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.
Kamala Is Sending a Subtle Message on Israel. Is Anyone Listening?, Slate
“The vice president has been in dialogue with other Jews who break the typical script. Harris has repeatedly sought out advisers and allies with more moderate stances than those of the U.S. government — such as J Street, a ‘pro-Israel, pro-peace’ advocacy group that pushes for Palestinian statehood. J Street director Ben-Ami says his organization has had a line to Harris since her 2016 campaign for Senate, more recently meeting with both her chief of staff and her national security adviser.”
Should Kamala Harris Use Debate to Prove Support for Jews, Israel?, The Jerusalem Post
“When you ask, what does Kamala Harris need to do vis-à-vis Jewish voters, the number one thing is to reaffirm her commitment to American democracy and reaffirm her commitment to a woman’s right to control her own health decisions,” Ben-Ami said. “And that’s what American Jewish voters care about first and foremost.” There is a percentage of Jewish American voters who view Israel as their number one issue, though Ben-Ami said it’s a smaller percentage, and some of those voters need to hear from Harris a strong affirmation of her support for Israel’s security.
Steak and Scotch: How Mandy Patinkin, Joshua Malina and Other Jews Are Watching the Presidential Debate, The Forward
Jeremy Ben-Ami, the leader of J Street, which calls itself the “political home of pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans,” said he’ll be bringing his comfort food to nosh in front of the TV, something salty, like pretzels, “And a stiff whiskey drink (or two.)” He’ll also be downloading at least two different debate bingo cards, and will watch with whomever in his family “can bear to watch with me.”
US Demands IDF Change West Bank Operations After American’s Killing, The Washington Post
Blinken said that the shooting was “not acceptable.” “No one, no one should be shot and killed for attending a protest,” he said. “No one should have to put their life at risk just to purely express their views. The Israeli security forces need to make some fundamental changes in the way they operate in the West Bank, including changes in their rules of engagement.” “It has to change, and we’ll be making that clear to the senior-most members of the Israeli government,” he added.
Hostages Were Killed by Hamas the Night Before IDF Reached Tunnel, Israel Says, NBC News
The victims, including 23-year-old American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were killed on the evening of Aug. 29 in Rafah’s Tal Al Sultan neighborhood, Israel Defense Forces said, citing postmortem examinations of the bodies. The IDF said it reached that tunnel and made the gruesome discovery on Aug. 30. It’s believed two gunmen using two separate weapons killed the half-dozen hostages.
UN Likely to Vote Next Week on Push to End Israel Presence in Palestinian Territory, Reuters
The key aim of the draft resolution, written by the Palestinian Authority and seen by Reuters, is to welcome a July advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice that said Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements is illegal and should be withdrawn. But while the advisory opinion by the United Nations’ highest court – known as the World Court – said this should be done “as rapidly as possible,” the draft General Assembly resolution puts a six-month timeline on it.
Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on Aysenur Eygi, The White House
“The killing of Aysenur Eygi is a horrific tragedy that never should have happened. Doug and I are keeping her family and loved ones in our prayers. Aysenur was peacefully protesting in the West Bank—standing up against the expansion of settlements—when her young life was senselessly cut short. No one should be killed for participating in a peaceful protest. The shooting that led to her death is unacceptable and raises legitimate questions about the conduct of IDF personnel in the West Bank. Israel must do more to ensure that incidents like this never happen again. […] The United States will continue to hold accountable anyone in the West Bank – Israelis and Palestinians – who stokes violence and undermines peace and stability.”
Israel Launches Multiple Airstrikes on Southern Lebanon, Killing Hezbollah Special Forces Commander, CNN
The IDF said Al-Shaer had “advanced numerous terrorist activities against the state of Israel” and his “elimination” would impair the Iran-backed militant group’s ability to launch attacks against Israel from southern Lebanon.
Polio Shots Begin in Northern Gaza Despite Israel’s Detaining UN Convoy, The New York Times
Stéphane Dujarric, the U.N. spokesman, told reporters at a news briefing on Tuesday that the conduct of Israeli forces had endangered the lives of the U.N. staff and ran contrary to mandated protections under international humanitarian law.
Israeli Defense Chief Says a Temporary Truce With Hamas Is Possible. Ending the War Is Another Story, AP
Speaking to reporters, Yoav Gallant said that conditions are ripe for at least a six-week pause in fighting that would include the release of many of the hostages held in Gaza. However, he would not commit to a permanent end to the fighting.
Israeli Military Reveals Brutal Conditions 6 Hostages Endured in a Gaza Tunnel, The New York Times
The hostages appear to have spent the last weeks of their lives in a suffocatingly tight and humid tunnel that was approximately 5.5 feet tall and just 30 to 40 inches wide, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the military’s chief spokesman, said on Tuesday.
