Legislation against companies boycotting Israel is being enacted in state legislatures, cities, and at the national level. The American Jewish Committee and other Israel advocacy groups tout their successes, including getting all 50 governors to sign an anti-BDS statement.
A former Antisemitism Envoy adopted a new, Israel-centric definition for antisemitism, and then used it to train U.S. diplomats. The envoy position has proved a revolving door to Israel lobbying organizations (see video). Now groups from the ADL to the Southern Poverty Law Center are disturbed that Trump isn’t filling the position.
A dozen American rabbis visit Hebron and see for themselves the result of a settlement inside a Palestinian town. They find the experience “eye-opening and heart-wrenching.” Their trip coincides with one of the worst crises ever in relations between Israel and the U.S. Jewish community.
An Israeli art historian discovered “war booty films” hidden by the IDF for decades. After a protracted legal struggle, she’s made a documentary that depicts a very different history than Israel claims, and shows the work of Palestinian filmmakers forgotten by history…
Pundits and politicians billed the special election race between two strong supporters of Israel, Jon Ossoff (D) and Karen Handel (R), as a major referendum on the first few months of the Trump administration. Tens of millions of Democratic dollars could not buy back Georgia’s 6th District in the most expensive US House race in history. Democrats have now lost all four special elections to fill vacancies left by Trump cabinet appointees.
Grant Smith of IRMEP reports that a poll reveals the disconnect between the American public and Congress on the issue of Israel. Both major US political parties are overwhelmingly Zionist, while their constituents, according to the poll, are only 24.9% Zionist.
UC Irvine’s Students for Justice in Palestine group were harassed and intimidated during their anti-Zionism week events by Israel supporters. The campus has been a focal point for Israel advocacy groups seeking to conflate Palestinian rights with anti-Semitism.
American taxpayers give Israel $10 million per day, so it’s important to be well-informed about its spending habits. For example, Israel’s Interior Minister, Aryeh Deri, was indicted for graft, fraud, and breach of trust in 1993, but returned to politics and was again appointed Minister of the Interior in January 2016.
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?
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.