News Roundup for May 7, 2020

May 7, 2020

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J Street in the News

As Israel considers annexation, Biden calls to keep the two-state solution alive, JTA
“‘A priority now for the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace should be resuming our dialogue with the Palestinians and pressing Israel not to take actions that make a two-state solution impossible,’ Biden said. ‘I will reopen the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem, find a way to re-open the PLO’s diplomatic mission in Washington, and resume the decades-long economic and security assistance efforts to the Palestinians that the Trump Administration stopped.’ […] Biden has also enthusiastically accepted J Street’s endorsement for the presidency […] J Street is urging Democratic senators to sign a letter initiated by Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., that would warn Israel’s government not to move ahead with annexation. All three are J Street endorses.”

Top News and Analysis

Call Yourself a Friend? Then Stop Israel’s West Bank Annexation Disaster, Haaretz
Guy Ziv writes, “Israel faces a national emergency, its political opposition has capitulated and many of its American ‘friends’ are urging it on towards doom. Who will stop Israel’s suicidal annexation plan?”

Majority of Israel’s Jews oppose West Bank annexation, survey says, Ynet
According to Commanders for Israel’s Security movement’s poll, only quarter of all respondents support the move, while only third of Likud voters in favor of the initiative; 40% prefer a permanent two-state solution with the Palestinians.

Knesset okays full legislative package anchoring new unity coalition, Times of Israel
The Knesset on Thursday passed into law the full legislative package required by the coalition deal between the Likud and Blue and White parties, paving the way for Benjamin Netanyahu to receive a majority of recommendations in parliament to form the next government.

News

Israelis head to malls, markets and gyms after six weeks of closure, Times of Israel
Malls, outdoor markets and gyms reopened Thursday morning after over six weeks of closure, as Israel’s numbers of daily new cases of the novel coronavirus remained in the low dozens.

Israel’s High Court allows Netanyahu to form a government despite indictment, Washington Post
The Israeli Supreme Court ruled late Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can form a new government and begin his fifth term despite his indictment on bribery and other corruption charges.

Amnesty International condemns PA and Hamas for jailing critics, Times of Israel
Amnesty International on Thursday censured Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip over their detention of critics and opponents for expressing their views.

Yair Netanyahu is now the poster boy for a German far-right politician, JTA
Yair Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister’s son, last week called for the death of the European Union and the return of a “Christian” Europe. Now a far-right politician in Germany has made the tweeted quote into a graphic that he in turn posted on Twitter. Joachim Kuhs, a senior European Parliament member for the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, also tacked on a picture of Benjamin Netanyahu’s son.

Opinion and Analysis

Palestinian woman leads fight against coronavirus, while others fall victim to domestic violence, Al-Monitor
Ahmad Melhem writes, “Women are taking the lead in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak in the Palestinian territories, while at the same the virus has brought more violence and suffering to some women.”

Annexing the West Bank Would Hurt Israel, New York Times
Daniel Pipes writes, “Annexation of the West Bank would probably damage Israel’s relations with the Trump administration, the Democrats, Europeans and Arab leaders, as well as destabilize the region, radicalize the Israeli Left, and harm the Zionist goal of a Jewish state.”