Today’s Top Stories
1. Where do anti-Israel organizations get their funding? Brett Stephens of the Wall Street Journal exposes links to terror organizations behind SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine) and other “BDS” related organizations. Alternate link here.
2. Some Israelis visit the Temple Mount on Passover, and Israel works to avoid sparking tensions. This week Jordan has been weighing in on the discussion as well. Yet, today, when some Jews began bowing down (in violation of Israeli regulations) Muslim worshipers began to attack. The result was a minor skirmish between Muslim worshipers and Israeli police, as Israeli police ejected the Jewish worshipers from the site.
3. President Obama attempts to smooth out strained relations with Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
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Israel and the Palestinians
• The tiny community of Samaritans in the West Bank now faces a tough choice: continue living with the Palestinian Authority and accept its intimidation, or relocate to a safer locale.
• Thousands gather at the Western Wall for the “priestly blessing.” This blessing includes use of an ancient Jewish hand symbol that was later made famous as the “Vulcan salute” in Star Trek, usually accompanied by the words, “Live long and prosper.”
Around the World
• After France proposes a new “peace summit” Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon says that Israel welcomes “the good intentions of our friends” but adds that the only path to peace that has ever been successful in Israel is direct talks. Danon goes on to explain that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has extended himself further than any previous Israeli leader in his pursuit of direct negotiations with the Palestinian Authority,” but that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has avoided meeting directly, preferring instead to pursue pressure and condemnations through international bodies.
Mideast Matters
• Islamic State carrying out brutal killings in the Palestinian “Yarmouk” refugee camp in Syria, according to Palestinian sources.
• New UK student leader denies charges of anti-Semitism and racism but continues to back Palestinian terrorism.
• German political party seeks to end circumcisions and ritual slaughter.
• An MP in Britain’s Labor party backed calls to “relocate” Israel to America so that land “stolen” from Palestine could be returned.
Commentary/Analysis
• Why did Bernie Sanders invoke the West Bank to make a point about poverty in Baltimore? He was speaking about infant mortality, so it is worth noting that according to the CIA World Factbook, out of 224 territories and countries examined, the worst place for infant mortality is Afghanistan at 115.08 per 1000 of capita, the best is Monaco at 1.82 per 1000 of capita, while the West Bank ranks slightly above the middle at 109th place from the best, with a rate of 13.08 per 1000 of capita.
• Yossi Beilin shares thoughts on the ongoing conversations between Israel and Russia, and Russia’s growing involvement in Middle East affairs.
• Here’s what else I’m reading today . . .
– Los Angeles Times: Yossi Klein Halevi says that the very identity of Judaism is under assault.
– Washington Post: A look inside the Israeli border police.
Featured image: CC BY-NC-SA Stefan Georgi via flickr with additions by HonestReporting
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