Why Smotrich Will Ultimately Fail, J Street
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami writes, “Bulldozers, concrete and settlements can’t bury a people’s hopes and dreams for freedom and self-determination. As Jews, it’s a truth we know intimately: 2,000 years of oppression and persecution never destroyed our dream of being a free people in our own land. This will not stop Palestinian statehood. It will not halt international moves toward recognition. It will not bring peace or security. Quite the opposite.”
[Video] Congressman Ro Khanna on Recognizing Palestine and the Choices Facing the Democratic Party, J Street
This week on Word on the Street Live, Jeremy and Ilan sat down with Congressman Ro Khanna for an open conversation on why there is a moment of opportunity to unify the Democratic Party on the issues of Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Palestinians Flee Gaza City Districts as Israel Says First Stages of Offensive Have Begun, BBC
“Hundreds of Palestinians in the Zeitoun and Sabra neighbourhoods of Gaza City have left towards the north-western part of the city. Gaza City residents described relentless bombardments overnight into Thursday. ‘The house shakes with us all night long — the sound of explosions, artillery, warplanes, ambulances, and cries for help is killing us,’ Ahmad al-Shanti told news agency AFP.”
Israel to Mobilize 60,000 Reservists Ahead of an Expanded Gaza City Operation, AP
“In a country of fewer than 10 million people, the call-up of reservists is the largest in months and carries economic and political weight. It comes days after hundreds of thousands of Israelis rallied for a ceasefire, as negotiators scramble to get Israel and Hamas to agree to end their 22 months of fighting.”
‘A Death Sentence’: Relatives of Hostages Urge Netanyahu Not to ‘Torpedo’ Deal to Free Captives, The Times of Israel
“Bar Goddard, daughter of Meni Goddard, who was killed on October 7 and whose body is held in Gaza, says, ‘One who chose, for three days already, not to respond to an agreement the government has already approved, not to convene the cabinet or the government, has essentially chosen to sacrifice the hostages.’”
Israel Launches Diplomatic Attacks on Its Western Allies Ahead of Palestinian Statehood Recognition, CNN
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent two strongly worded letters to the leaders of France and Australia, accusing both men of fueling antisemitism with their decision to recognize a state of Palestine.”
As Israel Begins Offensive on Gaza City, an Exhausted Military May Face a Manpower Problem, CNN
Tal Shalev, Tamar Michaelis and Oren Liebermann write, “A new survey from the Agam Labs at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem suggested that approximately 40% of soldiers were slightly or significantly less motivated to serve, while a little more than 13% were more motivated. The findings underscore the stark reality facing Israel’s military, which could face limits to its manpower, especially as polls have repeatedly shown an overwhelming majority of the country supports an end to the war.”
Trump’s Support for Netanyahu Is Now the Main Obstacle to a Gaza Cease-fire Deal, Haaretz
Chaim Levinson writes, “In Qatar, it was assumed that if they could persuade Hamas to agree to the partial framework that American envoy Steve Witkoff presented last month, then Trump would demand that Netanyahu sign it. However, sources in Washington say it doesn’t seem the president plans to get involved, and he will leave the decision on the deal in Israel’s hands. In the meantime, Netanyahu continues with his strategy to preserve his eternal war.”
E1 Settlement Plan Will Doom Palestine. It Must Be Stopped, Middle East Eye
Angela Godfrey-Goldstein writes, “Israel must be pressured to abide by its obligations under the Geneva Conventions, in order to end the impunity that is destroying not only the lives of Palestinians in Gaza, but also the futures of both peoples. In the past, international pressure was successful in delaying plans to populate E1 with illegal Jewish settlements. But the minor embargoes and minimal sanctions we’re seeing today are not enough to dent Israeli impunity. On the contrary, pro-Palestine activists are being arrested and attacked, both here in Israel and abroad.”