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.
J Street Condemns Eviction of Palestinian Family in East Jerusalem; Calls for US Action, J Street
“J Street is deeply concerned by last night’s forced eviction of a Palestinian family and the demolition of their home in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. As the entire world saw just last May, the ongoing effort by settler organizations and Israeli authorities to displace Palestinian families from the East Jerusalem homes and neighborhoods where they have lived for decades is extremely dangerous and unjust. It has the potential to spark a violent escalation not only in Jerusalem itself, but across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.”
Palestinian Minister: Biden Moving Too Slow on Pushing Peace, AP
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki criticized U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday for moving too slowly to reverse all of the Trump administration’s adverse policies against the Palestinians and not using Washington’s special relationship to pressure Israel to abandon “its rejection of a two-state solution and peace negotiations.”
Iran Deal Requires Faster Diplomacy or Slower Nuclear Advances: U.S. Official, Axios
To get a deal, Iran will have to either accelerate its pace at the negotiating table or slow down the pace of its nuclear program to buy more time for diplomacy, says a senior U.S. official involved in the Vienna nuclear talks.
Israeli Officials Reportedly Meet Sudan Ruler in Khartoum, Haaretz
An Israeli delegation is meeting with Sudan’s top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the head of its military-run ruling council in Khartoum, Al Arabiya reported on Wednesday.
Israel Signs $3.4 Billion Submarines Deal With Germany’s Thyssenkrupp, Reuters
Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems will build three advanced submarines for the Israeli Navy in a deal worth 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion), the Israeli Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
Israel Police Arrest Over a Dozen During Sheikh Jarrah Overnight Demolition, Haaretz
The police raided the house around 3:30 A.M. and violently evicted the family and activists, using stun grenades. At least 18 people were arrested, according to Attorney Walid Abu Thaya, who represents the family. Most of the detainees were released shortly after, on the condition that they do not return to the house. According to the police, all of the suspects were involved in the standoff on Monday, where the attempted eviction prompted the father, Mahmoud Salahiya, to barricade himself on the roof with his children and threatening to blow up a gas tank, managing to stave off the eviction.
Palestinian Authority Seeks EU Aid as Budget Crunch Deepens, Axios
The Palestinian Authority hopes to put the stifling fiscal crisis it faced in 2021 behind it, but that will depend in large part on a pledge from the European Union.
Three Israelis Arrested for Attacking Arabs Socializing With Jewish Women, Haaretz
Three young Israeli Jewish men were arrested recently on suspicion of racially-motivated, attempted murder of two Arabs in addition to other offenses, the police said Thursday. The three are suspected of attacking and injuring two Arab men and two Jewish women in November after spotting them sitting together in a park in the city of Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv.
Israel’s President Considers Visit to Turkey, Al-Monitor
Responding to questions about changes in diplomatic relations with Israel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his office was “having talks with President (Isaac) Herzog” and he may be visiting Turkey soon.” Emphasizing similar willingness on the Israeli side for fully normalizing bilateral relations, Erdogan said that “Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also has a positive approach.”
‘How Do They Expect My Children to Grow Up and Not Be Full of Hatred?’, +972 Mag
Yuval Abraham speaks to Lital Salhiyeh, whose family home in Sheikh Jarrah was demolished on Wednesday morning. She says, “I have nowhere to go, I have no home. What will we do? Will we go live with another family? We are a lot of people. They destroyed the house so we would have nowhere to go back to. How do they expect my children to grow up and not be full of anger and hatred against them? This is no longer my country. After today, this is not my country.”
For African Hebrews, the Deportation Nightmare Continues, Times of Israel
Yirmiyahu Danzig writes, “In a decision that smacks of discrimination, Israel is set to expel 135 members of the community, most of whom were born here and have relatives that served in the IDF.”
How a Plea Bargain for Netanyahu Could Realign Israeli Politics, Foreign Policy
A plea deal offer that former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly mulling, which would keep him out of prison but also out of politics for the coming years, could trigger a political realignment in Israel if clinched and destabilize the current government, according to analysts.