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.
Gantz orders ‘aggressive’ crackdown on settler violence after soldiers attacked, Times of Israel
Defense Minister Benny Gantz called on the military to act “systemically, aggressively and uncompromisingly” against violence by Israeli settlers toward Palestinians and Israeli security forces, after a number of cases of attacks by far-right nationalists in the West Bank in recent weeks. Gantz issued the directive following a meeting with top officials from the Israel Defense Forces and Defense Ministry regarding the recent violence and the military’s preparations for the upcoming olive harvest, a sensitive period in the West Bank that regularly sees attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and their olive groves.
Handcuffed and Blindfolded, Veteran of Israel’s Top Commando Unit Now Fights the Occupation, Haaretz
Judy Maltz profiles anti-occupation activist Avner Wishnitzer. “An image of Wishnitzer went viral last month when the historian, a veteran of Israel’s most prestigious combat unit, was roughed up and detained by the army while trying to deliver water to Palestinian villagers.”
Iran says agreed with EU on Brussels nuclear talks ‘in days’, AFP
Iran and the EU agreed Thursday to hold further dialogue in Brussels aimed at resuming talks on a faltering 2015 nuclear deal between the Islamic republic and world powers, Tehran said. The European Union envoy charged with coordinating talks on reviving the Iran nuclear deal, Enrique Mora, met with Iranian deputy foreign minister Ali Bagheri for several hours, as Western powers lose patience with Tehran over the continued absence of a firm date for resuming talks.
Israeli Cop Seriously Wounded in Car-ramming Attack in West Bank, Haaretz
An Israeli Border Police officer was seriously wounded in a car-ramming attack overnight into Thursday in the West Bank. The 20-year-old officer suffered injuries to his head and abdomen and was taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. The driver, Salah Nazel, 22, from the West Bank city of Qalqilyah, sustained a head injury and was evacuated to Hadassah University Hospital in Ein Karem in moderate condition.
Three years after Tree of Life shooting, Pittsburgh is hosting a major global summit on eradicating hate, JTA
As Pittsburgh approaches the three-year anniversary of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting, the city will play host to a high-profile new effort to find a global bipartisan response to rising tides of hate.
One Palestinian Killed by Israeli Forces in West Bank After Allegedly Throwing Firebomb, Haaretz
The Israeli army shot one Palestinian dead and left another wounded on Thursday night in the West Bank, after they allegedly attempted to throw firebombs at drivers, Palestinian media reported.
After snub, Bennett says Netanyahu ‘dangerously’ delegitimizing his government, Times of Israel
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett hit back on Friday at opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the latter was “undermining the legitimacy” of his government by failing to acknowledge his presence while speaking a day earlier at an event to mark the departure of outgoing Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman.
Israel is subtly changing its stance on the Iran nuclear deal, CNN
Hadas Gold reports that “Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s government has quietly shifted its position on the JCPOA.”
Is the Iran-Israel Conflict Coming to Bahrain?, The National Interest
Mohammad Mousavizadeh observes, “Judging by the fact that anti-Israel protests broke out after Lapid’s visit—leading police to fire tear gas at one rally as scattered, small-scale protests took place elsewhere—the opening of the Israeli embassy could galvanize Bahraini Shias against the Sunni government, paving the Islamic Republic’s path to exerting more influence in Bahrain.”
Blinken and Lapid discussed options for Iran not previously on table — official, Times of Israel
Jacob Magid reports, “Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed courses of action regarding Iran’s nuclear program that had not been on the table before, a senior Israeli diplomatic official said Wednesday. The official, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity, did not say what options were newly discussed, but speculation has swirled around the Israel seeking US backing for the possible use of military force.”