J Street Welcomes Changes to Palestinian Prisoner Payment Program; Urges US Action, J Street
J Street supports the Palestinian Authority’s announced reforms to end its prisoner payment program, a change it has long advocated for, ensuring that all Palestinians in need are treated equally. We urge the Trump Administration to verify these reforms and work with the PA to meet the Taylor Force Act’s requirements for resuming direct US assistance.
The Folly of the Exclusion of the Arab Parties, The Times of Israel
J Street Israel Director Nadav Tamir states that Israel’s liberal camp cannot achieve majority without collaborating with Arab parties, emphasizing that excluding 20% of the citizenry undermines the fight for democracy and equality. He criticizes opposition leaders for avoiding cooperation with Arab parties and highlights the hypocrisy of condemning Arab MKs for certain statements while tolerating Jewish MKs who support convicted Jewish terrorists.
Palestinian Books Matter, The Times of Israel
J Street Israel Director Nadav Tamir condemns the Israeli police raid on East Jerusalem’s Educational Bookshop, where books were confiscated and the owners arrested under the pretext of “suspicion of disturbing public order.” He writes, “The police officers who broke into the stores are the ones who violated and trampled not only the order but also morality and the basic democratic values of freedom of opinion and thought.”
Trump’s Gaza Bombshell Would Constitute Ethnic Cleansing, The Orlando Sentinel
In an editorial from the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami is quoted saying, “There aren’t adequate words to express our disgust at the forcible displacement of Palestinians with the assistance of the United States of America. … We call on leaders around the world, political leaders in this country, and, of course, Jewish communal leaders in this country to express in no uncertain terms that these proposals are absolutely unacceptable — legally and morally.”
Gaza Cease-Fire Imperiled as Netanyahu Threatens to Resume ‘Intense Fighting’, The New York Times
The cease-fire in Gaza remains uncertain as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas that fighting would resume if scheduled hostage releases did not occur, echoing former President Trump’s ultimatum that all hostages must be freed by Saturday at noon. The situation has heightened tensions, with analysts predicting a larger crisis in March when the cease-fire agreement is set to expire unless a new deal is reached.
‘High on Trump’: Netanyahu Sees Trump’s Gaza Gambits As Israel’s Big Chance, Axios
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies believe Trump’s support will allow them to push their agenda without concessions, with some officials feeling emboldened to abandon withdrawal plans or negotiations with Hamas. However, some Israeli officials worry that this overconfidence could jeopardize the current Gaza deal, risking the release of the remaining hostages.
Abdullah Says Jordan Will Take in 2,000 Sick Gazan Kids As Trump Pushes Relocation Plan, The Times of Israel
In a meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Jordan’s King Abdullah announced that Amman would take in 2,000 sick children from Gaza, seeking to curry favor with a US president who had threatened to withhold aid if Jordan did not agree to take in Palestinians as part of his plan for Washington to take over the enclave and relocate its population.
Israel Requests To Keep Troops in Lebanon Until Feb. 28, Two Sources Say, Reuters
Israel has requested to keep its troops in five posts in southern Lebanon until February 28, a Lebanese official and foreign diplomat told Reuters on Wednesday. Under a ceasefire deal agreed in November between Lebanon and Israel, Israeli troops had until January 26 to withdraw from southern Lebanon. The deal has already been extended until February 18 but the sources said Israel had requested an additional extension through the committee overseeing the ceasefire.
Our Zionism Is Not One of Mass Displacement and Eternal War, It’s of Equality and Freedom, Haaretz
Yair Golan writes, “The necessary steps are clear: the release of the hostages, a stable cease-fire, the establishment of an alternative government to Hamas and the formation of a regional front against Iran which takes advantage of the achievements of the war. Only such measures will lead to a Middle East that is safer, guided by a realistic, sustainable vision.”