A Rupture, Not a Transition: Rethinking the US-Israel Relationship, Word on the Street
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami writes, “While many Jewish Americans still hope – and fight – for the deeply meaningful relationship on which they were raised, it is, sadly, a framework that no longer survives contact with reality. The U.S.-Israel relationship has been profoundly damaged by an Israeli government that has abandoned any serious effort to resolve the conflict with the Palestinian people and instead embraces permanent occupation, annexation, and domination.”
America’s Best Chance to Transform Iran, Foreign Affairs
J Street Chief Policy Officer Ilan Goldenberg and Nate Swanson write, “Whether Trump ultimately becomes the most consequential U.S. president for Iran since Jimmy Carter or merely an accelerant of instability will hinge on whether his administration can move beyond improvisation and develop a coherent strategy.”
AIPAC-Linked Group Faces Test of Its Political Power in New Jersey Primary, The Hill
“The super PAC, called United Democracy Project, has spent at least over $2 million so far attacking former Rep. Tom Malinowski, (D-N.J.) […] The issue has also divided Jewish Americans. Some Jewish organizations see the pro-Israel group’s tactics as unhelpful – not just for the super PAC, but for creating any kind of bipartisan support for Israel. ‘It weakens bipartisan support, alienates the next generation — Jewish and non-Jewish alike — and ties Israel’s fate to the most corrosive elements of American politics,’ Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of the progressive Jewish organization J Street, said in a Substack post.”
Gaza Crossing to Egypt Reopens in Step Forward for Fragile Cease-Fire, New York Times
“The reopening of the crossing, in the Rafah area of southern Gaza, will for the first time allow some Gazans who fled during the two-year war to return, but only in limited numbers for now. It is also expected to expedite the exit of thousands of sick and wounded people waiting for medical treatment abroad.”
Israeli Airstrikes Kill 32 in Gaza, Palestinian Officials Say, Washington Post
“Israel said it targeted Hamas militants and weapons sites. The majority of the dead were women and children, the Gaza Health Ministry said.”
Arab, Jewish Protesters Turn Out in Record Numbers for Tel Aviv Anti-Crime Demonstration, Times of Israel
“Tens of thousands of Arab and Jewish protesters turned out in Tel Aviv Saturday night for a massive rally, accusing the government of neglecting its Arab citizens and allowing violence to run rampant in the community. The unprecedented demonstration in Habima Square briefly united Israel’s overwhelmingly Jewish anti-government protest movement with the country’s Arab citizens, who have become increasingly vocal in the face of pervasive crime.”
Saudi Media Takes an Anti-Israel Turn, Wall Street Journal
“Saudi Arabia’s state-backed media has been taking an increasingly anti-Israel tone, a further indication of the diminishing prospects for diplomatic normalization between the two Middle East powers.”
Iran’s Missiles Pose Deadly Threat, Gulf Allies Warn, as Trump Weighs Strikes, Washington Post
“As the Trump administration pressures Iran with a massive military buildup in the region, Persian Gulf states are warning U.S. officials that Tehran’s missile program remains capable of inflicting significant damage to U.S. interests in the region, according to two Western officials briefed on the matter.”
IDF Blocks Palestinian Bedouins From Rebuilding Their West Bank Homes Burned by Israeli Settlers, Haaretz
“Bedouin residents of Mukhmas arrived Sunday to rebuild homes torched by settlers but were stopped by Israeli soldiers, who said the area was a closed military zone. When asked about an Israeli man who photographed the houses, a soldier responded, ‘He can do whatever he wants.'”
Explained: What Part Can Israel’s Arab Parties Play in Toppling Netanyahu in the 2026 Vote, Haaretz
Linda Dayan writes, “With anti-Palestinian sentiment growing in Israel after October 7 and the Gaza war – and the far-right government striving to disqualify the Arab parties – Arab voters are hoping their representatives will join forces and win as many as 17 of the Knesset’s 120 seats.”
