We have a President of the United States who seeks to score political points at the expense of the US-Israel relationship. And an Israeli government ready to oblige. Sad. Upsetting. Dangerous.
It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep.Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds. Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace!
If American Friends of Likud believes Diaspora Jews "have a moral obligation to refrain from undermining Israel's right to make its own decisions," why is there a thing called American Friends of Likud?
.
@netanyahu
’s remarks about the
@NewIsraelFund
are indefensible and unsubstantiated. Labeling Israeli civil society groups as existential threats, irrespective of their politics, undermines Israel’s democratic values while failing to demonstrate responsible leadership.
There's no PA return to Gaza with an armed Hamas, no rebuilding Gaza with an armed Hamas, no peaceful future with an armed Hamas. Pressure should be on Hamas to disarm, release innocent hostages. Absent that a sustainable ceasefire that enables work ahead to begin is impossible
Annexation would be disastrous for Israel security, economy, diplomacy.
@IsraelPolicy4m
has been sounding the alarms about this dangerous, irresponsible step:
“The 21 Days” should be a new Jewish holiday commemorating the inability to form a coalition government in the State of Israel. But how to observe??? Discuss.
Walking across a street at a residential intersection on Monday night, a car hit me and ran. Feeling extremely lucky to emerge with a relatively minor leg injury - and a strong dose of perspective.
Remember: younger American Jews are only turning away from Israel because they don’t know Judaism, has nothing to do with racists being encouraged to unite and being offered top government positions.
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Amos Gilad making a strong, impassioned case against unilateral West Bank annexation on
@IsraelPolicy4m
webinar.
#annexationwatch
Join here:
Ending US investment in Israeli-Palestinian cooperation (and ending all support for the Palestinians) is no favor to Israel. The absence of credible US leadership will invite others to the fill the void. So incredibly irresponsible.
On Tuesday
@CNN
aired a devastating report on antisemitism in Europe. Today CNN's
@marclamonthill
echoed Jihadist calls for Israel's violent annihilation, calling for "resist[ance]" to achieve "a free Palestine from the river to the sea." Not a great look.
This is truly horrific, but given recent trends it is not shocking. It is certain to continue and worsen if not condemned and directly confronted with the seriousness it deserves.
Footage of masked settlers beating, torching car of Israeli activists who arrived in the West Bank village of Burin to assist and provide protection to Palestinians harvesting in the area.
US cuts assistance to West Bank/Gaza leaving 60 million in support for Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation. First Administration in history to provide unqualified support to Government of Israel while waging political/economic war on Palestinians.
PM Yitzhak Rabin 1994 letter endorsing
@IsraelPolicy4m
High Holiday booklet urges fellow Jews to support peace, pursue social justice, and nurture ties between US Jewish community and Israel. It is a longer road than he/we imagined. We remain committed to his vision.
#shanatova
Note to US policymakers and Jewish community leaders: If you have consistently opposed unilateral steps as unhelpful, called for US not to impose a plan, and argued that only bilateral negotiations could end the conflict, now is a time to stay consistent.
I am so outraged and sickened by the despicable attacks by Hamas terrorists. Israel must receive support for its necessary action to defend its citizens.
The Arab Peace Initiative, first introduced in ‘02, since amended and re-endorsed by Arab League, represents an important historic change from the infamous 3 no’s of 1967. It requires negotiations but it is deserving of recognition and an Israeli response, dontcha think?
History matters.
On 9/1/67, Arab leaders met in Sudan. They discussed
#Israel
’s land-for-peace offer.
Israel would exchange land it gained in Six-Day War of self-defense for peace w/ Arab states.
Decision: NO peace w/ Israel, NO recognition of Israel, NO negotiations w/ it.
A secure peace requires Israeli + Palestinian leaders willing + capable to reach + implement a historic compromise, supported by US, Arab states, intl arena, diasporas. A lot of parts to be aligned. Easier to scramble this Rubik’s cube than to solve it. Too important to give up.
Bennett's calls for annexing Area C with Palestinians governing A + B, must be challenged with facts: That creates 169 Palestinian enclaves surrounded by Israel at huge econ, security, legal, political expense. His estimate of 50k Pals in Area C is 250k less than most estimates.
