Jewish Insider

Senate Republicans offered mixed reactions to reports that the Trump administration is considering dropping its demand for direct talks with Iran and acceding to Tehran’s offer of indirect mediated nuclear negotiations. Some Republicans are largely opposed to any talks with the regime, while others say they should come with strict conditions and demands. https://lnkd.in/eNE4-PTv

A state senator in Virginia running for lieutenant governor is facing increased scrutiny from Jewish and pro-Israel leaders over her past involvement in anti-Israel activism and her record on combating antisemitism. Ghazala Hashmi, a leading progressive lawmaker who represents parts of Richmond and suburban Chesterfield County, is among several candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in Virginia’s June 17 primary. https://lnkd.in/evbtZ8yP

Israel and the Trump administration will use energy projects to bring greater stability to the Middle East, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said following meetings with Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum in Washington. Cohen’s office said the minister views Trump’s policies to lower regulations in the energy sector and reduce green energy commitments as creating new opportunities for the countries to cooperate on oil, gas and other energy projects. https://lnkd.in/e5Qmvw7K

Support for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ efforts to block aid to Israel shrank among Senate Democrats, with just 15, including Sanders, voting in favor of a pair of resolutions to block $8.8 billion in weapons sales to Israel. That final total was down from the 19 Democrats who supported similar resolutions from Sanders last year. https://lnkd.in/eDmK8pen

After initially declining to condemn the speakers at an antisemitism in law conference it sponsored, the ADL now says its future sponsorship of the annual event will be "contingent" on ability to exclude "such extraordinarily inappropriate speakers." https://lnkd.in/e_w_bitf

Three senior National Security Council staffers were forced out, following reports of an Oval Office meeting between Trump, his senior advisors and conspiracy theorist and far-right provocateur Laura Loomer. https://lnkd.in/euMMVgbS

Lawmakers and witnesses on both sides of the aisle at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing appeared open to a deal to permanently end Iran’s nuclear program, but also sounded increasingly supportive of potential U.S. military strikes to prevent the regime from obtaining nuclear weapons. https://lnkd.in/e5_XeDDa

As questions mount about the detention and attempted deportation of a Turkish Tufts University student last week, the ADL, in something of a shift, is publicly raising concerns about due process violations in the Trump administration’s campaign to deport foreign students who engaged in antisemitic and pro-Hamas activity on American college campuses. After offering early praise for the ICE detention of Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil last month, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt is now urging the federal government to exercise caution. In an interview with Jewish Insider, Greenblatt said he seeks greater transparency from the Trump administration as it pursues further deportations, arguing that standing up for Jewish students does not require trampling on the rights of others. https://lnkd.in/ewZkY7Jg

More countries plan to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in remarks to the press with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, soon after Budapest announced that it would exit the court. “You and your leadership have done remarkable things for Israel and the Jewish people,” Netanyahu said to Orban. “You stand with us at the EU and the U.N. You took a principled position on the ICC.” https://lnkd.in/ef8tXgxe

Sen. Bernie Sanders plans to force Senate votes on two resolutions blocking $8.8 billion in U.S. aid to Israel on Thursday, Sanders confirmed to Jewish Insider. This will be the second time in recent months that Sanders has sought to block some arms transfers to Israel and forced a major Israel policy test for Senate Democrats. https://lnkd.in/e67bUfRy