The Biden administration’s effort to sweep Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing under the rug shows its keenness to extend Trump’s “Abraham Accords” in the Mideast. Those deals make war with Iran more likely, and promote Israeli arm sales and impunity for human rights violations. And as for the Palestinians, they will be completely buried by the Gulf Arab leadership in the rush to please Washington.

NYT columnist Tom Friedman painted the past year in Israel—the first Netanyahu-free year since 2008—as an icon of democracy, where Israeli Jews and Palestinian citizens of Israel danced together under the blue and white flag, in harmony and happiness. That is a contemptible piece of fiction which erases apartheid, blames Palestinians for their own ongoing oppression, and praises those who would abandon their cousins under occupation.

A recent debate over the rank of the U.S. Security Coordinator for the Palestinian Authority has refocused attention on security cooperation with Israel and the question of who it truly benefits.

In a decision which could have far-reaching implications for political actions and free speech, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state of Arkansas was permitted to force anyone contracting with the state to pledge that they will not engage in boycotts of Israel. 

Joe Biden is scheduled to make his first trip to Palestine as president in July. The visit will serve as yet another message to the Palestinian people that Israel is working hand in hand with the US, and whether a Democrat or a Republican is in the White House, that isn’t going to change.

The battle between J Street and AIPAC to influence the Democratic Party is also opening space for Palestine solidarity to enter the mainstream.

A new Super PAC has reared its head and it’s made no secret of its first target: Rashida Tlaib. It comes as no surprise that Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American woman and the only Palestinian Democrat ever in Congress, is coming under severe attack ahead of her primary two months from now. But the nature of that attack is a particularly dangerous and pernicious one, and its nature is one that constitutes a unique and serious threat to not only advocates of Palestinian rights and freedom, but to progressives across the board.

Pressure is building on the Biden administration from Congress and the media to investigate the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. One fourth of the House Democratic caucus signed a letter calling on the U.S. to investigate the killing, and recent investigations by CNN and the Associated Press have debunked Israeli talking points. The U.S. has a history of accepting Israel’s explanations for the deaths of Americans, but pushing for an investigation makes sense as it would be a small step toward eroding Israeli impunity.

Two Democratic primaries in Pennsylvania this week were particularly instructive for advocates of Palestinian freedom and rights but carried very different lessons.

“Israel’s lawyer” Dennis Ross says the invasion of Ukraine has a sharp lesson for the Biden Administration – the U.S. must build a Middle East coalition to counter Russia and its regional partner, Iran.