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.
Due to Labor Day and Rosh Hashanah, the J Street News Roundup will be on hiatus until Thursday, September 9th. Happy New Year/shana tova to all who celebrate!
Every Discriminatory Home Demolition Bulldozes Israel’s Future as Well, J Street
J Street’s Eve Lifson writes, “It’s an appalling thing, to demolish somebody’s home. Demolition crews arrive, surrounded by soldiers. Families rush to save what they can. Women, children and men stand with tears in their eyes. Engines rev, walls begin to crumble, all you can do is look on helplessly.”
In Rosh Hashanah call with rabbis, Biden calls for ‘swift confirmation’ of Deborah Lipstadt to be antisemitism monitor, JTA
In a Rosh Hashanah call Thursday with a thousand rabbis across the denominational spectrum, President Joe Biden rededicated his presidency to combating hate and extremism and called on the Senate to swiftly confirm his nominee for antisemitism monitor, Deborah Lipstadt.
Israel Reportedly Strikes Near Damascus; Syrian Missile Remnants Found in Tel Aviv, Haaretz
Israel fired missiles over Damascus, activating Syrian air defenses, the Syrian state news agency said early on Friday. “The Israeli enemy carried out an air aggression from the direction southeast of Beirut, targeting some points in the vicinity of the city of Damascus,” a Syrian military source said in a statement published on state television.
JNF Approves West Bank, Jerusalem Plan That Could Lead to Palestinian Evictions, Haaretz
On Thursday, the board of the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael) approved the start of a project to register properties in the West Bank and Jerusalem, a process that could lead to Palestinians being evicted from their homes. […] Representative of left-wing organizations within the JNF demanded close observation of the board after each step of the project, and specifically after the properties are mapped. This demand was not accepted.
Leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Palestinians meet in Cairo, AP
Egypt’s president held talks in Cairo on Thursday with the King of Jordan and the president of the Palestinian Authority aimed at reviving the Middle East peace process and strengthening a ceasefire that halted the Israel-Hamas war. Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, King Abdullah II of Jordan and the Palestinian Authority’s Mahmoud Abbas discussed the elusive two-state solution to the conflict with Israel, according to a statement from el-Sissi’s office. The three leaders said the Palestinians have a right to an independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Israel staunchly opposes such a plan.
Israeli military court frees pregnant Palestinian security prisoner on bail, Times of Israel
On Thursday, the board of the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael) approved the start of a project to register properties in the West Bank and Jerusalem, a process that could lead to Palestinians being evicted from their homes. […] Representative of left-wing organizations within the JNF demanded close observation of the board after each step of the project, and specifically after the properties are mapped. This demand was not accepted.
Gaza man killed by Israeli fire during border protest, AP
A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli gunfire on Thursday night, Gaza health officials said, during a violent protest along the Israeli border. Hundreds of Palestinians took part in protests held at five locations, demanding an end to Israel’s 14-year blockade of Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority Is in a Bind, All but Ensuring More Violence, Haaretz
Amos Harel writes, “With governance of the PA in the West Bank growing weaker, and Hamas outdoing the PA in public opinion surveys, more violent incidents are sure to follow. The West Bank provides a convenient playing field for all the Palestinian factions, and the number of terrorist attacks is already starting to rise.”
Israel’s foreign policy has changed in tone but not in substance, The Economist
The Economist writes, “The new Israeli government, which came to office on June 13th, is too fragile to make any serious moves on this front. Its prime minister, Naftali Bennett, and three of the eight parties in his coalition, are adamantly opposed to territorial concessions to the Palestinians. Mr Bennett is flatly against the creation of a Palestinian state.”
When It Comes to Security, the Israeli Right Is a Lot of Talk, Little Substance, Haaretz
Shai Agmon writes, “In the wide security debate concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the emptiness of the right’s security policy is also revealed in all its dubious glory: There are no plans for achieving security, no diplomatic or military objectives, nothing. Only to kill, destroy, and wreak vengeance. You can’t build a nation, and you certainly cannot safeguard it by relying on slogans that sound like they came from a first-grader.”