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.
J Street Super PAC Wades Into Two More Primaries, The Washington Post
“J Street Action Fund, a super PAC that backs Democrats who support Israel but are also willing to criticize its government, is spending $200,000 on ads backing Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) ahead of New York’s primaries next week. Nadler is facing Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and another candidate, Suraj Patel, after the two veteran lawmakers’ district were combined in redistricting. Bowman is facing several challengers in a less high-profile contest. The ad backing Nadler doesn’t mention his record on Israel, instead touting his votes to protect Planned Parenthood and Obamacare. “Oh, and did we mention he impeached Trump?” the ad’s narrator says. “Twice. Because in America, nobody’s above the law.” J Street Action Fund has clashed in other Democratic primaries this year with two other super PACs that back candidates who are less critical of the Israeli government, but that doesn’t appear to be happening in New York. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which is behind one of the rival super PACs, has backed Nadler and Maloney in the past.”
J Street Condemns Onslaught of Antisemitism Following Mar-a-Lago Search, J Street
“J Street condemns the appalling onslaught of antisemitic rhetoric and threats against judges, law enforcement officers and Jewish journalists following the FBI’s search of former President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach County residence and resort. In particular, we are horrified that the threats against Judge Reinhart, who signed the search warrant, were so overwhelming that his synagogue was forced to cancel Shabbat services out of fear for its members’ safety.”
J Street Condemns President Abbas’ Offensive Holocaust Analogy, J Street
“J Street strongly condemns President Mahmoud Abbas’ comments today in Berlin comparing actions of the State of Israel to “50 holocausts.” “These are absolutely absurd, unacceptable and offensive remarks that call for an immediate and unreserved apology. To make such comments just blocks from the Berlin Holocaust Memorial, no less, is utterly appalling,” said Dylan Williams, Senior VP of Policy and Strategy. “Such absurd comparisons do nothing to promote peace, justice or Palestinian rights and only serve to stoke pain, division and enmity.””
After 16 Months, Some Glimmers of Optimism About Iran Nuclear Deal, The New York Times
For the first time in many months, European officials expressed increasing optimism on Tuesday that a revival of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal may actually be agreed upon by Iran and the United States. Just before midnight Monday in Tehran, Iran sent its promised response to what the European Union has called a final text of an agreement to restore the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or J.C.P.O.A., which former President Donald J. Trump abandoned in 2018.
Turkey and Israel Restore Full Diplomatic Relations, Axios
Israel and Turkey announced on Wednesday the full normalization of relations and the return of their ambassadors to Ankara and Tel Aviv. The announcement ends a four-year diplomatic crisis that led to downgraded relations between the two non-Arab regional powers. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that the agreement was reached on Tuesday in a phone call between the director generals of the Israeli and Turkish foreign ministries.
Palestinian President Walks Back ’50 Holocausts’ Accusation After Drawing Worldwide Ire, Haaretz
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas walked back on his comments blaming Israel for committing “50 Holocausts” against Palestinians on Wednesday, after drawing international ire.
Former Israeli PM Netanyahu Has Memoir Coming in November, AP
Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a memoir coming out this fall. “Bibi: My Story” will be published Nov. 22, three weeks after parliamentary elections are to be held in Israel.
Palestinians Aim To Gain Full UN Member State Status, but US Law Stands in Their Way, The Times of Israel
Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour is once again seeking full member state status at the UN, but Ramallah faces an uphill battle without support from the US, which has passed laws aimed at thwarting such an effort.
Israeli Army Diverts Millions of Shekels Earmarked for Soldiers’ Welfare to Innovation Conference, Haaretz
The Israeli military has diverted funds meant to improve soldiers’ living conditions for an innovation conference initiated by the army chief, despite public criticism that it is “superfluous and costly.”
Ignoring Iranian Aggression, Biden Pushes to Seal Nuclear Deal, Haaretz
Amos Harel writes, “A new nuclear agreement, if it is signed in the end, will seemingly put the Iranian nuclear project in a much better position than what it was in 2015. Nonetheless, it still looks to be the preferred alternative for Israel’s security, in spite of all its misgivings.”