My Q&A with
@naftalibennett
. We discussed BDS, Palestinian civil rights, democracy, the one state solution, and the gap between Israeli and American Jews - all the easy topics!
I’m putting my kids to sleep and can’t stop thinking of the fear and trauma facing children and their parents in southern Israel and Gaza as they tried to do the same tonight.
Settler violence and far-right leaders / policies are incompatible with US and Israeli objectives amidst the current conflict and beyond. Somethings gotta give.
Israel's WBank policies have "infuriated" the Biden admin in recent days, "distracting" US from providing more full-throttled support to Israel amid the war, two Israeli officials told
@timesofisrael
yesterday, speaking on condition of anonymity as they criticized the gov. (1/8)
Wrong. When there is no chance for serious negotiations to end the conflict, educating / investing in leaders of the next generation becomes even more important.
Tzipi Livni has been - and no doubt will continue to be - one of Israel’s greatest representatives and advocates on the global stage — departing politics at a time when Israel needs more stateswomen like her.
After 5 incredible years creating and building
#IPFAtid
from an idea to a vibrant program and community, today is
@adambasciano
last day at
@IsraelPolicy4m
. Looking forward to toasting his leadership with the Atid family later today, and can't wait to see what he builds next!
Come join our growing team at
@IsraelPolicy4m
- now hiring for Deputy Policy Director, Director of Public Engagement, Development Manager, IPF Atid Leadership Engagement Associate, and Staff Associate
An excellent piece by Prof. Gilad Hirschberger: “Nearly 75 percent of Israeli Jews support pragmatic and moderate solutions to the conflict with the Palestinians. Only about 15 percent of Israelis support annexation of the West Bank.”
@cisorgil
The quarantining Kindergarten kids are asked what they wish for their classmate on her birthday: All of them say "not to get COVID." This is so depressing.
This Wednesday (6/2):
@HadyAmr
,
@SenatorMenendez
, and other leading policymakers, analysts, and activists will join Israel Policy Forum for our nationwide
#RealisticReset
virtual event. For more details, additional speakers, and registration, visit:
In response to the murderous terrorist attacks in Jerusalem, the Security Cabinet decided unanimously to authorize nine communities in Judea and Samaria. These communities have existed for many years; some have existed for decades.
Mazal tov
@Isaac_Herzog
for navigating this political moment, delivering an inspiring speech representing the best hopes and aspirations for US-Israel ties, rooted in shared interests and values, without downplaying the significant challenges of the moment.
This fall
@elikowaz
and
@EvanGottesman
are going back to school. Their creativity & passion have made a massive impact on
@IsraelPolicy4m
. They'll still be part of our extended team - we won't let them go so easy - but wishing them both the very best heading into a new chapter!
(1/8): Thank you to everyone who joined our virtual annual event tonight and supported and engaged with our work during this challenging year. Did you miss any part of tonight's conversation's? Here's a recap:
Today my aunt and uncle fled their home in Estes Park, Colorado as one our iconic national parks burns in one of the largest fires in state history... in late October.
The series of punitive measures against the Palestinians will not bring them back to negotiate. Everyone knows that. These moves not only create new risks and uncertainty for the peoples of the region but for the future of US-Israel relations as well.
We are proud to announce Israel Policy Forum 360°, a new signature resource showing the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through interactive virtual tours. Find out more at .
Arriving in Israel saddened with the news peace activist Vivian Silver was murdered on Oct 7th, as her poster still appears in the arrival hall alongside all others missing or taken hostage.
Turns out you encourage a merger of a right-wing faction with known racists to increase chances they will enter Knesset, then form a vote sharing agreement with them (basically identifying as your closest ideological partner) people might think you are ok with racism? Who knew?!
This is where it’s all headed: The liberals are deciding they just don’t want to take turns with conservatives in government. They’re concluding that conservatives are either authoritarians or racists and therefore illegitimate. And so—why ever let them govern at all?
.
@AnshelPfeffer
is right that no one should be surprised about the settler violence, and no one should be terribly surprised about the particular location of the recent incidents either – thread incoming: 1/
A truly special human being with so many talents, so much knowledge, and such a good-hearted spirit. Our thoughts are with his wife Roberta, IPF’s longtime representative in Jerusalem, and the entire Schoffman family. May his memory be for a blessing.
