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.
State: Expectations Unchanged As Wait for Iran To Answer, Diplomatic
““Reducing Iran’s breakout time and restoring robust monitoring are the most urgent priorities,” an organization of more than 300 retired Israeli defense and intelligence officers, Commanders for Israel’s Security, wrote, according to a report in support of restoring the Iran nuclear deal prepared by the US pro-Israel group, J Street. “A return to the JCPOA can achieve these goals.””
2 Killed in West Bank, Palestinians Blame Israeli Raids, The Washington Post
Two Palestinians were killed in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, the official Palestinian news agency said, blaming both deaths on Israeli troops conducting arrest raids. However, witnesses said one of the men was apparently killed by Palestinian gunmen in a drive-by shooting. One of them was killed in the Balata refugee camp, the other in the town of el-Bireh.
Inside the U.S. Response to Iran on the Draft Nuclear Deal, Axios
The U.S. told Iran through EU mediators that linking the UN investigation of Iran’s undeclared nuclear activity to the reimplementation of the 2015 nuclear deal could delay lifting U.S. sanctions, according to a U.S. official and a think tank expert briefed on the issue. The issue of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) investigations is one of the two remaining stumbling blocks in returning to the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Palestinian Detainee Ends Hunger Strike, Expects Release, AP
A Palestinian detainee held by Israel without charge or trial said Wednesday that he is ending his nearly six-month hunger strike after reaching an agreement that will see him released in October. Lawyers and physicians had warned that the Khalil Awawdeh, a 40-year-old father of four from the occupied West Bank, was at risk of dying and already suffering neurological damage from the prolonged hunger strike.
Within Hours, Second Israeli Strike Hits Syria, State News Reports, Haaretz
Missiles struck targets southeast of Damascus Wednesday ngiht, within hours of an initial strike on the Syrian city of Aleppo that damaged the city’s international airport, state news agency (SANA) reported, accusing Israel of being behind the attacks.
Palestinian Prisoners Held by Israel Set To Go on Mass Hunger Strike, BBC
About 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel are to go on hunger strike in protest at their conditions, Palestinian media say. The mass action comes after Israel tightened restrictions in the wake of a dramatic jailbreak by six inmates last September.
Israel Imposes Sanctions on Alleged Hamas Financial Network, AP
Israel on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 20 companies and individuals operating across the Middle East that it says are involved in financing the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The sanctions are directed against what the Defense Ministry described as an international network operating “under the guise of legitimate companies” in Sudan, Turkey, Algeria and the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. announced sanctions against many of the same entities in May. Israel and the U.S. say they are part of a Hamas-run financial network with hundreds of millions of dollars in assets.
AIPAC Failed to Stop Obama’s Iran Deal in 2015. Will It Try Again This Time?, Haaretz
Ben Samuels writes, “The pro-Israel lobby spent $30 million in its unsuccessful bid to stop the original nuclear agreement in 2015. Observers say it is employing new tactics this time around.”
Israel Has No Realistic Military Option on Iran, Haaretz
Yossi Melman argues, “The United States is tired of wars, especially in the Middle East, and prefers to return to the nuclear deal. Washington prefers diplomacy to any adventurous military move. Israel’s military and political leaders should therefore avoid blabbing empty promises and arrogant statements. Israel should operate quietly, continue to make it hard for the Iranians to make progress, and maintain a dialogue with the Americans behind closed doors. There appears to be no realistic alternative but the deal that’s in the works.”