News Roundup for March 11, 2026
Arab Israeli Politics and Society Ahead of the 2026 Israeli Election, Word on the Street
Former Member of Knesset Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi and J Street policy and research coordinator Avraham Spraragen write, “In order to resolve the disparities between Arabs and Jews in Israel, incitement against Arab Israelis and their political persecution must end; Arab citizens must be able to vote in the 2026 election without discrimination or concern for their safety; Jewish political leaders must immediately stop campaigning against Arab participation in the next coalition; and the next Israeli government must (1) include Arab representation, (2) urgently restore security to Arab communities, and (3) rescind budget cuts and increase funding for Arab Israelis.”
The War With Iran Reveals Israelis’ Split Personality, Haaretz
Haaretz deputy editor-in-chief writes, “A day after the war with Iran began, some 1,500 members of the liberal Jewish lobby J Street gathered for the organization’s annual convention. Their position was clear from the outset – opposition to the war. […] Unusual in the history of the relationship between Diaspora Jewry and Israel, it was challenging to find any similar political position in Israel. A foreigner wouldn’t understand the Israeli position; it seems paradoxical. But the vast majority of Israelis, and certainly of Israeli Jews, support the war in principle, despite having to hide in safe rooms and bomb shelters and being exhausted from more than two years of intensive warfare.”
Trump Likely to Confront Democratic Wall on Iran War Funding, Foreign Policy
“‘There is a very solid group of Democrats whose position is going to be that the administration has gotten $1 trillion for the Pentagon and more than enough extra funds in the Big Beautiful Bill and has yet to give any information on how the money is being spent,’ said Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street, a liberal pro-Israel U.S. lobbying group, whose organization held its annual Capitol Hill outreach day last week. ‘So, if it needs extra money now … the money is there, they just need to reprogram it.'”
Jewish Democrats Press for Oversight as Trump’s Iran War Rages On, The Forward
“The pro-peace J Street group lobbied Congress to support the war powers resolution, saying it was opposed to any action against Iran without congressional oversight. Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street’s president, said at its annual conference in Washington, D.C., last week that their position applies to all administrations. ‘This idea of presidential ability to use the armed forces at their whim is a very dangerous one,’ he said.”
How Trump and His Advisers Miscalculated Iran’s Response to War, New York Times
“The extent of that miscalculation was laid bare in recent days, as Iran threatened to fire at commercial oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic choke point through which all ships must pass on their way out of the Persian Gulf. In response to the Iranian threats, commercial shipping has come to a standstill in the Gulf, oil prices have spiked, and the Trump administration has scrambled to find ways to tamp down an economic crisis that has triggered higher gasoline prices for Americans.”
Cargo Ships Hit in Persian Gulf Shipping Lane Crucial to Oil Market, Washington Post
“At least three commercial ships were struck near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to a British government monitoring agency, as Iranian leaders declared that they were widening their assault on countries in the Persian Gulf, aiming to raise the economic price of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign to oust the government in Tehran.”
Second Victim Dies After Monday’s Iranian Cluster Missile Strike in Central Israel, Times of Israel
“A second man wounded in an Iranian cluster bomb missile strike in central Israel on Monday morning died of his injuries on Tuesday, medical officials said, bringing the death toll from the attack to two.”
Israel Establishes New Settlement Ebal in West Bank Amid Iran War, Ynet
“A new settlement named Ebal has been established in the West Bank during the ongoing war with Iran, following a cabinet decision last year authorizing the creation of dozens of settlements in the territory. […] Settlement leaders in the West Bank have described the current period leading up to national elections as critical for advancing new settlements and implementing government decisions on expansion.”
Iran Lays Mines in the Strait of Hormuz, Wall Street Journal
“Iran placed mines in the Strait of Hormuz over recent days, U.S. officials said, an escalation meant to shut down a vital economic throughway, leading President Trump to threaten a swift reprisal.”
At Least 17 U.S. Sites Damaged in War With Iran, Analysis Shows, New York Times
“The New York Times has identified at least 17 damaged U.S. sites and other installations, several of which have been struck more than once since the war began. Our analysis is based on high-resolution, commercial satellite imagery, verified social media videos and statements by U.S. officials and Iranian state media.”
Force Alone Won’t Bring Peace: Israel Should Negotiate With Lebanon, Haaretz
The Haaretz Editorial Board writes, “Israel shouldn’t see Lebanon’s proposal as an empty rhetorical gesture. It should be seen as an indication of Lebanon’s desire to establish its authority against Hezbollah. There is a strategic opportunity here to work in cooperation with an Arab country that sees eye to eye with Israel and agrees with it regarding the extent of the damage that Hezbollah is causing. Rejecting the proposal out of hand is likely to weaken the Lebanese trying to restrain Hezbollah.”
