No Kings, No Silence, Word on the Street
J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami writes, “At my synagogue in Washington DC, Rabbi Jonathan Roos delivered a Rosh Hashanah sermon that ended not in quiet contemplation but with a standing ovation. Trust me: that never happens. That it did demonstrates just how deep the thirst is for principled voices willing to confront the dangers we face.”
Israel Defies Global Pressure, But Its Isolation Grows, The Washington Post
“’The empty hall that greeted Netanyahu was a powerful symbol of the isolation and disgrace he has brought on himself and Israel,’ said Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of the U.S.-based, liberal Zionist group J Street. ‘His refusal to show even basic empathy for Gaza’s suffering and his reliance on the rhetoric of endless war between good and evil were both shameful and dangerous.’”
Netanyahu Inches Toward Gaza Deal Under Pressure From Trump, Axios
“Trump told Axios on Sunday that his Gaza plan is in its ‘final stages’ and that Netanyahu is on board. But the Israeli prime minister’s public statements have been far more ambiguous.”
Netanyahu’s Dilemma Becomes Smotrich’s as Trump’s 21-Point Plan Nears Decision, The Times of Israel
“Smotrich, the finance minister and an ardent advocate of taking over the entire Gaza Strip and renewing Israeli settlements there – along with West Bank annexation – holds more sway than Ben Gvir. If the deal moves forward, the question will be whether Smotrich stands with Netanyahu or against him.”
Israeli Strikes Kill Dozens in Gaza Including Civilians Seeking Aid, Health Workers Say, BBC
“More than 35 people have been killed in Israeli strikes and gunfire since the early hours of Saturday morning, hospital sources in Gaza say. A strike on a house in central Gaza left at least 11 people dead – more that half of them women and children – according to officials at al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City.”
An Entire Generation of Americans Is Turning on Israel, Politico
“Public polling makes clear that generational change is coming that is set to reshape U.S. policy toward Israel in fundamental ways. On both the left and the right, young Americans are growing more skeptical of offering unconditional U.S. support to Israel, particularly as the death toll in Gaza rises and the possibility of Palestinian statehood dims.”
Israel Hit With Nearly $1 Billion in Scrapped Defense Contracts as Global Fury Over Gaza War Grows, Ynet
“Israel’s defense industries are warning of a deepening crisis after Spain canceled another arms deal with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, raising the total value of suspended contracts with Israeli companies in recent months to about $654 million. Industry officials fear the cancellations could spread to other countries seeking to pressure Israel to end the war in Gaza, while a prolonged freeze on new deals worth billions threatens long-term exports.”
Houthis Claim Overnight Missile Attack, Say Cluster Bomb Warhead Targeted Tel Aviv Area, The Times of Israel
“The Houthis in Yemen take responsibility for an overnight ballistic missile attack on Israel, claiming to have targeted “several sensitive targets” in the Tel Aviv area using a projectile with a cluster bomb warhead. According to the military, the missile was successfully intercepted. There were no reports of injuries or damage.”
To Seal the Gaza Deal, Trump Must Prove He Can Rein in Netanyahu, Haaretz
Amir Tibon writes, “The plan is the most realistic one Trump has presented so far in his eight months in office, and is certainly better than his fantasies about evicting 2 million Palestinians and turning Gaza into an American-run Riviera. But in order to get Hamas’ approval, Trump – through the mediators, Qatar and Egypt – needs to convince the Palestinian terror organization holding the hostages that he’s got Netanyahu under control. So far, he has a very unconvincing record to prove this point.”
Netanyahu the Huckster: A Failed UN Speech Serving To Isolate Israel, The Jerusalem Post
Sebastien Levi writes, “Like an outdated pitchman, Netanyahu resorted to his usual tricks – charts, QR codes, quizzes, theatrical gestures – that no longer work. He now comes across as a barker whose audience has grown weary and prefers to walk away.”
American Democracy and Israeli Sovereignty Promised Jewish Safety. That Promise Is Broken, Haaretz
David Sorkin writes, “American democracy is under threat from a far right that places Jews at the center of their animosity. The toxic combination of the Trump administration’s cultivation of white Christian nationalism and antisemitism at home, while supporting Israel’s depredations abroad, puts American Jews in the crosshairs.”