Rhode Island activists blockade Raytheon weapons facility to protest arm sales to Israel, Saudi Arabia

After months of a stalled rollout, the vaccination rate in the West Bank and Gaza has increased to nearly a quarter of the eligible population, following new inoculation sites.

Israel’s Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai tells the American Jewish Committee: “if we see more of the radical left or the progressive liberal Jews continuing to support BDS and Black Lives Matter, as similar to the Palestinians, and they relate to Israel as a genocide state or an apartheid state, we may lose America.”

The Israeli government has approved initial plans for thousands of new housing units in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, along with hundreds of Palestinian units in Area C, the part of the West Bank under full control of the Israeli government. “It seems that the approval of a handful of plans for the Palestinians is only intended to try to reduce criticism of the government and to please the US administration ahead of Prime Minister Bennett’s expected visit to Washington in the coming weeks,” settlement watchdog Peace Now said in a statement.

While celebrating Andrew Cuomo’s departure be sure to spare a thought for his anti-BDS efforts.

The Middle East Union festival is a literary festival that includes musical and queer performances, readings, live panels, and online discussions, held in Berlin from August 12 to 15.

The Palestinian Authority has announced a new move to limit freedom of expression for Palestinians already living under Israel’s occupation. The PA’s decision comes on the heels of the torture and murder of activist Nizar Banat, and a wave of arrests and intimidation of activists, journalists, and the employees of legal assistance and human rights organizations. Mahmoud Abbas is hoping to extinguish criticism from inside and outside the PA and Fatah, but these repressive policies will generate even greater hostility from Palestinians whose dreams of freedom are being smothered by a corrupt and brutal authority. 

The Biden administration wants $1 billion to restock Israel’s Iron Dome system. Will Congress give him what he wants?

Constituents have a message for Rep. Barbara Lee: “progressive except Palestine” is not a true progressive.

Democratic Majority for Israel raised well over $3 million in untraceable “dark money” to defeat Nina Turner by warning of the prospect of electing an anti-Israel advocate to Congress. As the tide of public opinion turns against Israel we can expect more dark money to be spent in an effort to defeat candidates who argue for a more balanced US policy.