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J Street Welcomes Israeli Supreme Court’s Ruling in Favor of the Sumarin Family, J Street
“J Street welcomes the Israeli Supreme Court’s ruling that the Palestinian Sumarin family cannot be evicted from their home in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan. This ruling resolves a 32-year effort by the Jewish National Fund and the right-wing settlement group Elad to unfairly displace the family from their long-time home. The Sumarin case has long been watched closely by pro-Israel, pro-peace leaders and activists in the United States. In September 2020, J Street was proud to support a letter sent to Prime Minister Netanyahu by 26 Members of Congress, led by former Representative Jackie Speier.”
Police: Palestinian Stabs 2 Israelis Near Army Base, The Washington Post
A Palestinian suspect stabbed two Israelis near an army base south of Tel Aviv on Tuesday, police said, in the latest incident in a yearlong spate of violence that shows no sign of abating. The Magen David Adom paramedic service said first responders treated two men for serious and light stab wounds in the incident on a highway near the Tsrifin military base. The men were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment their injuries.
Israel Set to Double Funds for Settlers Monitoring Palestinian Construction in West Bank, Haaretz
The Israeli ministry that oversees settlements intends to double the budget allocated to settlers for drones and inspectors to monitor Palestinian construction. The National Missions Ministry intends to allocate a total of 40 million shekels ($11.1 million) for this purpose. The transfer of funds, which is up from a past allocation of 20 million shekels, will take place only after the Knesset passes the state budget.
Syria Says Israeli Strikes in Damascus Area Kill 2 Civilians, AP
Israel staged airstrikes on the southern suburbs of the Syrian capital of Damascus early Tuesday, killing two civilians and causing some material damage, Syrian state media reported. Damascus residents said strong explosions were heard in the capital and its southern suburbs as Syrian state television reported that the country’s air defenses were confronting “an Israeli aggression.”
Murder Toll in Israel’s Arab Community at Record High So Far This Year. Just Two Cases Have Been Solved, Haaretz
Israel’s police solved only two out of the record-number of 42 murder cases in the country’s Arab community since the beginning of 2023, while solving more than 83 percent of murders in the Jewish community. Last year, the number of Israeli Arabs killed was twice lower – standing at 21 victims in the corresponding period.
Police Chief: Establishing Independent ‘National Guard’ Will ‘Harm Personal Security’, The Times of Israel
Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai warns that the government’s approval of a new “national guard” under the control of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir could cause serious harm to the safety and security of Israeli citizens.
The Fight for Israel’s Democracy Continues, The New York Times
The New York Times Editorial Board writes, “Now that Mr. Netanyahu has stepped back from his initial demands, the street protests may lose some of their momentum. But Israelis who are fighting for their democracy continue to be vigilant. For this reason, the pressure on Mr. Netanyahu and his government must be sustained by Israelis and by Israel’s true friends, especially the United States. The strong bonds that have long linked America and Israel are based on shared values, democracy first among them.”