We are overwhelmed with all that is going on right now: COVID-19, reopening our community, recuperating physically, mentally and financially from this pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, the need to pursue justice and eradicate racism and all forms of hate and bigotry. We need Shabbat – a day to catch our breath. We need to re-energize because the challenges we face today will not be gone next week. Our actions, our voices are needed now more than ever.
As if we don’t have enough on our plates, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to annex all settlements in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) on July 1. It is being reported that Netanyahu understands that annexing other territory allocated to Israel according to President Trump’s peace plan will take more time. If Netanyahu moves forward with annexation, there will certainly be serious ramifications – ones that will most certainly affect the Jewish community here in the United States and across the globe.
It is so important to learn about this issue of annexation. It is complicated. There are many sides and lots of emotions associated with it. Please take some time to read the three pieces below and let me know if you have any questions.
We need to take Donald Trump’s deal for annexation – opinion
by Oded Revivi, the Mayor of Efrat. If you’ve traveled with us to Israel, you have visited the settlement of Efrat.
AIPAC tells US lawmakers it won’t push back if they criticize annexation
an unusual move for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee
Annexation will be a serious setback for better relations with the Arab world – opinion by Minister of State Yousef Al-Otaiba from the United Arab Emirates. The first op-ed published in an Israeli newspaper by a Gulf diplomat.
