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.
My Father and Jimmy Carter, Substack
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami writes, “I believe strongly – along with 90 percent of Jewish Americans – that you can criticize the policies and actions of Israel’s government and still be pro-Israel. That’s in fact the fourth principle of my take on ‘What it really means to be pro-Israel today.’ Jimmy Carter and my dad may not have agreed on much when it comes to Israel and Palestine. But I like to think they shared a belief that being a patriot for any country does not require agreeing with that country’s government.”
Biden and Netanyahu Speak As Gaza Negotiations Reach Critical Point, Axios
The indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have reached a critical point eight days before President-elect Trump is sworn into office. Biden’s team is closely coordinated with Trump’s team and both sides are working together to push for a deal, officials said. “We are very very close [to a Gaza deal] and yet far because we are not there. It is possible to get it done before January 20 – but I can’t be sure”, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday on CNN.
Gazans Left Without Humanitarian Aid as the Israeli Army, Hamas and the UN Trade Blame, Haaretz
Humanitarian aid in Gaza faces looting, chaos, and violence, with the UN accusing Israel of failing to ensure convoy safety and targeting guards. IDF strikes have resulted in looted trucks and casualties, while Gazan families, private security, and Hamas’ civil police struggle to maintain order.
Former Biden Officials Slam US Failure to Curb Israel’s Disproportionate Use of Force in Gaza, Haaretz
Andrew Miller, the former State Department point person on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said that the U.S. did not impose any red lines, leaving Netanyahu with the message that “he was the one in the driver’s seat.” […] Former diplomat Hala Rharrit noted she was “basically berated” by a superior for including images of children that starved to death.
Israel, PA Ink Deal To Release $500 Million in Withheld Palestinian Tax Revenues, The Times of Israel
Israel and the Palestinian Authority announced Sunday that they had struck a deal allowing for the release of roughly $500 million in Palestinian tax revenues for use in electricity and fuel payments to Israel.
Israel’s Campaign in Syrian Border Area Prompts Fears It Plans to Stay, The New York Times
Israeli soldiers have raided Syrian border villages, prompting nervous residents to huddle in their homes. They have captured the country’s highest peak, have set up roadblocks between Syrian towns and now overlook local villages from former Syrian military outposts.
IDF Says It Hit Hezbollah Sites After Ceasefire Monitors Failed To Address Threats, The Times of Israel
The Israel Defense Forces said Monday it had struck several Hezbollah sites in Lebanon overnight, saying the targets violated the terms of the ceasefire agreement. It said said it did so after the international ceasefire monitoring mechanism failed to address them, despite being advised on the matter.
‘I Guess Everything Is Allowed’: How the Systematic Eviction of Israel’s Bedouin Works, Haaretz
Eden Solomon writes, “As 2024 came to a close, the anxiety in the Bedouin village of Ras Jrabah only worsened. About six months ago, a court ordered the village to be demolished on December 31 to make room for the expansion of the nearby city of Dimona – and the villagers just couldn’t let that happen.”
How Much More ‘Hell’ Can Gaza ‘Pay’?, The Washington Post
Ishaan Tharoor writes, “And when not facing Israeli bombardments, an increasing number of Palestinians, particularly babies, are succumbing to the brutal winter cold. Restrictions on humanitarian aid and a lack of adequate shelter for thousands of families displaced multiple times by the fighting have led to infants dying in tents, their parents helpless.”