News Roundup for November 21, 2025
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.
The Old Playbook for Talking About the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Is Dead, Word on the Street
J Street Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Ilan Goldenberg writes, “A candidate who sticks to the old playbook – reflexively supporting Israel, placing near-exclusive blame on Palestinians, paying lip service to two states while opposing any meaningful steps to get there, and giving an extreme right-wing Israeli government a blank check – will be noticed by their constituents. And the message voters will hear in a Democratic primary or even a general election is: I am the establishment. I am a Washington insider. I support the old ways.”
[Video] The Saudi Leader Visits Washington, Word on the Street
Ilan Goldenberg hosted Daniel Benaim, who helped lead US engagement with the Saudis during the Biden Administration, to discuss what was accomplished during the visit, MBS’ complicated domestic and global image and how the Gaza war reshaped Saudi politics.
[Video] Gaza Needs More Than a Ceasefire, Word on the Street
J Street Vice President and Chief of Staff Adina Vogel Ayalon hosted some of the sharpest, most grounded voices working to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza today: Bushra Khalidi, Palestinian Policy Lead at Oxfam, Dr. Guy Shalev, Executive Director of Physicians for Human Rights–Israel and Tania Hary, Executive Director of Gisha–Legal Center for Freedom of Movement.
Israel Plans to Seize Historical Site in the West Bank as a New Settlement Appears, Politico
“Israel plans to seize parts of a major West Bank historic site, according to a government document, and settlers put up a new outpost overnight, even as the country faces pressure to crack down on settler violence in the Palestinian territory. […] The capital of the ancient Israelite kingdom Samaria is thought to be beneath the ruins of the site, and Christians and Muslims believe it’s where John the Baptist was buried.”
Netanyahu Meets With His Cabinet to Discuss Rising Israeli Settler Violence in the West Bank, Associated Press
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet late Thursday, bringing together officials from the military, the country’s domestic security service Shin Bet and police to discuss the recent spike in violence.”
Food Supply Improving in Gaza Since Truce But Long Way to Go, Says UN, Reuters
“‘Things are better than before the ceasefire, but we have a long way to go. Sustained support is an important endeavour to help families rebuild their health, their nutrition and their lives,’ WFP spokesperson Martin Penner told reporters in Geneva via video link from the Gaza Strip.”
Trump Hosts Captives He Helped Free From Gaza: ‘You’re Not Hostages Anymore, You’re Heroes’, Times of Israel
“US President Donald Trump hosted a delegation at the White House on Thursday of nearly all the hostages freed through as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal he brokered last month.”
Huckabee Held Meeting at U.S. Embassy With American Who Spied for Israel, New York Times
“The meeting with Mr. Pollard, a former naval intelligence analyst, was kept off Mr. Huckabee’s official schedule, two of the U.S. officials said. The fact that it occurred alarmed the Central Intelligence Agency’s station chief in Israel, three of the officials said.”
Gaza Women, Children Injured by Israeli Military During Shaky Ceasefire, MSF Says, Reuters
“Since Wednesday, medical staff in northern and southern Gaza have treated women and children with open fractures and gunshot wounds to their limbs and heads, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres, a charity also known as Doctors Without Borders.”
All Signs Point to Imminent Escalation on the Lebanon Border – by Israel, Haaretz
Amos Harel writes, “IDF officers have once again begun discussing the possibility of a brief period of focused clashes with Hezbollah, as the military now believes Hamas has between 20,000 and 25,000 armed operatives in Lebanon.”
