“Daylight” between the U.S. and Israel over Iran is bound to become a “deeper wedge” over the occupation in coming years as American politicians at last speak up, Rabbi Joseph Berman of Jewish Voice for Peace predicts

NYT’s Isabel Kershner fails to interview human rights law expert on Israel’s use of “live fire” on Palestinian stonethrowers, and notes 12 Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers only in last paragraph

The New York Times misrepresents a statement by Supreme Leader Khameini of Iran as a threat to “Israel” when what he wants to end is the “Zionist regime”

“Occupation Shmuccupation” is the name of a new children’s book published by the Yesha Council, a right-wing Israeli settler organization. The illustrated propaganda book teaches Israeli kids that “there is no such thing as the State of Palestine” and that “there is no solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” It also blames “price tag” attacks—in which Israeli extremists attack Palestinians or Palestinian homes, property, and/or crops, such as olive trees—on “internal conflicts between the Arabs over land,” that is to say on Palestinians themselves.

Why has Benjamin Netanyahu fought a doomed battle on Iran to the bitter end, further damaging Israel’s already frayed ties with Washington? Last week the Israeli media quoted sources close to Netanyahu saying he knew he would lose on the Iran deal from the outset but carried on regardless with a goal of convincing the American public. Netanyahu’s current bluster seems aimed less at the nuclear deal than at President Obama himself. Perhaps Netanyahu hopes to turn the Iran issue into a doomsday electoral weapon against the Democrats, helping to clear the path into the White House next year for a Republican.

“What comes next?” is an all day forum on “the Jewish future” to be staged by the Jewish Review of Books in October featuring a bunch of old Zionists who we’ve heard a million times before including Henry Kissinger, Elliott Abrams, Ruth Wisse, Joseph Lieberman and Dennis Ross. And the ticket price: $360! When Elliott Abrams and Dennis Ross are willing to bore most audiences for nothing.

In Sandy Tolan’s new book, Children of the Stone, there’s no attempt at false “balance,” no endeavor to spend equal time on the Israeli side or make their situation seem as bad as—or worse than—the Palestinian reality in order to get the “non-biased” stamp of approval.

Peter Voskamp reports from the Ted Cruz and Donald Trump rally against the Iran Deal on the front lawn of the US Capitol. If placards, t-shirts and other insignia were any indication, the event was filled with an eclectic mix of what used to be strange bedfellows: conservative Tea Partiers, Israel supporters, and all manner of opponents of anyone named Obama, Boehner or those affiliated with the Democratic party. Tank-topped attendees with camouflaged “Duck Dynasty” baseball caps stood next to those wearing business suits and yarmulkes. American and Israeli flags flew in the breeze in front of a large TRUMP banner.

Diehard Zionists have sought to portray author Lillian Rosengarten’s tour of her birthplace, Germany, as anti-Semitic because she opposes the existence of a Jewish state. She has demonstrated that the charge is false.

The world is witnessing the largest refugee crisis since the horrors of World War II. There are close to 60 million war refugees, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, an all-time high, as people from Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and Yemen are fleeing violence in their countries. Human rights organizations warn the Gulf states, Israel, Iran, and Russia—all of whom have taken zero refugees—along with the US, Canada, and Europe—which have taken few—are not doing enough. Ben Norton presents a guide to the refugee crisis and how every country you need to know about is responding.