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.
Progressive Democrats Meet Palestinian Communities Suffering From Settler Violence, Haaretz
“A delegation of Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday visited Hebron and Sussia, two areas that have become flash points of settler violence and emblems of Israel’s occupation in the Palestinian territories. The lawmakers, including Reps. Mark Pocan and Jamaal Bowman, visited Sussia – a village in the South Hebron Hills – alongside prominent Palestinian activist Nasser Nawajah and Avner Gvaryahu, executive director of the anti-occupation NGO Breaking the Silence. Their visit took place days after Israeli soldiers prevented Palestinians from accessing a playground shortly after settlers arrived there…Sussia is located in the West Bank’s Area C, which is under full Israeli military and civilian control. Its residents, among the poorest in the West Bank, have been forcibly relocated from their land several times over the past 35 years….The delegation, brought to Israel by the left-wing J Street organization, also met with students at an UNRWA-run school in Hebron.”
Palestinian PM: Only two-state solution can end ‘apartheid’, AP
The Palestinian prime minister warned Israel on Wednesday that its refusal to accept a two-state solution to the century-old conflict would perpetuate a system of “apartheid” and eventually result in a one-state reality in which Israel loses its Jewish character…At a press conference with foreign reporters, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh accused Bennett of “three no’s”: No to meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, no to peace negotiations and no to a Palestinian state.”
Israel readying for possible Iran conflict, officials say, ABC News
Top Israeli defense officials say the country is preparing for the possibility of an armed conflict with regional arch-rival Iran and its proxies. Israeli army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi said Tuesday that the Israeli military was “speeding up the operational plans and readiness for dealing with Iran and the nuclear military threat.”
US ambassador to UN expected to make first visit to Israel next week, Times of Israel
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield is expected to visit Israel next week alongside her Israeli counterpart, Gilad Erdan. The trip will be Thomas-Greenfield’s first to Israel as UN ambassador. She is set to meet with President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the Ynet news site reported Wednesday.
Opposition Wins First Battle to Build a New Hospital in Israeli Arab City, Haaretz
A bill spearheaded by opposition lawmakers to establish a new hospital in the Arab city of Sakhnin passed a preliminary vote at the Knesset on Wednesday, in an embarrassment to the coalition. The bill passed with 51 voting in favor of the law and 50 against. The proposal passed partly thanks to United Arab List MK Mazen Ghanaim, a resident of Sakhnin and member of the coalition.
Israel, UAE, Bahrain, US launch drill in Red Sea in apparent message to Iran, Times of Israel
The navies of Israel, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain launched a joint exercise in the Red Sea this week, the American military said, in an apparent threat to their shared adversary, Iran. The exercise comes just over a year after Israel normalized ties with the UAE and Bahrain.
Can religious Zionism overcome its addiction to state power?, 972 Magazine
Shaul Magid reviews Mikhael Manekin’s new book ““The Dawn of Redemption: Ethics and Tradition in a Time of Power.”
Israel Broadens Strikes Against Iran in Syria, and Russia Doesn’t Seem to Mind, Haaretz
Amos Harel observes, “On the strategic level, it is evident – over two weeks after the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Sochi – that Russia is not especially concerned about an Israeli attack on Iranian targets. The fact that some of the most recent attacks were carried out relatively close to Russian forces, near Homs and especially near Tartus, may indicate preliminary Israeli consideration for the safety of Russian soldiers. And although Israel is apparently overstating the great desire of Syrian President Bashir Assad’s regime to be released from the Iranian embrace, it is doubtful whether the attacks are of much concern to the government in Damascus.”
After national vote nixed, PA seeks legitimacy in local elections, Times of Israel
“Under fire over the death of a prominent critic, facing dwindling popularity and smarting from the latest cancellation of long-overdue national elections, Palestinian Authority leaders are touting an upcoming local vote as an expression of democratic vigor in the hope it will soothe bubbling frustrations. But critics say the regularly scheduled vote will fall short of democratic standards and do little to mollify a public that has waited over 15 years to pick a new national leadership.”