Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s statement that an antisemitism envoy may be unnecessary are challenged by representatives of the Israel lobby, quoted at length by Newsweek reporter Stav Ziv, whose family is from Israel.
The National Coalition of Christian Organizations in Palestine pleads for Western churches to take a stand: “As we meet this month in Bethlehem in occupied Palestine, we are still suffering from 100 years of injustice and oppression…we need you and we need you now more than ever. We need your costly solidarity…This is no time for shallow diplomacy Christians. We urge you to hear our call.”
Ha’aretz’s Gideon Levy writes: Isn’t it time to do away with the artificial distinction between the Israelis who view themselves as nice and just and the brutal occupation they are responsible for? Hasn’t the time come to punish them in a nonviolent manner for the crimes that each and every one of them is party to?
The website of the Forward recently published an opinion piece by political hitman Spencer Sunshine, in which he slammed the American Left and specific individuals, including Alison Weir, yet has failed to publish Weir’s response.
If the Israelis were thinking clearly, everyone could benefit. All they must do is give us a window to live a normal life and all these extremist groups would disappear. Hamas would disappear. Our generation wants to make peace and it is foolish for Israel to refuse. The next generation may not be as willing as we are. Is that what Israel truly wants?
Asa Winstanley reports in the Electronic Intifada that the UK’s general election was an earthquake for the political establishment. Although the issue did not feature in the campaign, the result has significant implications for the Palestinian cause…
JTA reports that Michael Steinhardt, billionaire founder of Birthright Israel (a free, ten-day trip to Israel that is enjoyed by a large percentage of Jewish young adults) considers the state of Israel “the Jewish miracle of the 20th century.” Now he is creating public schools that teach about Israel…
June 1 – June 7, 2017: Israeli soldiers killed a teenage Palestinian girl as well as a young father in Gaza. Israeli forces demolished five Palestinian coal production plants. Jewish settlers confiscated Palestinian land to create a new outpost.
An Israeli security guard shot and killed 28-year-old Mahmoud Mahmoud Salim Taha, at the police station in Kafr Qasim on Monday night. This is the latest of over 30 Palestinian citizens of Israel to be killed in violent episodes in 2017, and again the police shake off responsibility.
The feeling is increasingly widespread among American Jews that Israel’s 50-year occupation, its denial of basic political rights and human rights to Palestinians, and its retreat from democracy, indicate that American Jewish values are not shared by Israeli leadership. Clearly, Israel and American Jews are moving in different directions.
