Trump’s Laissez-Faire Stance Gives Netanyahu Free Pass for Gaza Escalation, New York Times
J Street Chief Policy Officer Ilan Goldenberg said, “At the start of the Trump Administration there was real hope that he would pick up on the cease-fire that he and Biden negotiated together and use his leverage to end the war in Gaza. Sadly that has not happened. Instead, at every step of the way he’s given Netanyahu a blank check.”
J Street Responds to Full-Scale Invasion of Gaza City, J Street
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami said, “This marks yet another catastrophic escalation in this devastating war. Watching the Netanyahu government drive Israel deeper into the abyss as it becomes unmoored from its founding values is deeply painful for the Jewish people and many of us who care about Israel’s future.”
EU Lays Out New Tariffs and Sanctions on Israel Over War in Gaza, Associated Press
“Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, urged the 27 member nations to increase tariffs on some Israeli goods and impose sanctions on 10 Hamas leaders, Israeli settlers, and two members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet: National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.”
Netanyahu and an Israel Without Restraint, New York Times
Roger Cohen writes, “Before the war in Gaza began almost two years ago, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, was not known as a risk taker. His rhetoric was bold, his deeds less so. Now, however, by sending the Israeli military into Gaza City, he appears to have dispensed with constraints.”
Israeli Military Strikes Yemen’s Red Sea Port of Hodeidah, Reuters
“Israel said it struck a military infrastructure site in its latest attack on Yemen’s Houthi movement at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah on Tuesday.”
European Countries Condemn Israel’s Ground Offensive in Gaza City, New York Times
“Some of Israel’s oldest allies condemned its military offensive into Gaza City on Tuesday, warning that the operation would worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in the territory.”
Dems Confront Trump Team on Potential Collapse of Palestinian Authority, Axios
“Senate Democrats on Tuesday urged top Trump officials to act quickly to avoid the potential collapse of the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, Axios has learned.”
Spain Threatens Eurovision Boycott If Israel Competes, Associated Press
“The Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia had already taken the same stance. Spain’s addition to the list puts more pressure on both Israel and the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the popular contest.”
More Than Three-quarters of Jewish Students Worldwide Sometimes Hide Their Religious and Zionist Identity, Haaretz
“The survey found that 78 percent of Jewish students worldwide had at least once concealed their religious identity that year, and that 81 percent had at least once concealed their Zionist identity.”
As Netanyahu Drags Israel Deeper Into Gaza, Trump Alone Holds the Power to Stop Him – if He Chooses To, Haaretz
Amos Harel writes, “With Netanyahu ignoring military and diplomatic caution, the burden shifts to Trump, who has so far shown little urgency in averting a crisis that could trap Israel in Gaza and endanger the hostages.”
Israel’s Assault on Gaza City Stifles Hope of Diplomatic Resolution to War, New York Times
Adam Goldman writes, “As Israeli troops launched a ground assault aimed at taking control of Gaza City, experts said the operation showed that diplomatic efforts to end the war appear severely diminished, if not moribund.”
Israel Is Orchestrating an Economic Collapse in the West Bank, Foreign Policy
Jessica Buxbaum writes, “As the West Bank’s economic trajectory plummets, there’s likely little that can be done to prevent a total collapse.”