Getting Americans to be honest about our war crimes is like pulling teeth. After leaving the Yemen war completely out of his book on foreign policy, Obama aide Ben Rhodes finally admits “We were wrong” to trust the Saudis by supplying them with arms for their onslaught on Yemeni civilians. Of course he blames Trump for being even worse.
Malcolm Hoenlein of the Conference of Presidents says there’s only one way to counter negative media about Israel swaying Jewish youth: “Inoculate” Jews in kindergarten about everything good Israel does. And wait till you hear about his program for Israel to host a “World Jewish Singles” event to bring Jews from around the world to Israel to meet and mate.
Lara Alqasem, the 22-year-old Palestinian-American graduate student who has been stuck in a holding cell at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport since she arrived in the country on October 2, appeared for her first hearing before the Israeli High Court on Wednesday morning to appeal her deportation from the country.
Two New Zealand BDS activists who counseled pop-star Lorde to cancel Israel concert have been fined by an Israeli court for harming the “artistic welfare” of three fans, but the two are not paying, and directing funds to Gaza mental health efforts.
“If denying Jews the ‘right of self-determination’ is evidence of anti-Semitism, then what should we call denying the same right to those indigenes who have lived in Palestine for centuries?” Joel Doerfler on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism.
Will Australia follow the U.S. and move their embassy to Jerusalem? Australia’s Prime Minister said Tuesday he is considering recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and shifting his embassy from Tel Aviv.
Over the past week or so, Saudi Arabia has gotten more U.S. mainstream media coverage than at any time in decades. But conspicuously missing has been any reporting on the kingdom’s growing friendship with Israel — a de facto alliance that may help explain why Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman thought he could get away with ordering the murder of the dissident journalist, Jamal Khashoggi.
Jaap C. Bosma considers a definition of anti-Palestinian racism and how it can be used by activists for Palestinian rights.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he will soon change course in his response to protests in Gaza and deliver “very painful blows,” so long as the demonstrations continue.
Several Democratic candidates this fall — Andrew Gillum in Florida, Scott Wallace in Pennsylvania, Ben Jealous in Maryland, Beto O’Rourke in Texas, and Ted Deutch in Florida — have issued statements against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign targeting Israel, as Republicans try to make Israel a political issue in the fall races.