J Street Statement on Trump Suspending $400 Million in Grants and Contracts to Columbia University, J Street
J Street U Director Erin Beiner said, “This decision is part of the administration’s broader attack on academic institutions and may cause these same institutions to overcorrect – stifling free speech for fear of having all of their funding cut. If this administration sincerely cared about antisemitism, it wouldn’t be providing a platform to antisemites in its own ranks including officials working at the Pentagon who have a history of spreading blood libels online.”
US Cancels $400 Million in Grants, Contracts to Columbia University Over Antisemitism Allegations, Reuters
“Jewish organizations remain divided. Columbia’s Hillel group supports the decision, urging the university to take antisemitism more seriously. However, J Street, a pro-Israel advocacy group, warns the move could stifle free speech and lead to overcorrections by academic institutions fearing financial repercussions.”
J Street Gave My Family a Pro-Israel Home – And Hope For Tomorrow, The Times of Israel
Rabbi Eric Solomon finds hope in his daughter’s advocacy and the work of J Street U, a pro-Israel group that empowers young Jews to stand up for their values. Reflecting on his daughter Meirav Solomon’s testimony before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, he writes, “At a time when Jewish leaders and institutions are raising concern over the strength of younger generations’ Jewish identity and connection to Israel, the commitment and perseverance I’ve witnessed from my daughter and her J Street U peers […] gives me hope for the future of Jewish peoplehood.”
Here’s One Thing You Can Do To Fight For Your Values, Substack
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami is running as a delegate for the World Zionist Congress on the Hatikvah slate. This election will have a major impact on how $5 billion will be allocated to Israel and Jewish communities worldwide over the next five years. Even a small number of participants can shape future policies on democracy, pluralism, and Israeli-Palestinian relations. Let 5 or 10 of your friends and family know about these elections and urge them to take the 60 seconds to actually vote. Elections start today and run through May 4.
Israeli Negotiators Head to Qatar for U.S.- Mediated Talks to Resume Hamas Truce, Haaretz
“The Israeli security cabinet was convened to determine the updated mandate to be given to the Israeli negotiators, who will be led by M., a former deputy head of the Shin Bet security service; Gal Hirsch, the government coordinator for the hostages and missing; and Ophir Falk, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is also expected to arrive in Doha, most likely on Wednesday, to advance the talks between the sides.”
Israel Cuts Off Electricity Supply to Gaza, Affecting a Desalination Plant Producing Drinking Water, AP
“Israel cut off the electricity supply to Gaza, officials said Sunday, affecting a desalination plant producing drinking water for part of the arid territory. Hamas called it part of Israel’s ‘starvation policy.’ Israel last week suspended supplies of goods to the territory of more than 2 million Palestinians, an echo of the siege it imposed in the earliest days of the war.”
Israel’s Far Right Says New Office To Oversee Mass Transfer of Gazans, The Washington Post
“Israel will open an office under its Defense Ministry to manage the mass displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to other countries, far-right lawmakers said Sunday, as they pitched their mounting effort to depopulate the territory as being closely aligned with President Donald Trump’s own vision to ‘clean out’ and redevelop the enclave.”
Hamas Is Offering a Truce With Israel for Five to Ten Years, a U.S. Official Says, NPR
“President Trump’s hostage affairs envoy, Adam Boehler, told Israeli public broadcasting on Sunday that Hamas has offered to lay down its arms during that period and not be involved in governing Gaza, while the U.S. would take part in ensuring no Hamas tunnels or militant activity would crop up again. It is the first time Hamas has been known to offer a timetable for a truce. Hamas and Israel had no comment.”
Palestinian Protester Arrested by ICE Despite Green Card, Lawyer Says, The Washington Post
“Mahmoud Khalil, who as a Palestinian graduate student was a leader in negotiations between protesters and Columbia officials last spring, was stopped by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who told him his student visa had been revoked, his attorney Amy E. Greer said in a written statement. When Khalil told agents that he was a lawful permanent resident, holding a green card, agents detained him anyway, she said.”
Emergency Arab Summit on Gaza, J Street
J Street Policy Center Contributing Expert & Atlantic Council Nonresident Senior Fellow Jennifer Gavito analyzes a $53 billion Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of Gaza which serves as a counterproposal to President Trump’s highly controversial proposal to forcibly displace Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinian residents.
Fed Up With Netanyahu’s Time-wasting, Trump Has Cut Him Out of Cease-fire Talks, Haaretz
Chaim Levinson writes, “U.S. special envoy for the hostages, Adam Boehler, presented to the Israeli public on Sunday what Netanyahu refuses to say – that there have been positive developments in negotiations, and more hostages are set to return home. Speaking with Israel’s Channel 12 News, Boehler told Israelis the United States had not forgotten them.”