News Roundup for July 5, 2022

July 5, 2022
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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 in the News

Donna Edwards Wants Her Md. Seat Back. Glenn Ivey Stands in the Way., The Washington Post
“A super PAC associated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee — which has endorsed Ivey — has spent nearly $2 million on ads highlighting that criticism and supporting Ivey, a campaign Edwards acknowledged was “daunting” in the final leg of the race. J Street, the liberal pro-Israel group that endorsed Edwards, has spent $660,000 on pro-Edwards ads and mailers to counter the negative narrative. And Edwards has too, at one point getting help from Pelosi to swat back at the super PAC’s claims. “When Glenn Ivey comes after me, I’m still fighting for you,” Edwards said in her latest ad, highlighting her support for unions, school meal programs and abortion rights, among other things.”

Top News and Analysis

U.S. Concludes Unintentional Israeli Fire Likely Killed American Journalist, The Washington Post
An American-led analysis of forensic and ballistic evidence, as well as the separate Israeli and Palestinian investigations, found that the bullet that killed Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh likely originated from an Israeli soldier, but added that there was “no reason to believe this was intentional,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said Monday.

Palestinian Dies From Shot by Israeli Troops in West Bank, AP
A Palestinian man who was shot by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank died of his wounds on Sunday, Palestinian officials said. The Israeli military said soldiers came under attack “during routine security activity near the town of Jaba” in the northern West Bank on Saturday. It said Israeli forces fired at a man suspected of throwing a firebomb, and that the incident was under review. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry identified the man as 19-year-old Kamel Abdallah Alwaneh from near the city of Jenin and condemned his killing.

News

Israel’s Caretaker PM Lapid Holds First Cabinet Meeting, ABC
Israel’s caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid held his first Cabinet meeting on Sunday since taking over as leader, promising a functional government despite the political instability that is sending Israel to its fifth elections in less than four years.

Bills on US Visa-Free Travel, Tel Aviv Metro Nixed on Last Knesset Day Before Recess, The Times of Israel
Hours before the Knesset closed for election recess on Monday, critical pieces of legislation that would advance the construction of a Tel Aviv-centered metro system and Israel’s inclusion in the US’s Visa Waiver Program were set aside, as negotiations between coalition and opposition negotiations broke down.

Israel Shoots Down Hezbollah Drones Over Mediterranean, AP
The Israeli military on Saturday said it shot down three unmanned aircraft launched by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah heading toward an area where an Israeli gas platform was recently installed in the Mediterranean Sea.

Hamas Heads Multi-Faction Effort to Challenge Palestinian Authority, Al-Montior
Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh called June 19 for an agreement on a Palestinian strategy to overcome the internal division and build a national front that safeguards Palestinian principles and nurtures the resistance while managing the conflict with Israel and serving as a reference for the rebuilding of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Israel’s Lapid To Meet Macron in Paris on His 1st Trip as PM, AP
Israel’s caretaker prime minister left Tuesday for a day-long visit to Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. It was the first overseas trip by Yair Lapid since he took office last week.

Opinion and Analysis

Biden Should Bolster a Palestinian Political Horizon, The Jerusalem Post
J Street Israel Executive Director Nadav Tamir writes, “When US President Joe Biden visits Israel and the PA in mid-July, he will meet a caretaker Israeli prime minister and a Palestinian leader who has lost his legitimacy. This is clearly far from optimal timing for any significant move on the Palestinian issue but it could present a great opportunity to create a political horizon for the next time Israelis and Palestinians go to the polls.”

Israel Expelled My Father From Masafer Yatta 20 Years Ago. Now It’s Happening Again, +972 Mag
Ahmed Jundeya writes, “More than two decades have passed since my father was first kicked out of his home. Now that the Supreme Court approved his second expulsion, I spoke to him about how the decision fits into our family’s story of resistance.”