News Roundup for August 12, 2019

August 12, 2019

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J Street in the News

On Jewish Day Of Remembrance, Protestors Decry Immigration Policy, NPR Pittsburgh
“‘The Jewish tradition demands of us to see, to feel and to honor the pain of our own history and of those around us,’ said Jeremy Markiz, a local rabbi who helped organize the protest. His T-shirt read ‘Resisting Tyrants Since Pharaoh.’ The protest was one of dozens planned for Tisha B’Av in cities around the country by groups including Bend the Arc, Tru’ah, National Council of Jewish Women, Religious Action Center, HIAS and J Street. Tisha B’Av is typically marked by prayer and fasting.”

Hundreds of Israelis to Protest Trump Immigration Policies on Tisha B’Av, The Jerusalem Post
“Those partnering with the Tel Aviv event are Bend the Arc, J Street, HIAS, the National Council of Jewish Women, Torah Trumps Hate and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. ‘One day, our children and grandchildren will be asking what we were doing during this dark time in our history,’ Heather Stone said. ‘We owe it to them to stand up and fight for the children.’”

Tisha B’Av takes on new meaning as activists plan immigration vigils across US, Religion News Service
“The effort is led by T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, with a host of supporting Jewish sponsors such as Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, the National Council of Jewish Women, J Street, The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, HIAS and Torah Trumps Hate. ‘When we think of the core tragedies of Tisha B’Av, namely the destruction of the two temples, we think of the destruction of communities and we think about families who were ripped apart in that trauma,’ said Rabbi Jill Jacobs, executive director of T’ruah.”

Top News and Analysis

Before election, PM aims for Trump backing for Israel sovereignty at settlements, Times of Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a public declaration from US President Donald Trump ahead of the September elections backing an Israeli move to extend its sovereignty over Jewish settlements in the West Bank, officials in the Prime Minister’s Office told Zman Yisrael, The Times of Israel’s Hebrew-language site, on Sunday.

Trump tells advisers Israel should bar entry to Reps. Omar and Tlaib, Axios
President Trump has told advisers he thinks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should use Israel’s anti-boycott law to bar Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) from entering Israel, according to 3 sources familiar with the situation.

Muslims clash with Israeli police at Jerusalem holy site, AP
Muslim worshippers and Israeli police clashed Sunday at a major Jerusalem holy site during prayers marking the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha. Palestinian medics said at least 14 people were wounded, one seriously, in the skirmishes with police at the site, which Muslims refer to as the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and Jews refer to as the Temple Mount. Police said at least four officers were wounded. Witnesses said at least two people were arrested. Clouds of tear gas swirled and stun grenades thundered across the stone-paved esplanade as masses of worshippers skirmished with police in the worst bout of fighting at the contested holy site in months.

News

US House majority and minority leaders, in Jerusalem, say Tlaib and Omar should be allowed to visit, JTA
The U.S. House of Representatives majority and minority leaders said in Jerusalem that Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar should be allowed to visit Israel and the West Bank despite their criticism of the country.

Temple Mount Clashes: Jordan Condemns ‘Blunt’ Israeli Violations as Jews Allowed in Holy Site, Haaretz
Israeli police decided on Sunday to allow Jews to enter Temple Mount to mark Tisha B’Av following clashes with forces and worshipers commemorating the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The Israel Police had originally warned that no Jews would be allowed to enter the Temple Mount, citing potential for “high-friction” with Muslim worshipers.

Netanyahu clashes with rivals on right over partial Temple Mount closure to Jews, Times of Israel
“After consultations with all security bodies, I made a decision,” Netanyahu said in the evening, in response to the criticism. “This year, like all years, Jews will enter the Temple Mount on Tisha B’Av, even when it is a Muslim holiday. The question was never whether they would enter, but how to manage it optimally for the public’s safety, which is exactly what we did.”

Israel Prepares to Demolish Homes of Palestinian Suspects in Soldier’s Murder, Haaretz
Israeli forces mapped overnight Sunday the homes of two Palestinians suspected in the West Bank murder of Israeli soldier Dvir Sorek, ahead of a possible demolition.

Israeli Military Kills 4 Palestinian Militants After Attack at Gaza Border, New York Times
Israeli forces shot and killed four Palestinian militants near the Gaza border fence after one tossed a hand grenade at Israeli troops on Saturday, the military said.

Israeli Minister Blasts ‘Weak’ Netanyahu Over Court Ruling Blocking Gender Segregation, Haaretz
Israel’s Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the United Right slate lashed out at a court ruling handed down Sunday that bars the Afula municipality from carrying out gender separation at an event in a public park for the ultra-Orthodox community.

Opinion and Analysis

Israeli, Palestinian Extremists Win Latest Round of Temple Mount Arm Twisting, Haaretz
Nir Hasson writes, “The Palestinians succeeded in bringing masses to the mount in order to substantially reduce the Jewish presence, but Israel managed to squeeze a few hundred Jewish visitors into the plaza.”

Netanyahu’s Putin campaign alienates Israel’s Russian-speaking voters, +972 Mag
Lily Galili writes, “A new election poster of Netanyahu gloating about his relationship with the Russian authoritarian leader may have entirely missed the mark with younger Russian-speaking voters, revealing deep generational divides.”

The myth of the great replacement: how white nationalism has gone mainstream, The National
Hussein Ibish writes, “This theory thrives in far-right forums and is based on the premise that white people and a western identity are under siege from an influx of non-white immigrants. It is no coincidence that the alleged perpetrator of the Christchurch mosque massacres last March titled his credo The Great Replacement.”