[Video] Three Jewish New Yorkers on Zohran Mamdani’s Win, Substack
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami and J Street Chief of Policy Ilan Goldenberg spoke with three Jewish New York voters – each of whom supported different candidates on the ballot – to understand their different perspectives on Mamdani’s victory.
Israel Said Hoping to Clinch Comprehensive Gaza Deal Before PM’s US Visit Next Week, The Times of Israel
“Israel is now, for the first time, willing to engage in talks over a comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release framework in Gaza that would see the release of all 50 remaining hostages from Hamas, Channel 12 news reported, citing sources involved in the talks.”
Hamas Said Happy With US Guarantee on Talks to End Gaza War as Ceasefire Momentum Grows, The Times of Israel
“Efforts to reach a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza war appeared to be making progress Thursday amid reports that terror group Hamas could back the proposal, which includes the release of 28 hostages and negotiations on ending the war that has been grinding on since October 2023.”
US Contractors Say Their Colleagues Are Firing Live Ammo as Palestinians Seek Food in Gaza, AP
“American contractors guarding aid distribution sites in Gaza are using live ammunition and stun grenades as hungry Palestinians scramble for food, according to accounts and videos obtained by The Associated Press.”
Iran’s President Suspends Cooperation With UN Nuclear Watchdog After U.S. And Israeli Strikes, PBS
“Iran’s president on Wednesday ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency after American and Israeli airstrikes hit its most-important nuclear facilities, likely further limiting inspectors’ ability to track Tehran’s program that had been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels.”
Israeli Military Used 500LB Bomb in Strike on Gaza Cafe, Fragments Reveal, The Guardian
“The Israeli military used a 500lb (230kg) bomb – a powerful and indiscriminate weapon that generates a massive blast wave and scatters shrapnel over a wide area – when it attacked a target in a crowded beachfront cafe in Gaza on Monday, evidence seen by the Guardian has revealed. Experts in international law said the use of such a munition despite the known presence of many unprotected civilians, including children, women and elderly people, was almost certainly unlawful and may constitute a war crime.”
Likud Ministers Urge Netanyahu to Annex West Bank by the End of the Month, The Times of Israel
“Senior lawmakers and ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party launched a push on Wednesday urging the premier to annex the West Bank before the end of the Knesset’s summer session on July 27, claiming that he must ride the ‘historic achievements’ of the war against Iran.”
[3 Minute Audio] Iran Cracking Down on People Suspected of Aiding Israel in War Last Month, NPR
“Iran’s government is detaining anyone they believe gathered and shared intelligence with Israel used to strike key military sites and kill top generals and nuclear scientists during last month’s war.”
We’re Not the Same People Anymore’: IDF Soldiers Reveal What No Israeli Wants to Hear About Months of Fighting in Gaza, Haaretz
Tom Levinson writes, “Active-duty army soldiers who spoke to Haaretz in recent months paint a very different picture – one that bears little resemblance to the official narrative. They describe mounting exhaustion, severe physical and psychological strain, and a constant fear that they’ll be the next to have their names released as fallen.”
J Street Policy Framework for the West Bank and a Future Palestinian State, J Street
“Israel will go to elections in the next 18 months, and the sitting coalition is, at the time of writing this memo, far behind in the polls. President Abbas’ 25-year term is in its twilight. Moreover, a comprehensive regional peace that includes a ’23 state solution’ remains a real possibility and will require concessions from Israel towards the Palestinians, creating opportunities for positive steps in the West Bank. This paper lays out a series of recommendations that J Street believes supporters of a Palestinian state should continue to advocate for.”
Despite Netanyahu’s Claims, the Israel-Iran War Pushed Saudi Arabia Away From Normalization, Not Closer, Haaretz
Aziz Alghashian and Rob Pinfold write, “Netanyahu’s pursuit of ‘total victory’ over Hamas as well as Iran have caused Israel’s regional relations to flatline. Riyadh is still irritated after Netanyahu’s remark in February that the Saudis can create a Palestinian state on their land; he then added insult to injury when he claimed that normalization with Riyadh is ‘going to happen.’”
Stronger Than Ever, Israel Still Lacks What It Take to Be a True Regional Power, Haaretz
David Rosenberg writes, “In his victory speech, Bibi assured Israel that ‘we are neither overconfident nor complacent – the opposite in fact.’ But there are signs of post-war hubris about the country’s capabilities. Israel is militarily and economically stronger than ever. But it is too small to fill the role of regional strongman.”