What Does it Mean to Be ‘Pro-Israel’, J Street
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami shares, “What we actually need is to debate what it means to be pro-Israel – in American politics, in American policy, in the Jewish community – when large numbers of Americans who are deeply connected to Israel disagree, strongly, with the current government.”
Being Pro-Palestine is Pro-Israel, Substack
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami writes, “The case for Palestine is, of course, rooted in the Palestinian people’s historic, legal and moral claim to self-determination – a claim on its own merits to a state that can provide them freedom, hope, safety and more. For the Jewish people, that really should be enough of a reason to support Palestinian self-determination.”
From Campus and Beyond, Fighting Antisemitism Is More Critical Than Ever, J Street
J Street U Leader Matan Berg writes, “In the wake of the unconscionable targeting of Regent Acker, we must recommit to our fight against antisemitism and hatred in all forms. We must do so in a way that protects legitimate expressions of speech and protest, and that rejects the weaponization of antisemitism for political ends.”
J Street Condemns Antisemitic Attacks in the US and Australia, J Street
J Street advocates for a firm and thoughtful approach to countering antisemitism – one that protects Jewish communities and safeguards space for debate, dialogue and solidarity. We continue to press Congress to lead the way and pass the Countering Antisemitism Act – which is currently moving through the House and Senate with bipartisan support – to put common-sense protections in place.
Death Toll in Gaza Strip From Israel-Hamas War Tops 45,000, Palestinians Say, AP
With the death toll mounting ever higher, efforts to reach a ceasefire have picked up in recent weeks after repeatedly faltering. Qatar, Egypt and the United States have renewed their efforts to broker a deal at senior levels in recent days. Mediators have said there appears to be more willingness from both sides to conclude a ceasefire. The Health Ministry said 45,028 people have been killed and 106,962 have been wounded since the start of the war.
Netanyahu’s Judicial Coup Is Back. Why Now, and Why Is It Worse Than Before?, Haaretz
Amir Tibon writes, “Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced that the government will renew its assault on the judicial system, full force, ignoring everything else – the war, the hostages, the political earthquake in neighboring Syria – and move ahead with one of the most controversial pieces of legislation in Israeli history: the government takeover of the Judicial Appointments Committee.”
Israel’s Military Strikes Northern Gaza After Days of Deadly Bombardment, The New York Times
Wafa, the Palestinian Authority’s news agency, reported that Israeli forces had raided a school building in the town and forced displaced families sheltering there to evacuate in unsafe conditions, killing and wounding several amid bombardment and gunfire.
Israel Approves Plan To Expand Settlements on Occupied Golan Heights, The Washington Post
The Israeli government on Sunday approved a plan to expand settlements on the occupied Golan Heights, saying it was acting “in light of the war and the new front facing Syria” as the country uses the power vacuum next door to consolidate security on its border and advance its aims of growing settlements.
Netanyahu Tells Trump Israel Must ‘Complete Its Victory’, The New York Times
Mr. Netanyahu said he had told Mr. Trump that Israel was “committed to preventing Hezbollah’s rearmament” and used the statement to repeat a warning to Hezbollah and Iran that Israel “will continue acting against you as much as necessary, on any front and at any time.”
Defense Minister Tells MKs Hostage Deal ‘Closer Than Ever’, The Times of Israel
Defense Minister Israel Katz has reportedly told Knesset lawmakers that Israel is closer to a deal than ever to a deal freeing hostages in Gaza, bolstering media reports of heavy optimism on the chances for an agreement soon.
Israeli Strike Kills Al Jazeera Photojournalist on One Year Anniversary of Colleague’s Death, CNN
Ahmad Al-Louh, 39, and four other people were killed by the strike that targeted an office of the Civil Defense service in central Gaza’s Nuseirat Camp area, according to Al Awda Hospital, which treated the casualties.
US Asks Israel to Approve Urgent Military Aid to Palestinian Security Forces, Axios
The Biden administration asked Israel to approve U.S. military assistance to Palestinian Authority security forces for a wide-ranging operation the PA is conducting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinian, U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios. The security operation to regain control in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp from militants is the largest conducted by Palestinian security forces in years.
Thanks to Netanyahu, American Jews Are Wondering What Zionism Really Means, Haaretz
Rabbi Eric Yoffie writes, “American Jews, I suggest, are undergoing a slow but measurable process of doubting and questioning Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza and Lebanon. And this agonizing self-appraisal is accompanied by rising disgust and revulsion at an Israeli government that seems not only indifferent to the views of Israel’s allies but, even more important to American Jews, to the bonds that bind American and world Jewry to the Jewish state.”
Yair Golan on the Detriments of Israeli Tribalism, Moment Magazine
In an interview with Laurence Wolff, Yair Golan shares, “The next prime minister must remember that he is not only the prime minister of Israel, but also the prime minister of the Jewish people. And we need to reinforce the basic values of Judaism. That is, to bring something good into the world, to fight against humanity’s worst impulses, to create a safe place for the Jewish people, and to ensure peace.”
Israeli Justice Minister’s Renewed Coup Efforts Depend on Draft-exemption Law, Haaretz
Ravit Hecht writes, “The thing that concerns Netanyahu the most is preserving the coalition. His only interest is the draft-exemption law and imposing it on Israel’s bleeding society after the war. The accompanying chaos, which includes the threat of judicial coup legislation and the campaign of venom against the attorney general, is primarily a means to achieve this end.”