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 Proudly Endorses Kamala Harris for President, J Street
“Kamala Harris has been a powerful advocate for J Street’s values in the White House, from the fight against antisemitism to the need for a nuanced, balanced approach on Israel-Palestine,” Ben-Ami said. “She’s been a steadfast supporter of hostage families and Israel’s security, while also being a leading voice for the protection of Palestinian civilians and the need to secure an urgent ceasefire.”

J Street Endorses Harris: ‘Netanyahu Shouldn’t Have Been Given Honor of Addressing Congress’, The Jerusalem Post
J Street’s president Jeremy Ben-Ami began a press call Monday morning, previewing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Congressional address by announcing the “pro-Israel, pro-peace” organization’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and thanking President Joe Biden for his “incredible statesmanship” and for dedicating his life to public service.

Progressive Israel Network Organizations: Prime Minister Netanyahu is Not Welcome Here, Progressive Israel Network
The Progressive Israel Network, of which J Street is a member, writes, “We are living in an unprecedented time – a time in which the most radical settler elements of Israeli society sit at its helm, empowered by Prime Minister Netanyahu to eviscerate its democratic foundations. And such a time demands an unprecedented response. We collectively support the demands for a hostage deal, ceasefire, and a long-term, political solution to the conflict and oppose Netanyahu’s disastrous tenure. Consequently, we wish to say loud and clear: Israel’s sitting Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is not welcome here.”

Biden Vows to Keep Working to End Gaza War, Free Hostages in Last Months as President, The Times of Israel
“I’ll be working very closely with the Israelis and with the Palestinians to try to work out how we can get the Gaza war to end, and Middle East peace, and get all those hostages home,” Biden said in a call into his campaign headquarters, which has transitioned to supporting Vice President Kamala Harris. “I think we’re on the verge of being able to do that,” Biden added.

Israel Risks All-Out War With Hezbollah. A Truce in Gaza May Reduce That Threat, The New York Times
An ally of Hamas, Hezbollah has said it will stop firing rockets if Israel halts its war with Hamas in Gaza. If that happens, both Israel and Hezbollah have signaled to interlocutors that they would be prepared to begin negotiations for a formal truce, according to three Western officials briefed on the sides’ positions and an Israeli official.

Israel’s Netanyahu Says Gaza Hostage Deal Could Be Getting Closer, Reuters
Speaking in the U.S. capital on Monday to families of hostages, he said: “The conditions (for a deal) are undoubtedly ripening. This is a good sign.” Months of efforts mediated by Egypt and Qatar to reach a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas gained momentum in recent weeks under a proposal outlined by Biden in May before stalling again. “, it will not take place all at once; there will be stages. However, I believe that we can advance the deal.”

Security Chiefs Said to Agree Israel Can Withstand Withdrawing From Gaza for 6 Weeks, The Times of Israel
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Mossad Director David Barnea, and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar have all reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they support such a deal, arguing that the relatively short period of time would not allow Hamas to regroup and rearm in a significant manner.

A Senator Will Preside at Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress After Harris Declines, The New York Times
An aide to Ms. Harris said her absence on Wednesday should not be construed as a change in her commitment to Israel’s security, but was merely a conflict with a previously scheduled event in Indianapolis.

Netanyahu Requested Meeting with Trump This Week During US Visit, Politico
Netanyahu and Trump’s teams have in recent days discussed the possibility of the two leaders meeting face-to-face, potentially in Florida. Trump has yet to agree to a meeting, but also has not outright rejected the idea, sources said.

Hamas and Fatah Sign Agreement in Beijing ‘Ending’ Their Division, China Says, CNN
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the agreement was “dedicated to the great reconciliation and unity of all 14 factions.” “The core outcome is that the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) is the sole legitimate representative of all Palestinian people,” Wang said, adding that “an agreement has been reached on post-Gaza war governance and the establishment of a provisional national reconciliation government.”

Israel Orders New Evacuation in Gaza as Aid Workers Say Bombing Kills Dozens, The New York Times
The Gazan health ministry said 70 bodies were brought to Nasser Hospital, and at least 200 other people had been wounded, adding that others were almost certainly buried under rubble. The Palestine Red Crescent said its teams in the area had dealt with at least 12 people who had been killed and 50 wounded.

US, Israel and UAE Held a Secret Meeting on Gaza War ‘Day After’ Plan, Axios
The Emiratis told the Biden administration the new Palestinian prime minister, Mohammed Mustafa, was one of Abbas’ confidants and therefore would not be independent and wouldn’t conduct the needed reforms. The Emiratis pushed for other candidates, including former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad — an Abbas critic — to be appointed instead.

Israeli Parliament Votes to Label UN Relief Agency a Terror Organization, Reuters
The vote against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees is the latest step in an Israeli push against the agency, which Israeli leaders have accused of collaborating with the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza.

American Hostage Families Warn Netanyahu Not to Address Congress Before Deal Inked, The Times of Israel
“We view any speech that is not the announcement of the signing and closing of a hostage deal to be a total failure,” said Jon Polin in a press briefing with eight other relatives of American hostages who were in Washington for Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.

Western Powers Set to Tighten Sanctions Against Israeli Settler Groups After Hague Opinion, Haaretz
Over the weekend, it was reported that U.S. President Joe Biden was weighing sanctions on Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leaders of the two far-right parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition. A step like that, if the White House approves it, would be unprecedented and open a new page in American pressure on the activities of extreme rightists in Israel.

The War Will End, but Gazans Will Continue to Die Months and Years Later, Haaretz
Sheren Falah Saab reports, “In an article published in The Lancet at the beginning of the month, three public health experts warned that even if the war ended now, Gazans would continue to die from its effects: There will continue to be many indirect deaths in the coming months and years from causes such as communicable and non-communicable diseases and medical complications due to the destruction of health-care infrastructure; severe shortages of food, water, and shelter, and the overcrowding in the displaced persons camps. […] Experts who spoke to Haaretz outlined a very bleak picture.”

Jewish Republicans Are Smearing Kamala Harris as Anti-Israel. Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Buy It, The Forward
Rob Eshman shares, “The only lever she’s given partisan critics is that on multiple occasions she has acknowledged the suffering of Palestinians as a result of Israel’s actions in Gaza. That’s not capitulation. That’s empathy. The majority of Americans have concerns about the suffering in Gaza. Freeing the hostages, ending the war, and finding a long-term solution for Israeli and Palestinian security depends on recognizing both sides’ humanity.”