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.
Former Israeli Diplomat Nadav Tamir: ‘Israel is Experiencing a Liberal Awakening’, El País
J Street’s Israel Director Nadav Tamir speaks to the Madrid-based publication about the future of Israel amid widespread opposition to the Netanyahu government’s judicial reforms.
J Street Condemns Terror Attack In Eli; Deeply Worried By New Violent Escalation, J Street
J Street is deeply worried and saddened by the ongoing surge in violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territory. We urge responsible leaders to do everything in their power to prevent the deteriorating situation from growing even worse.
Palestinian Gunmen Kill 4 Israeli Civilians in Occupied West Bank, The New York Times
Two Palestinian gunmen shot and killed four Israeli civilians on Tuesday afternoon outside a Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Israeli military said, in the deadliest attack on Israelis since January. The shootings occurred at a restaurant and gas station next to the settlement of Eli, about 25 miles north of Jerusalem.
Coalition to Delay Advancement of Overhaul Legislation in Light of West Bank Shooting Attack, The Times of Israel
The coalition’s immediate steps to revive the judicial overhaul will be delayed in the wake of Tuesday’s deadly terror attack. The Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee announced that it will postpone a controversial discussion on a bill to limit the judicial test of reasonableness of government decisions after receiving requests to push back discussions from several lawmakers.
Israeli Settlers Burn, Vandalize Palestinian Property After West Bank Shooting Attack, Haaretz
Hours after the deadly shooting attack near the West Bank settlement of Eli, where four Israelis were murdered, groups of settlers arrived at several Palestinian cities and villages and began to block traffic, throw rocks and vandalize property. According to an Israeli defense official, roughly 20 settlers set cars on fire in the Palestinian village of Hawara — the site of a rampage carried out by settlers earlier this year.
Morocco Cancels Next Month’s Negev Forum Over Israeli Settlement Announcements, The Times of Israel
Morocco has decided to cancel plans to host the second ministerial gathering of the Negev Forum in response to a pair of Israeli moves to significantly expand its settlements in the West Bank. The gathering of foreign ministers from Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Egypt and the US was originally slated to take place in March but has been delayed several times amid tensions between Israelis and Palestinians as well as discomfort over Netanyahu’s government.
Head of UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees Warns of Service Cuts Without More Funding, AP
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Tuesday that without a new injection of funding, it is “likely or highly likely” that the agency will not be able to deliver some services or pay salaries by the fall. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said that the agency responsible for services to Palestinian refugees has been facing a shortfall of $150 million to $200 million annually in recent years.
Knesset Member Threatens to ‘Blow Up’ Palestinian, Israeli Orphans’ Summer Camp, Al-Monitor
Knesset members from Israel’s ruling coalition threatened to take action Monday against a boarding school called the Ben Shemen Youth Village for renting its complex to host a summer camp for the children of bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families. Jewish Power Knesset member Almog Cohen said, “I’ll blow up your summer camp and shut you down, god willing.”
We Can Reignite Zionism in America Right Now. By Opposing Israel’s Government, Haaretz
Eric H. Yoffie, former president of the Union for Reform Judaism, writes, “And while I have been a proud Zionist my entire life, never have I been prouder than now, as Israelis flock to the public squares of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Beersheva and Haifa, and towns and junctions across the country, intent on defying the racists and would-be authoritarians in their midst. In these demonstrations one can see not only a political protest, but the sparks of a national, Zionist, and Jewish awakening.”
Did Netanyahu Think We Didn’t Notice His Coup? How Foolish of Him, The Miami Herald
Uri Dromi, former spokesman of the Rabin and Peres governments, argues, “Suddenly, [Israeli democracy] was put under threat when Netanyahu unleashed his two henchmen, Justice Minister Yariv Levin and MK Simcha Rotman, head of the Knesset’s Constitution Committee — two fanatic ideologues executing their horrendous scheme of weakening the Supreme Court in general, and vis-à-vis the government in particular.”