Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 30m

Two years after Oct 7, Jeremy Ben-Ami (@jeremybenami.bsky.social) revisits Kfar Aza – a place of unbearable loss, but also a reminder of what’s worth fighting for.

“Peace isn’t naive. It’s necessary.”

Read his latest op-ed in @theguardian.com:

Israeli-Palestinian peace isn’t a naive ideal. Here’s why I have cautious hope | Jeremy Ben-Ami

Trump’s personal desire to play the part of peacemaker should not be dismissed – it should be encouraged

www.theguardian.com

1

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 21h

Two years.
Still waiting.
Still hoping.

Still saying goodnight, still baking challah, still walking by the sea.

The families of Israeli hostages – and the rituals that sustain them. In @nytimes.com Opinion:

Opinion | They Have Waited Two Years for the Hostages. These Are Their Rituals.

www.nytimes.com

4

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 1d

2 5

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 1d

1 6 13

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 1d

Two years after October 7, Jeremy Ben-Ami writes that to honor the victims and end the cycle of horror, we must reclaim a word too often scoffed at and shied away from: Peace.

🔗 jstreetdotorg.substack.com/p/two-years-...

1 8

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 1d

jstreet.org/press-releas...

J Street Marks Two-Year Anniversary of October 7 - J Street

We grieve with the families of the 1,200 victims who paid the dearest price that day

jstreet.org

2 6

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 1d

Two years after October 7, we mourn unimaginable loss – Israeli and Palestinian.

This war has gone on too long. The suffering must end.

It’s time for a different future and a peace that brings hostages home, relief to Gaza and hope to the region.

1 2 11

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 1d

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Many American Jews sharply critical of Israel on Gaza, Post poll finds

Most Jews say Israel is committing war crimes — and 39 percent say genocide — while often distinguishing between the country and its leadership.

www.washingtonpost.com

1 3

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 1d

This new @washingtonpost.com poll confirms what we hear every day: American Jews love Israel, but are horrified by this endless war.

68% disapprove of Netanyahu’s leadership. 59% say Israel isn’t doing enough to allow food into Gaza.

1 6 12

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 1d

🤍 “Life and Death in Gaza Since Oct. 7”

📅 Fri, Oct. 10 | 🕐 1pm ET

Hear from Palestinians who have endured unimaginable loss – and who continue to fight for dignity. Speakers include a Gazan doctor, Angela Mattar of Standing Together and Khalil Sayegh.

🔗 us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

3

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 1d

🕯️ “Remembering the Victims, Fighting for the Hostages”

📅 Thursday, Oct. 9 | 🕐 1pm ET
We’ll honor the victims of Oct. 7, uplift hostage families, and hear from those fighting for peace. Speakers include Sharone Lifschitz, Elana Kaminka and Emmanuelle Elbaz-Phelps.

🔗 us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

1 5

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 1d

How do you explain two years of anguish?

Two years of hostage families waiting in torment. Two years of trauma for Israelis who lost loved ones on October 7. Two years of devastation for Palestinians in Gaza, fighting to survive.

Join us for two powerful conversations 🧵⬇️

1 5

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 4d

This is a positive and welcome development.
As we have said, this is a moment of promise and peril. All parties must seize this opportunity to finish this deal in good faith and end the war for good.

6 17

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 4d

If this deal falters – if Hamas refuses, if Netanyahu brings it down, if patience wears thin – then Trump has signaled he would give Netanyahu a green light to “finish the job” and all but flatten Gaza.

That cannot be the fallback. We must end this war – no matter what. 5/5

2 6

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 4d

And so we return to the simple truth: This deal only works if Hamas is forced to yes – and if both Netanyahu and Hamas are forced to follow through on its intent. 4/5

1 1 3

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 4d

And then there is Netanyahu. We’ve seen Netanyahu publicly embrace and privately torpedo similar plans: Shifting goalposts. Undercutting negotiators. Adding poison pills. 3/5

1 1 1

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 4d

Key Arab States, European allies and the international community have come out in support of this proposal. Now, the world must exert every ounce of pressure on Hamas to push this deal to the finish line. 2/5

1 1 1

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 4d

The measure of a deal is not how good it looks on paper – but whether it can be locked into place and deliver results. Therein lies the peril. 1/5

From J Street Chief Policy Officer Ilan Goldenberg: jstreetdotorg.substack.com/p/the-promis...

1 1 3

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 5d

We are horrified and heartbroken by this senseless, deadly terror attack. Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and the Jewish community - both in Manchester and around the world - as we watch our greatest fears realized. This hatred must be universally condemned.

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 6d

BREAKING: The deadly synagogue rampage in Manchester was a terrorist attack, U.K. police say.

Live updates: Attacker who killed 2 people and injured 3 at British synagogue is dead, police say

Two people were killed and three others were seriously wounded Thursday in a synagogue attack in northern England on the holiest day of the Jewish year, police said.

bit.ly

4 11

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 6d

From all of us at J Street, G’mar Chatimah Tovah.

2 4

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 6d

“The immediate priority is ending the war. Negotiations on the details of a broader framework will likely stall until Israeli elections.”

Read J Street Chief Policy Officer Ilan Goldenberg’s analysis on Trump’s Gaza plan below 👇 jstreetdotorg.substack.com/p/what-to-ma...

2

Reposted

Voice4Justice @voices4justice.bsky.social · 7d

‘A journey between pessimism and optimism in the US’
blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-journey-be...
By Nadav Tamir
@jstreetdotorg.bsky.social

The Blogs: A journey between pessimism and optimism in the US

From the blog of Nadav Tamir at The Times of Israel

blogs.timesofisrael.com

1 2

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 7d

If Trump is serious about the proposal being more than another white paper, he must use his power to secure an immediate ceasefire, get the hostages home, surge aid and ensure all parties adhere to every step of the plan.

1 3

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 7d

We cannot allow a workable plan to be twisted into justification for an endless war of destruction. Trump has shown he can make both Netanyahu’s government and Hamas move.

1 1 4

jstreetdotorg.bsky.social @jstreetdotorg.bsky.social · 7d

Even more concerning is Trump’s statement that if the deal fails, he will give Netanyahu a green light to ‘finish the job’ – likely amounting to the destruction of Gaza and even more devastation for the two million civilians in Gaza.

1