@bungarsargon
Had they actually gone on the trip the outrage would have not been directed at Israel but at the Members of Congress for their itinerary. And yet here we are.
The Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty is in no way at risk. But don’t dismiss the bad omen signaled by Jordan’s decision not to renew agricultural leases with Israel since there are real tensions underlying it
Thank you,
@ChemiShalev
for the tireless honesty and genuine passion that has always come through in your writings. You’ve been an essential companion for both Americans and Israelis. Your columns will be missed, wishing you the best in what comes next.
The great task of Israel's supporters is to sound the alarm about the dangers of annexation for Israel's future as a secure, Jewish, and democratic state, for the prospects for a future two-state outcome, and for the long-term strength of the US-Israel relationship.
Israel ‘s
@KnessetIL
speaker
@YuliEdelstein
binding himself to annexation of Jewish settlements at WB, following
#IsraElex19
“our great task is annexation. cpl of years ago we were considered hallucinatory for claiming this. Now it is mainstream in israel. We will implement it”
A remarkable life, truly like no other - Jim Wolfensohn showed how much one can accomplish with passion, hard work and creativity. Grateful for the chance to spend time with him and thankful for his kindness. May his memory be for a blessing.
"Increasingly, it is the failure to recognize that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a national one that is making resolving it even harder."
@mkoplow
@israelpolicy4m
on how Biden can reset the narrative during his visit to the region via
@TimesofIsrael
#AcrossTheDivide
: Israel Policy Forum Executive Director
@dhalperin
closes out the event: "This was the kind of program worth trudging through snow and rain for."
Justice Minister of the State of Israel promoting an incredibly dangerous proposal to annex most of the West Bank, create 169 separate Palestinian enclaves, ignoring enormous security, economic, political, legal (and moral) ramifications of such a move.
So for my daughter's 8th birthday, America got her a vice president. I'm just never topping that. Congrats to President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris!
“We are united in the conviction that a negotiated two-state agreement is essential to preserve the kind of Israel we dedicated our lives to fighting for on all fronts: a secure, thriving democracy with a solid Jewish majority for generations.”
Today’s terror attack that took the life of Rina Shnerb, z”l is an absolute outrage. The seemingly steady increase in terror incidents in recent weeks is deeply worrisome.
Walked a couple blocks away from today’s
#NoHateNoFear
rally to visit the first Jewish cemetery in the US, established in 1656 - a reminder of how deeply rooted and strong the American Jewish experience has been and remains.
A truly heartbreaking day. As I begin to read many heartfelt posts from friends, colleagues, and institutions across the country I am so proud of the incredible strength of our community.
#nextweekatshul
When you are an Israel analyst and your kids are 9, 6, and 3, Purim afternoon is just about the worst time to have to process breaking news like the Golan announcement. With my luck, Bibi will form a government on Erev Pesach and Abbas will resign right before Kol Nidrei.
"Israel had close to 40 years of experience dealing with Sinwar, an intense and violent man ... Yet that accumulated knowledge, in recent years, only lulled Israel’s security chiefs into a false sense of complacency." Must read profile via
@NeriZilber
Excellent piece on pragmatic steps needed before attempting the deal of the century by
@EvanGottesman
-- one of the several young, talented, committed professionals at
@IsraelPolicy4m
Good Friday morning, Twitter! A bit of *personal news* to take a break from Jewish space laser doom-scrolling.
This week I started a new role at
@IsraelPolicy4m
as their Government Relations Associate!
U.S. policy toward Israel could shift radically back and forth depending on which party runs the White House or Congress. The relationship would no longer be "special," which would not only be a shame - but a threat to Israel itself.
Susie Gelman
@IsraelPolicy4m
Chair: "Rolling out a plan that everyone, including his own aides, expects to be a nonstarter as soon as it sees the light of day, does a huge disservice to Israelis and Palestinians." via
@jdforward
Israel's democracy, security, economy, and social cohesion have become weaker; extremists in the government have become stronger, evermore committed to make certain this is just the beginning. I unequivocally support those Israelis in the streets, against this irresponsible vote