by massive screens, smartly-suited Suleiman Maswadeh fits right in with his colleagues at Israel’s public broadcaster Kan 11. But between his name and very slight accent in Hebrew, it’s clear Maswadeh is something not often seen on Israeli television. He is one of the few Palestinian reporters who report in Hebrew, on Israeli TV.
Scoop: Israel Offers to Host Warring Sudanese Generals for Talks, Axios
Israel in a proposal given to the warring generals in Sudan offered to host the two sides for Israeli-mediated talks aimed at reaching a cease-fire agreement, three Israeli Foreign Ministry officials told Axios.
As Israel Turns 75, We Should Celebrate by Fighting for It to Live Up to Its Ideals, The Forward
Rabbi Jill Jacobs writes, “At 75, Israel is a strong, modern country, more than able to stand on its own on the international stage and healthy enough for vibrant debate about its future. Real celebration of Israel demands fighting for it to live up to the highest ideals of democracy, dignity and human rights for all.”