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.
Getting to Know: Ronnie Cook Zuhlke, The Jewish Chronicle
“After working to better Pittsburgh and its Jewish community for more than 40 years, Ronnie Cook Zuhlke will be nationally recognized on May 13 by Women of Reform Judaism with a Women’s Empowerment Award. Within Pittsburgh, Zuhlke has been part of several movements and initiatives. She’s worked toward securing sensible gun legislation, improving voter engagement, achieving criminal justice reform and educating people about issues surrounding gender and ableism. Some of her work has come through membership in Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN). Other efforts, specifically those regarding Israel and the Palestinians, have come through her involvement in J Street.”
Israeli Court Paves Way for Eviction of 1,000 Palestinians From West Bank Area, The Guardian
After a two-decade legal battle, Israel’s high court has ruled that about 1,000 Palestinians can be evicted from an area of the West Bank and the land repurposed for Israeli military use, in one of the single biggest expulsion decisions since the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories began in 1967.
Israeli Police Enter Tense Holy Site as Jewish Visits Resume, AP
Israeli police entered a flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem to clear away Palestinian protesters on Thursday, after Jewish visits that had been paused for the Muslim holidays resumed. As the visits resumed, dozens of Palestinians gathered, chanting “God is greatest.” Scuffles broke out when the police went to arrest one of them. Police fired rubber-coated bullets on the sprawling esplanade as some Palestinians sheltered inside the mosque itself. The police could later be seen just inside an entrance to the barricaded mosque.
Tensions Flare Between Israel and Russia, Axios
Relations between Russia and Israel are at one of their lowest points in years after the Russian foreign minister falsely claimed Adolf Hitler had “Jewish blood,” which he used to justify calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a Nazi.
Head of Palestinian NGO Labeled a Terrorist Group by Israel Barred From Traveling to U.S., Haaretz
A director of a Palestinian NGO that Israel declared a terror organization last year was barred from boarding a flight to the United States. Sahar Francis, the director of Addameer – director of Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Organization – sought to travel on Saturday to a conference of civil society groups in Mexico, but was informed she was not allowed to board her flight upon her arrival at Ben-Gurion International Airport.
‘Our Ties Are Unbreakable’: Biden, World Leaders Share Independence Day Messages, The Times of Israel
World leaders sent congratulatory messages and greetings to Israel from around the world to mark its 74th Independence Day on Thursday. In a video message aired at the official presidential ceremony Thursday morning, US President Joe Biden touted the close ties between Israel and the US. “I’m honored to send you the best wishes of the people of the United States of America on the 74th birthday of the State of Israel,” said Biden in the video.
U.S. Jewish Leaders Rally for Abortion Rights After ‘Devastating’ Roe v. Wade Opinion, Haaretz
Jewish leaders, young professionals and activists on Tuesday joined the hundreds of demonstrators outside the Supreme Court demanding the court not overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide.
Israel Has a Historic Debt to Pay, Haaretz
Haaretz’s Editorial Board argues, “Independence Day is not a holiday for all of Israel’s citizens. The most important event in the history of the Jewish people, by dint of which it gained an independent, sovereign and internationally recognized state, concurrently turned hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were living within its borders into refugees. Most of them went into exile in neighboring Arab states, while the 160,000 or so who remained in Israel were forced to live under military rule.”
Israel Welcomes Ukrainian Refugees. Why Won’t It Do the Same for Palestinians Married to Israelis, Like My Spouse?, The Forward
Sari Bashi writes, “Israel has rightfully unrolled the welcome mat to thousands of Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion since the war began on Feb. 24. But those open doors are a stark contrast to the way it treats the refugees in its own backyard – Palestinian refugees like my spouse.”