Cousin of Israeli Slain in Captivity Says Military Pressure Is Killing the Hostages, Reuters
An autopsy revealed that Gat and the other five hostages had been shot in the back of the head at close range, less than 48 hours before Israeli forces recovered the bodies in a tunnel under Gaza. “Military pressure kills the hostages,” said Gil Dickmann. “We know that for a fact.”
With Gaza Talks Deadlocked, US Urges Israel to Avoid Sparking War on Northern Front, Haaretz
U.S. officials fear the deadlock in the talks on a hostage and cease-fire deal with Hamas in Gaza will encourage Israel to initiate a broad military operation against Hezbollah, which continues to launch dozens of rockets and drones at Israeli communities in the north every day.
Unwilling to Be Human Shields, Some Gazans Turn Gunmen Away From Shelters, The New York Times
“We will quickly kick anyone who has a gun or a rifle out of this school,” said Saleh al-Kafarneh, 62, who lives at another government school in Deir al Balah and said he locked the gates at night. “We don’t allow anyone to ruin life here, or cause any strike against those civilians and families.”
ICC Prosecutor Seeks ‘Urgent’ Arrest Warrants for Israeli and Hamas Leaders, Financial Times
In a heavily redacted filing made public on Monday night, Khan called on the court’s chamber of judges to urgently issue four warrants, while dropping his request for a fifth warrant – against the Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh – after he was killed in Tehran in July.
2,000-Pound Bombs Likely Used in Mawasi Strike, The New York Times
The US has previously warned Israel that the powerful munitions can cause excessive civilian casualties in the densely populated Gaza Strip, and suspended exporting U.S.-made 2,000-pound bombs to Israel earlier this year. Israel said it had carried out “precise strikes” aimed at Hamas militants, but has so far declined to say what sort of bombs were used. At least 19 people were killed in the blasts and more than 60 others injured.
Israeli Official Floats Safe Passage for Oct. 7 Architect Yahya Sinwar in Return for Hostages, CNN
Israel’s Coordinator for Hostages and the Missing Gal Hirsch told CNN’s Jessica Dean on Sunday that if all remaining 101 hostages are returned, “I even believe that we will agree to build safe passage to the chief terrorist, the new Hitler, Sinwar – safe passage to him and whoever he wants to join him out of Gaza.”
America’s Support of Netanyahu Is Killing Us All, Haaretz
Mical Raz and Naftali Kaminski share, “The military pressure has failed to return the hostages, Israel’s situation in the world is more precarious than ever and there is no end in sight. Endless war and bloodshed – that is the status quo Netanyahu is establishing – not unlike other historical leaders who promised ‘total victory.’ Yet the United States government has continued to support Netanyahu, and enable these actions, that clearly cost hostages their lives, as well as prolonging bloodshed in Gaza, at a devastating toll for Palestinian civilians, as well as attrition, injury and death to Israeli servicemembers. And to what end?”
Netanyahu’s Hostage Conditions Are Part of a Larger Bow to the Extreme Right, The Times of Israel
Joel Laitman writes, “Netanyahu’s adding on new conditions to frustrate a hostage deal while perhaps the most tragic, is actually only one example of capitulations to Ben Gvir and Smotrich since October 7. Another is allowing Smotrich and Ben Gvir to advance their ultimate goal of annexing the West Bank – which includes both expanding Jewish settlements and allowing political as opposed to military governance over this territory in violation of international law.”
Harris and the Averted Trap of the Israel Issue, JCall
Sébastien Levi argues, “So far, the Republicans’ many accusations and attempts to trip up Harris on the Israel issue have not significantly shaken her campaign. Her rallies have faced little disruption, and few campaign offices have been targeted. Additionally, the numerous outbursts by Trump calling Jewish Democrats disloyal or crazy for voting Democratic (which they have done by 70% for nearly 100 years) make GOP accusations of anti-Semitism in the Democratic Party seem ludicrous, while Kamala Harris’s Jewish husband, Doug Emhoff, remains a popular and friendly face of her campaign.”
Failure of Key Officials to Resign After Oct. 7 Has Proven Costly, The Jerusalem Post
Avi Gil shares, “Immediately after the October 7 mayhem, the question arose as to whether those responsible for the terrible failure – in the government and security establishment – should immediately tender their resignations. The prevailing opinion was that ‘you don’t change horses in midstream.’ It turns out that this was a costly mistake. The decision-making process regarding the war’s objectives and how it was to be prosecuted shows that the senior officials responsible for the failures of October 7 continued to fail after the disaster.”