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.
Two-Way Street: Receiving Torah on Shavuot — When and How, J Street
A text study from J Street for Shavuot.
Crash Course on Israeli Government’s Judicial Reform Crisis, Israel’s Image, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, & American-Israel Relations, Rabbi John Rosove’s Blog
Rabbi John Rosove, co-chair of the J Street Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet, discusses a recent event featuring J Street Israel Director Nadav Tamir, and shares a compilation of Nadav’s recent writings on Israel and the conflict.
Israel and Islamic Jihad Agree on Cease-Fire to End 5 Days of Fighting, ABC
Israel and the Islamic Jihad militant group in the Gaza Strip agreed to an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire late Saturday, seeking to halt five days of intense fighting that killed 33 Palestinians, including at least 13 civilians. Two people in Israel were killed by rocket fire.
Israel Arrests Two Palestinians Wanted for March Shooting Attack, Haaretz
Israeli forces arrested two Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus on Sunday. According to the Israeli military, the two are suspected of carrying out a shooting attack on two Israeli soldiers back in March.
Israel Defense Forces Apologizes for Death of Shireen Abu Akleh on Live TV, CNN
In an interview with CNN’s Eleni Giokos, Israel Defense Forces Chief Spokesperson Daniel Hagari apologized for the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. It is the first time the IDF has apologized after conceding last year that there was a “high possibility” she was shot by an Israeli soldier while covering an Israeli military operation in Jenin in the occupied West Bank. The interview was conducted on the one-year-anniversary of Abu Akleh’s death.
Israeli Government Advances Bill That Could End Funding for Most East Jerusalem Schools, Haaretz
The Ministerial Committee on Legislation will discuss a bill that intends to stop government funding for East Jerusalem schools that teach the Palestinian curriculum at its meeting on Sunday. If the proposed law, sponsored by coalition Knesset members, is passed in the end by the full Knesset, most schools in East Jerusalem will not receive government funds.
Only Republicans Speak at ‘Bipartisan’ Israel Gathering to Replace Tlaib’s Event, The Times of Israel
When House Speaker Kevin McCarthy blocked an event marking 75 years of Palestinian suffering since Israel’s establishment in 1948, he promised to replace it with a bipartisan discussion celebrating Israel. McCarthy’s event took place, but only Republicans spoke. Prominent pro-Israel Democratic lawmakers were not invited.
Over 33% of Israelis Think Netanyahu Started Gaza Operation Due to Polls, The Jerusalem Post
More than a third of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched Operation Shield and Arrow due to the Likud Party’s recent fall in polls, while slightly less believed that it was in order to restore quiet to the south and 13% believed it was due to pressure from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, according to a poll published by Channel 13 on Sunday evening.
Rashida Tlaib Held a Nakba Day Event at the Senate. Why Are Some Jews So Mad?, The Forward
Nora Berman argues, “I understand the pain that [Senator Jacky] Rosen feels, watching the celebration of the creation of the Jewish state she deeply values be marred by the experience of the Palestinians that day 75 years ago. But if we cannot hold the dual truths that, on the same day, the Jewish state was born and the Palestinians suffered mass displacement, if only one story about Israel’s creation is permitted to be shared, then there will be no way forward in which to work together for peace.
Another Pointless and Superfluous Gaza War, Haaretz
The Haaretz Editorial Board writes, “Apart from benefit to a coalition that was on the verge of disintegration, the fighting brought primarily unnecessary death and destruction, mainly to Gazans but also to Israelis. In Israel the operation claimed the life of one person and injured at least 35 more. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in the Gaza Strip 32 people were killed, seven of them children, and 106 were injured.”
Killing Jihad Commanders Amplifies an Illusion, The Jerusalem Post
Avi Gil, a former director-general of the Foreign Ministry, writes, “[Shimon Peres] used to say that even in moments of crisis, one must not lose sight of the distant goal we are striving to reach. In the face of the pessimists who are convinced that there is no way out and that we are forever destined to kill and be killed, Peres would say, ‘With one hand we must hold firmly a deadly sword, but with the other hand we must wave the banner of peace and neighborliness.’”