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.
BDS and Bluster at Berkeley, J Street
J Street National Director of Communal Relations Sam Berkman explores how the ongoing controversy at UC Berkeley demonstrates how harder-line pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel advocates are deliberately stirring up contention and doing little to advance security, freedom, peace or justice.
Gay Palestinian living under asylum in Israel murdered, beheaded in Hebron, Times of Israel
“A gay Palestinian man living under asylum in Israel was murdered and beheaded Wednesday in the West Bank city of Hebron. The unnamed suspect, who was arrested by Palestinian police near the scene of the crime soon after committing it, recorded the act in a video that he uploaded to social media before his capture.”
U.S. Still Hopeful on Lebanon Deal as Israel Prepares for Escalation, Haaretz
“Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has reportedly rejected Lebanon’s objections to the maritime agreement on Thursday, a senior political official says. Following these developments, Defense Minister Benny Gantz ordered the IDF on Thursday to prepare for an escalation in the north.”
For Believers, a Day of Atonement. For Others, a Giant Playground., New York Times
“Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, brings Israel to a standstill. For the nonobservant, that briefly turns highways into bike trails.”
Gantz puts IDF on alert in north as Lebanese maritime border talks falter, Times of Israel
“US says it is continuing ‘robust engagement’ to reach deal after Israel rejects Lebanon’s proposed changes; Hezbollah has threatened Israel for months over disputed gas.”
Israelis rally in Jerusalem in solidarity with Iranian women protesters, Times of Israel
“Some 100 Israelis gathered in Jerusalem’s Independence Park on Thursday afternoon to rally in solidarity with the Iranian women who have been leading anti-government protests for weeks.”
Israel army clears itself in death of 7-year-old Palestinian, AP
“The Israeli military on Thursday cleared itself of wrongdoing in the death of a 7-year-old Palestinian boy whose family says he “died of fear” after an encounter with Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank. The United States, European Union and United Nations had demanded an investigation into the death of second-grader Rayan Suleiman, which became the latest lightning rod in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as outraged Palestinians blamed Israel for his death last week.”
‘Foreign but Friendly’: The Israeli Air Force Scrambles to Deal With a Changing Reality, Haaretz
“A visit to the Hatzerim flight school paints a picture of an elite branch of the Israeli army – which has often overshadowed other corps – trying to adapt to social changes, shifting demographics and training handbooks that have been re-written.”
Don’t Let Politics Kill the Lebanon-Israel Gas Deal, Foreign Policy
Daniel Silverberg and Kirsten Fontenrose write, “An Israeli-Lebanese border deal could help U.S. efforts to quell Iran, isolate Russia, and support European energy security. However, oppositional political forces in Israel and Lebanon—and their sympathizers in the United States—are now pushing back against any deal.”