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.
Israel-Gaza: Ceasefire holds overnight after days of violence, BBC
The Egypt-brokered truce followed three days of violence with Israel targeting the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and militants firing rockets into Israel.
Israel and Palestinian Militants Reach a Cease-Fire, The New York Times
Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza agreed to a cease-fire late on Sunday night, in a move that was expected to end a three-day conflict that killed dozens of Palestinians, including militant commanders, but which did little to change the status quo in Israel and the occupied territories. The conflict, which began on Friday afternoon when Israel launched airstrikes to foil what it said was an imminent attack from Gaza, paralyzed parts of southern Israel and resulted in the destruction of several residential buildings and militant bases in Gaza.
More Than 40 People Killed in Gaza in Weekend of Violence, CNN
Palestinian militants launched rockets toward Jerusalem on Sunday, after Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip overnight killed a senior militant commander — the second since Israel’s operation against Islamic Jihad began. The response from the Iran-backed group marked another escalation in a weekend of violence that has left dozens of people dead in Gaza and sent thousands of Israelis scrambling for shelters.
US Urges Israel to Expedite Legislation Needed for Visa Waiver, Al-Monitor
An unnamed senior official at the US Embassy in Jerusalem told Israeli media Aug. 4 that if the Knesset fails to pass legislation necessary for entering the American Visa Waiver Program (VWP), Israelis may have to wait 12-18 months before another opportunity for visa exemptions for tourists becomes available.
Israel Agrees to Release Palestinian Hunger Striker in Gaza Cease-fire Deal, Islamic Jihad Says, Haaretz
The Islamic Jihad’s leader said on Sunday that Israel has agreed to release a Palestinian hunger striker as part of an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire agreement to end three days of fighting that affected the Gaza Strip and southern Israel.
Negotiators Optimistic About Progress on Iran Nuclear Deal, AP
Top negotiators in renewed talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal indicated Sunday that they are optimistic about the possibility of reaching an agreement to impose limits on Tehran’s uranium enrichment. “We stand 5 minutes or 5 seconds from the finish line,” Russian Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov told reporters outside Vienna’s Palais Coburg, four days into the talks. He said there are “3 or 4 issues” left to be resolved.
From My Balcony in Gaza, the Wailings of War Return, (+972 Mag
Ismail, a 28-year-old journalist from Gaza reflects, “In wartime, the constant humming of Israeli drones, heard everywhere across Gaza, only grows louder. Dozens of them hover in the sky at all times; sometimes they will fire a missile. The cool wind of the fan helps me to finally sleep. The white noise and the creak of the blades drown out the humming coming from outside my window.”
AIPACS’s Decision to Enter Fray of Partisan Politics Will Come at a Price, The Jerusalem Post
The Jerusalem Post editorial board writes, “AIPAC’s decision to enter the fray of partisan politics will come at a price. Supporting some candidates over others will make it harder to keep both sides of the aisle happy. On the other hand, the situation in American politics today does not allow it to remain neutral as in the past…On the other side, was the J Street Action Fund, which according to vice president of communications Logan Bayroff, spent more than $700,000 to help reelect Rep. Andy Levin. More than $300,000 was directly contributed to his campaign via J Street PAC. While the two groups had already backed candidates who ran against each other in this election, the race between moderate Stevens and progressive Levin became the center of attention and led to a contentious race between AIPAC and J Street, which traded barbs and condemned each other’s tactics.
