John Whitbeck writes: “It appears that Bolton, who owes his position to billionaire Israel advocate Sheldon Adelson, has overruled – or is seeking to overrule – Donald Trump and to put him back in his subservient place…”
The first Senate bill of 2019 would finalize a $38 billion aid package to Israel ($23,000 per Jewish Israeli family of four), combat BDS, and rebut Trump’s attempt to withdraw troops from Syria (Israel opposes the US withdrawal)…
A former Birthright trip coordinator and leader’s bold opinion: young Jews on Birthright trips are aware of world events, and shouldn’t have to feel like they’re engaging with a sanitized and whitewashed version of Israel. When tour organizers don’t show them realities like the occupation, they are painting an incomplete and dishonest picture of what’s happening on the ground. Showing and telling the truth will make birthrighters more likely to engage and take action.
A children’s speech pathologist refuses to sign a will-not-boycott-Israel oath: she loses her job, an unknown number of children lose her advocacy. She notes how outlandish it is that she is not required to uphold the interests of the United States, or Texas, or children, but a foreign country.
As The Intercept has repeatedly documented, the most frequent victims of official campus censorship are not conservative polemicists but pro-Palestinian activists, and the greatest and most severe threat posed to free speech throughout the west is aimed at Israel critics.
The Israel lobby is taking newly elected Congressional representatives, CNN-ABC commentator Tara Setmayer, & California “progressive leaders” on propaganda trips to Israel. AIPAC IS using a loophole that violates the spirit of the law… and seems to be functioning as a foreign agent…
018 midterm elections are a mixed bag when it comes to the Palestine/Israel issue: 6 Jewish people are expected to chair important congressional committees; 122 J-Street endorsees were elected (J-Street is pro-2 state solution); some of the many pro-Israel congress people lost their seats, while 3 new pro-Palestine women were elected; it is becoming more commonplace for even Israel supporters to speak critically of Israel.
Bottom line: the US midterm elections have ushered a new dawn in American politics that is defying the unflinching influence held for many years by pro-Israel lobbies and interest groups.
A detailed scoreboard on candidates for Congress shows that 28 pro-Israel PACs and numerous pro-Israel individuals have given candidates millions of dollars in campaign contributions. The scoreboard presents 29 bills and resolutions that were introduced on behalf of Israel. 20 passed into law or on-record statement, many by unanimous consent. The legislation has accrued a total of over 3,300 co-sponsors… Over 80 congressional challengers have also accepted donations from at least one pro-Israel PAC; most from more than one, etc. Read the full summary:
The Forward reports that a hugely popular pro-Israel speaker and writer has been secretly working directly for the Israeli government. It appears that his actions may have violated U.S. espionage laws…
Israel partisans Sheldon Adelson and Michael Bloomberg are the top campaign donors leading up to midterm elections. Adelson, an American billionaire who has said he wished he’d served in the Israeli military instead of the US one, is donating tens of millions of dollars to Republicans. Bloomberg, a billionaire who twice flew to Israel to demonstrate his support of Israel during its massacres of Gazans, is giving tens of millions to Democrats….
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports that Jewish candidates’ stances on Israel are mixed: Some staunchly defend Israel, some are among Israel’s most outspoken critics, some barely registered on the Israel spectrum… Boldfaced sections show each candidate’s views/actions regarding Israel