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.
So Many Lawmakers to Israel, Politico
“Israel is about to welcome three separate congressional delegations to the region — all coming around the same time that the United States seeks reentry into the Iran nuclear deal. Another delegation is hosted by J Street, the left-leaning pro-Israel group, which will ensure that lawmakers spend equal time speaking with Israelis and Palestinians during their weeklong trip. Rep. David Price (D-N.C.), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, is the most senior member of that group.”
Palestinian Reported Killed by Israeli Fire in West Bank, ABC News
A Palestinian man on Tuesday was killed by Israeli gunfire in a flashpoint village in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian health officials said. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the shooting took place during clashes in Nebi Saleh, a village where residents have held numerous demonstrations over the years against the expansion of a nearby Israeli settlement on what they say is their land.
Israel Sends Envoy to Vienna as Nuclear Talks Reach Crunch Time, Axios
Israel has sent an envoy to the nuclear talks in Vienna to meet with U.S. and other officials as the negotiations reach crunch time, Israeli officials said. It’s the first time since the Vienna talks began last April that Israel has sent a diplomat to the negotiations.
Israel Must Do ‘Everything Possible’ to De-escalate Jerusalem Tensions, Senior Official Says, Haaretz
A senior Israeli official called on Tuesday to “do everything possible” to prevent an escalation in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, a day after a series of clashes between police, Palestinian protesters and right-wing activists took place in the flashpoint neighborhood.
Pelosi in Jerusalem: US Support for Israel Is ‘Ironclad’, AP
American support for Israel remains “ironclad,” U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told members of Israel’s parliament Wednesday, despite deep differences between the nations on Iran, peace with the Palestinians and other issues.
Israeli Leadership Caught Between US, Russia Over Ukraine, Al-Monitor
Israel has managed to remove the issue from the agenda. Nevertheless, sources in Ukraine have expressed disappointment over the Israeli position. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is a major diplomatic headache for the Bennett-Lapid government.
Blockbuster Reform Would Allow Israeli Civil Marriage – and Severely Limit Aliyah, Haaretz
A deal that would enable a form of civil marriage in Israel but dramatically limit eligibility for citizenship under the Law of Return is under discussion at the highest levels of government.
No More Supporting Israel ‘At All Costs’, Haaretz
Laura Janner-Klausner writes, “We British Jews aren’t afraid of being in a true dialogue with Israel, and insisting on the primacy of democratic values. That’s why we told the Israeli far right politician and hate-merchant Bezalel Smotrich to go home.”
A Broken Ankle, a Demolished Home, and a Crushed Water Cistern, (+972 Mag
Ali Awad reports the story of Amer al-Dababseh, writing, “On the same day that Israeli forces broke Amer’s ankle and demolished his brother’s home, they also destroyed a water cistern belonging to another of Amer’s brothers, Jaber. The communities of Masafer Yatta have repeatedly tried to connect their villages to water, but the Civil Administration — the arm of the Israeli military that manages the day-to-day lives of Palestinians — repeatedly destroys the pipes. The Civil Administration also prohibits Palestinians from building or paving roads, which makes it difficult for water trucks to reach the area. So, in desperate need of water, they dig cisterns to collect rainwater. However, even water cisterns are subject to demolition, as was the case with Jaber’s on that sweltering August day.”