Senators Must Oppose Mike Huckabee and His Dangerous, Fringe Beliefs, J Street
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami writes, “Mr. Huckabee’s embrace of annexation, extremist settlers and fanatical Christian Zionism stands in stark contrast to the Jewish, democratic values held by the overwhelming majority of our community – and in stark contrast to Israel’s founding values of justice, equality and peace. We urge senators to vote no on this confirmation.”
Make No Mistake: MAGA Hysteria Won’t Be Confined to America’s Campuses, MSNBC
“Trump’s assault on academia has prompted massive opposition, with growing calls for administrators to resist this assault on academic independence. J Street, a Jewish lobbyist group, issued a statement blasting the administration’s actions: ‘While Trump will stop at nothing to attack higher education, we remain firm in our belief that universities are a tool for empathy, understanding and academic freedom. If the administration was serious about fighting antisemitism,’ the statement continues, “‘It would listen to Jewish students; it would seek to calm campus tensions rather than escalate them; and it might start by throwing out the slew of bigots and conspiracy theorists it has promoted to top positions in its own ranks.’”
Jewish Groups at Odds Ahead of Huckabee Nomination Hearing, Jewish Insider
“Mr. Huckabee’s embrace of [West Bank] annexation, extremist settlers and fanatical Christian Zionism stands in stark contrast to the Jewish, democratic values held by the overwhelming majority of our community – and in stark contrast to Israel’s founding values of justice, equality and peace,” J Street President Jeremy Ben Ami said in a statement. “An Ambassador espousing Governor Huckabee’s views would undermine American interests and the administration’s own stated commitment to the pursuit of long-term regional peace and security. I urge senators to vote no on his confirmation.”
What Jewish Groups Are Saying Ahead of Mike Huckabee’s Confirmation Hearing To Be Israel Ambassador, Jewish Telegraphic Agency
“Mr. Huckabee’s embrace of annexation, extremist settlers and fanatical Christian Zionism stands in stark contrast to the Jewish, democratic values held by the overwhelming majority of our community – and in stark contrast to Israel’s founding values of justice, equality and peace. An Ambassador espousing Governor Huckabee’s views would undermine American interests and the administration’s own stated commitment to the pursuit of long-term regional peace and security. I urge senators to vote no on his confirmation,” CEO Jeremy Ben-Ami said in a statement.
The Trump Administration Did What Now?, Politico
In Politico NatSec Daily’s On the Hill Section: “Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J-Street, a Jewish organization that advocates for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, told NatSec Daily that ‘an ambassador espousing Gov. Huckabee’s views would undermine American interests and the administration’s own stated commitment to pursuit of long-term regional peace and security.” A coalition of more than 65 progressive organizations also sent a letter to senators today, urging them to reject Huckabee on similar grounds.”
UN to Pull International Workers From Gaza Amid Israeli Strikes, The New York Times
“Stéphane Dujarric, the U.N. spokesman, said that about 30 percent of the organization’s 100 or so international staff members from different agencies would be leaving Gaza over the next week and that likely more would depart in the coming weeks. Local Palestinian staff members would remain in Gaza to carry out humanitarian work.”
Israeli Strikes Kill 23 in Gaza, Military Expands Evacuation Orders, Reuters
“Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 23 Palestinians [today], local health officials said, as the Israeli military expanded evacuation orders to tens of thousands of residents across the enclave. […] The Israeli army told residents in all northern border towns to evacuate, saying Palestinian rockets had been fired at Israel from the area.”
Oscar-Winning Palestinian Director Is Attacked by Israeli Settlers and Detained by the Army, AP
“Israeli settlers beat up one of the Palestinian co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary film ‘No Other Land’ on Monday in the occupied West Bank before he was detained by the Israeli military, according to two of his fellow directors and other witnesses. The filmmaker Hamdan Ballal was one of three Palestinians detained in the village of Susiya, according to attorney Lea Tsemel, who is representing them. Police told her they were being held at a military base for medical treatment.”
In Major Victory for Government, Knesset Passes 2025 State Budget, The Times of Israel
“The opposition slams the bill. ‘All prices have increased. VAT has increased, National Insurance payments have increased, water, electricity and property taxes have increased – everything has increased…but they haven’t cut a single penny in coalition funds,’ says Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman. ‘This budget will be felt by all citizens of Israel all year long and you will ultimately pay the bill. Your detachment and arrogance will come back to you with interest,’ says National Unity chairman Benny Gantz.”
How “Project Esther” Forecast Trump’s Plan To Silence Protests, Boost Deportations, Axios
“Dubbed ‘Project Esther’ and based on months of chatter among some GOP leaders — was reflected in the White House’s moves to arrest Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil and pull universities’ funding over antisemitism allegations. The administration’s strategy is to eventually ask the Supreme Court to give President Trump more power to deport immigrants with fewer judicial restraints.”
Could Israel’s Embrace of Europe’s Far Right Finally Break Up French Jews’ Love Affair With Netanyahu?, Haaretz
Sebastien Levi writes, “While criticism by these French Jewish heavyweights may not completely alter French Jews’ attitude towards the Israeli government, it’s still an important step toward an eventual breakup. Currently, their hypocrisy is stunning, failing to show clarity to their community and most importantly, putting French Jewry at risk by empowering Europe’s far right. We know how this story ends.”
Dear President Herzog, Tablet Magazine
Bernard-Henri Lévy writes, “Jews have too often, throughout history, been the pawns in the power games of great nations. I do not see why they should now risk enthusiastically embracing the cause of a party engaged in a war to the death… with the heirs—yes, they still exist!—of the social democrats who helped make Israel a nuclear power.”
Gaza’s Child Amputees Struggle With Recovery, Especially After Israel’s Cutoff of Aid, AP
Fatma Khaled writes, “One of the most shocking sights in Gaza’s war has been the thousands of children with amputated limbs from Israel’s bombardment. The U.N.’s humanitarian aid organization OCHA called it the ‘largest cohort of child amputees in modern history.’”
Hillel, the Campus Jewish Group, Is Thriving, and Torn by Conflict, The New York Times
“The division among Jews more generally is playing out among Jews on campus, as some complain that Hillel is too aligned with Israel, while others say that it is too open to critics of Israel.”