Netanyahu’s Expansion of the War is a Monumental Mistake May 5, 2025 - The Israeli government approved a new war plan yesterday to expand military operations in Gaza. Instead of looking for a way to end the bloodshed, this plan escalates a war that has proved disastrous. We are particularly concerned that this new plan seeks to perpetuate the war and relocate Gazans in order for Israel to take over territory in the Gaza Strip. Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich openly said today that Israel will be “occupying Gaza to stay – no more entering and exiting.” He described the cabinet decision as one in which Israel is “capturing territory and staying there,” adding that Israel will not retreat from territory in Gaza, "not even for a hostage deal." | |
The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs Funds Settlers' Propaganda with Millions of Shekels May 6, 2025- Last week, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs published a “call for proposals” offering local authorities in settlements funding for outreach activities. Each authority can receive funding of up to NIS 1 million for conferences and tours for opinion leaders from Israel and abroad, as well as for the creation and distribution of media content. The activity is defined as part of the “struggle against delegitimization against Israel,” but it is intended exclusively for authorities in the settlements beyond the Green Line (and in the Golan). | |
| The Coming Jewish Civil War Over Donald Trump
Eric Alterman in The New Republic Trump is offering American Jews a kind of devil’s bargain: throw in with us against the antisemitic universities and campus rabble-rousers, but pay no attention as we dismantle the traditions and institutions that Jews value. Following the Hamas October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, in which that group murdered approximately 1,200 people and took 251 more hostage, Israel began a military campaign of “total victory” against the group—a terrorist organization it has previously promoted by facilitating Qatari funding for the group in order to weaken the Palestinian Authority and thereby lessen pressure on Israel to allow the creation of a genuine Palestinian state. That campaign has since killed well over 50,000 Gazans, a majority of whom were women or children. | |
Joint Nakba Remembrance Ceremony (Combatants for Peace and Parents Circle Families Forum) - May 15, 2025 As in past years, NJN is proud to sponsor this unique opportunity to commemorate the pain and tragedy of the Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic), when in 1948 more than 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes, became refugees, and had their villages and cities destroyed. We must listen with empathy to each other’s stories and acknowledge injustice to achieve true liberation. Peace and reconciliation must include a sincere and honest reckoning with this history that didn’t end in 1948 but continues until this day. | |
NJN also sponsored the Combatants for Peace/Parents Circle Families Forum Joint Memorial Ceremony, which took place last week on the eve of Yom HaZikaron. | |
Thank you for voting! Votes are now being tallied! We should hear the results in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, the issues are still important to follow and learn about-- Make sure you check out our Board Co-Chair Nomi Colton-Max's op-ed in Haaretz, as well as the recording of the Hatikvah Slate webinar "Israel at 77." | |
