Statement on the Murder of Chabad Emissary Rabbi Zvi Kogan, J Street
J Street is horrified by the tragic and senseless abduction and murder of Israeli-Moldovan Chabad emissary Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the United Arab Emirates. We are encouraged by the swift response by UAE authorities and the arrest of three suspects. Rabbi Kogan’s family deserves justice; the local Jewish community deserves to feel safe; and those responsible must be held to account. We are particularly grateful for the UAE’s commitment to religious pluralism and interfaith cooperation and for the clarity that this attack will not derail those efforts.
J Street Alarmed by Violent Protests in Montreal, J Street
J Street is deeply alarmed by violent protests in Montreal this weekend, where authorities report that anti-NATO, pro-Palestinian protesters smashed windows, assaulted police officers, set off smoke bombs and burned an effigy of Prime Minister Netanyahu.
US Believes Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Deal Reached: Senior Official, Axios
The Israeli Security Cabinet is expected approve the deal on Tuesday, the U.S. official said. An Israeli official confirmed the cabinet would convene Tuesday. “We think we have a deal. We are on the goal line but we haven’t passed it yet. The Israeli cabinet needs to approve the deal on Tuesday and something can always go wrong until then,” the U.S. official said.
Rainstorms Flood Tents of Gaza’s Displaced as Israel Steps up Strikes, Reuters
Downpours overnight inundated tents and in some places washed away the plastic and cloth shelters used by displaced Gazans, most of whom have been uprooted several times during the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants. UNRWA said in a post on X that winter’s first rains mean even more suffering. “Around half a million people are at risk in areas of flooding,” it said. “The situation will only get worse with every drop of rain, every bomb, every strike.”
3 Uzbek Nationals Arrested in the Killing of an Israeli-Moldovan Rabbi in the UAE, AP
The statement from the country’s Interior Ministry offered no motive for the slaying of Zvi Kogan, though an Israeli Foreign Ministry official later told The Associated Press that he simply had been “killed because of who he was.”
US: Administrative Detention Was One of the Few Tools Israel Used to Curb Settler Violence, The Times of Israel
Asked about the decision during a press briefing, Miller said it amounted to “a rolling back of one of the limited tools that was effectively being used by the Israeli government to rein in this illegal activity.”
How Universities Cracked Down on Pro-Palestinian Activism, The New York Times
Stricter rules and punishments over campus protests seem to be working. Universities have seen just under 950 protest events this semester, compared with 3,000 in the spring.
Revealed: Israel Used US Weapons in Strike That Killed Journalists, The Guardian
The Guardian found no evidence of the presence of Hezbollah military infrastructure at the site of Israel’s attack, nor that any of the journalists were anything but civilians.
Israeli, International Journalists Assail Government Boycott of Haaretz, Haaretz
The Union of Journalists in Israel slammed the move, stating: “The decision to prohibit government advertisements and subscriptions in Haaretz is aimed at damaging the freedom of expression of dozens of journalists at the newspaper, and their livelihoods. It is intended to instill fear and intimidation among journalists who faithfully do their work and serve a large public of readers. We will continue to fight for press freedom. We will not allow the free press in Israel to be bound and corrupted!”
Israeli Far-Right Minister Criticises Hizbollah Ceasefire Plan, Financial Times
Itamar Ben-Gvir said the ceasefire would be a “historic mistake”, and that Israel should continue its assault on Hizbollah. “It will be a historical missed opportunity if we stop everything and go backwards,” the minister said.
Truth and Trust – A Speech by Ilana Dayan, Unholy Podcast
Israel TV juggernaut Ilana Dayan discusses the importance of journalism for an open society, the refusal to set up a state commission of inquiry after October 7th, and who is trying to divide the Israeli people.
Conditions in Gaza Are Causing Severe Health Issues for Palestinian Children and Babies, Doctors Without Borders
“We are treating infants who have infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, and skin diseases far more than before – and the figures continue to rise,” said Dr. Mohammad Abu Tayyem, an MSF pediatrician working at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, where over 300 pediatric patients are treated every day. “The pediatric department is overcrowded with sick children, including those with acute pneumonia.” One mother said, “My son is always coughing. I spend most of my time in the hospital. The doctor says we must keep him away from smoke [to help prevent the coughing], but how could we? Everything has to be cooked on a fire.”
Despite Emerging Truce Deal With Lebanon, Israel Lacks Plan to Return Northern Evacuees Home, Haaretz
Jonathan Lis writes, “Political leaders estimate that basic infrastructure in tens of thousands of abandoned homes across the north – including sewage and water systems – has been compromised, while infestations of rodents have also caused damage. Many areas will require extensive cleanup and restoration efforts before life can return to normal.”