In Every Generation: Our Generation’s Time to Answer the Call, J Street
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami writes: “It is time for our community to call these groups out and to distance ourselves from their rhetoric and tactics. And – just as important – we must not allow President Trump and the far MAGA right outside our community to use the fight against antisemitism as a pretext for their anti-immigrant, anti-education, anti-rule-of-law agenda. We must tell Trump and the ideologues in his administration: You Don’t Speak for Us.”
J Street Shocked by Passover Arson Attack Targeting Governor Josh Shapiro, J Street
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami said: “J Street was shocked by the terrifying arson attack on Governor Josh Shapiro and his family over Passover. We are grateful that the Governor, his wife and their children were able to evacuate safely, narrowly avoiding a devastating tragedy. […] Our country is facing a growing threat of violence and extremism whipped up by irresponsible leaders and commentators. We cannot continue down this path. All responsible leaders must stand united in rejecting the toxic politics of conspiracy theories and intimidation that continue to radicalize individuals and endanger our communities.”
J Street Outraged by Continued Political Arrests of Pro-Palestinian Students, J Street
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami said: “We were appalled to see the latest example occur this Monday as Mohsen Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident who has held a green card for 10 years, was arrested by masked, hooded agents when he showed up for what he was told was his citizenship interview. Mr. Mahdawi has not been accused of any crime and appears to have been targeted for organizing pro-Palestinian student protests. There is no need for students who present no threat to continue to be arrested and detained in such an authoritarian manner, with the clear goal of stoking intimidation and fear.”
‘New Kind of Antisemitism’: Jewish Students Slam Trump’s Detention of Mohsen Mahdawi, Zeteo
“Former UCLA J Street chapter president Rachel Burnett told Zeteo that ‘anyone who calls themselves a liberal should be screaming at the top of their lungs to condemn’ Mohsen’s arrest. ‘It remains true both that Mohsen is truly an outstanding guy, and Palestinians and foreign students shouldn’t have to be the ‘perfect victims’ to stand up and support their rights,’ Burnett said. ‘And right now, as I observe the holiday of Passover, I am highly conscious of the fact that we cannot celebrate and call ourselves a free and liberated people while our oppression is being directly weaponized to deny others their freedom.’”
New Israeli Ceasefire Offer Demands Hamas Discuss Disarming, but Group Rejects It, NPR
“Hamas is rejecting a new Israeli proposal to pause the war in Gaza, free more Israeli hostages and negotiate the disarmament of Palestinian militant groups in Gaza […] As part of the new 45-day ceasefire proposal offered by Israel, Hamas would release 10 living hostages, which is about half the number of hostages presumed alive, according to the Egyptian officials. The first to be released would be Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, who holds U.S. citizenship.”
Israel Threatens Further Escalation in Gaza War, The New York Times
“Israel’s defense minister warned on Wednesday that the war in Gaza would soon escalate with “tremendous force” and an extended humanitarian blockade if Hamas did not quickly release hostages amid stalled cease-fire negotiations. The blunt and detailed statement by the minister, Israel Katz, came as a growing list of former Israeli security officials accused the government of prolonging the war at the expense of the surviving hostages who remain in Gaza.”
Over 200 Ex-senior Israel Police Officials Join Call to End Gaza War to Secure Hostage Return, Haaretz
“Over two hundred former Israeli police officers, including eight ex-police chiefs, called on Wednesday for the return of all hostages, even if it means ending the Gaza war. Many of the signatories are former district commanders, including former Tel Aviv District Commander Ami Eshed, who was ousted in 2023 by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and former Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, who was fired over what was perceived by the far-right minister as lenient policy toward protesters against the judicial coup.”
Defense Minister: Aid Will Enter Gaza Only Once Civilian Mechanism Built To Bypass Hamas, The Times of Israel
“Defense Minister Israel Katz said [today] that Israel has no intention of allowing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip until a ‘civilian’ mechanism is established to bypass Hamas’s control of supplies. The minister was forced to clarify his position after his initial statement on the matter sparked uproar in the coalition for asserting that Israel would resume aid to the enclave through private firms, without clarifying that there was no immediate plan to do so. In his first statement made in the morning, Katz said Israel would eventually resume humanitarian aid, but only through ‘civilian companies,’ to keep food and equipment from falling into the hands of Hamas.”
Ben-Gvir to Bring Far-right Settler, Once Jailed for Spying on the Israeli Army, to U.S. Delegation, Haaretz
“According to several sources, Ben-Gvir and his office are trying to organize several meetings in Washington, which would include Akiva Hacohen, an activist with a criminal record who was once monitored by the police and the Shin Bet security service, as a ‘public strategist’ and ‘developer of national projects.’ […] Haaretz has learned that U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem does not plan to meet with her Israeli counterpart, Ben-Gvir, during his visit to the United States, despite his spokesperson stating that a meeting was expected.”
Hamas Says it Has Lost Contact With US-Israeli Hostage, BBC
“Hamas says it has ‘lost contact’ with the group of fighters holding an Israeli-American hostage captive in Gaza following an Israeli strike on their location. The 21-year-old soldier, Edan Alexander, has appeared in videos released by the group in recent days. Israel had asked for him to be released on day one of a new 45-day ceasefire proposal put forward last week, which has been rejected by Hamas. Hamas on Tuesday did not indicate when contact had been lost and has not produced any evidence for their claim. Israel regularly asserts it avoids hitting locations where it believes hostages are being held.”
Hamas Seeks To Silence Gazans Who Criticize It Over War With Israel, The Washington Post
“Gazans said that some Palestinians who participated in or posted on social media about the protests got threatening calls or summonses from Hamas’s internal security. In local media, anonymous Hamas officials branded the protesters as collaborators with Israel. Several Palestinian journalists told The Washington Post that they felt pressured not to cover the demonstrations because that might distract from the war.”
B’Ivrit | Failure or Victory Lap? Israeli Media Assesses Netanyahu’s DC Visit, Moment Magazine
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rushed visit to Washington last week dominated the news in Israel for days. And after his hour-long Oval Office photo op with President Trump, the Israeli media was split—roughly along party lines—on how to read the event. The coverage took an interesting twist after Netanyahu decided to visit Trump in Washington. […] Most outlets reported that Bibi was likely to cut a deal with Trump that would reduce tariffs on Israel, only to hear directly from the president at the meeting that he is not willing to commit to any such exception. Luckily, a couple of days later Trump put the majority of his tariffs on hold for 90 days, allowing the Israeli press to drop its coverage of an issue that was too difficult to explain in the first place.”