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.
[Audio] J Street’s Jeremy Ben-Ami On A Fragile Ceasefire In Gaza, Boston Public Radio
“Jeremy Ben-Ami, founder and president of J Street, discusses the cautious hope many are feeling in the days after a ceasefire took hold in Gaza, and how American Jews are responding to this political moment.”
With Mamdani’s Rise in NYC Comes a Tonal Shift on Israel and the Middle East, Gothamist
Speaking to Arun Venugopal, Jeremy Ben-Ami said, “He’s done a lot of outreach […] People who are involved in J Street have met with him and have engaged in efforts to ensure that there’s a good, open and strong line of communication with him during the campaign.”
How to Disarm Hamas, Word on the Street
J Street Chief Policy Officer Ilan Goldenberg writes, “Many imagine Hamas willingly surrendering its weapons, or that some future agreement can simply order it to do so. That’s not how this works.”
J Street Welcomes Strong Bipartisan Opposition to West Bank Annexation, J Street
Ilan Goldenberg said, “We hope that firm, bipartisan American opposition will finally disempower Israel’s extremists and halt its dangerous slide toward annexation.”
Marco Rubio Is the Latest High-Level Visitor to Tour Israel’s U.S.-Led Coordination Center, The Hill
“On Friday, Rubio said U.S. officials were working on possible language to secure a United Nations mandate or other international authorization for the force in Gaza because several potential participants would require one before they can take part.”
Israel Preparing for Possibility That Hamas Will Hand Over Remains of Two Hostages, Haaretz
“Israel is preparing for the possibility that Hamas will hand over the remains of two hostages on Friday night, an Israeli source tells Haaretz.”
Trump Mulls Asking Israel to Free Palestinian Leader Barghouti as US Looks to Gaza’s Post-Hamas Rule, Associated Press
“‘I was literally being confronted with that question about 15 minutes before you called,’ Trump told Time magazine interview when asked about Barghouti. ‘So I’ll be making a decision.’”
A Florida Teenager Is in an Israeli Prison. Why His Family and Advocates Say He Should Be Released, Associated Press
“Relatives, advocacy groups and some Congress members have been seeking the release of Mohammed Ibrahim since he was taken into custody when he was 15 by the Israeli military in February.”
IDF Doubts Int’l Stabilization Force Can Destroy Remaining Hamas Tunnels in Gaza, Haaretz
“Senior Israeli army officials believe that an international engineering force, with tunnel demolition as its main objective, should be brought into the Strip. The IDF also requested that the government not allow the return of Gazans to permiter areas where the IDF remains.”
Jews Are Worried About Zohran Mamdani. Here’s Why They Shouldn’t Be, The Forward
Victor Kovner writes, “There are understandable fears within the Jewish community about our safety at a time of rising antisemitism. To that, I say: It’s hard to imagine a stronger program of protection against hate than that which Mamdani has outlined.”
A Quick Route to Rebuild Half of Gaza, or Another U.S. Pipe Dream?, New York Times
David M. Halbfinger writes, “There are many questions about whether a plan to rebuild Israeli-held parts of the enclave is feasible or doomed from the outset.”
US Weighs Which Side’s Red Line to Cross as It Seeks to Implement Gaza Deal’s 2nd Phase, Times of Israel
Jacob Magid writes, “Saudi, UAE, Jordan, and Egypt are conditioning assistance on a PA role, which Israel rejects.”