Full talk here: peterbeinart.substack.com/p/its-ok-to-...

Joe Kent was brave to resign in opposition to this criminal war. But the claims in his resignation letter- that Israel caused America's wars in Iraq + Syria--are false. And they betray a conspiratorial mindset that critics of Israel, and this war, must avoid jewishcurrents.org/joe-kents-re...

Israel's critics should not conflate it with Jews. And synagogues should not say "We stand with Israel," which encourages that conflation. It makes congregants less safe + it's immoral. It's like an Orthodox church after 2022 saying "We stand with Russia" peterbeinart.substack.com/p/lessons-fr...

I often learn a lot when I listen to @peterbeinart.bsky.social, but this episode was particularly enlightening. open.substack.com/pub/peterbei...

Speaking as a Jew living in Diaspora, who needs to exist as a minority at a time of rising antisemitism, I would really appreciate it if the Prime Minister of a country where I do not live would not say that attacks on a sovereign country are analogous to attacks on a synagogue.

The Islamic Republic has long menaced its own people. But it has never posed an existential threat to Israel, let alone the US jewishcurrents.org/iran-is-not-...

The danger this war poses to American Jews peterbeinart.substack.com/p/the-danger...

Full video here: open.substack.com/pub/peterbei...

Progressives need to reclaim patriotism, because progressives are the ones embodying it.

There’s nothing offensive about invoking the Holocaust to defend human rights. @governorwalz.mn.gov and Bogie Ya’alon understand this, but the US Holocaust Museum does not.

"This is why so many of us can't have a sane conversation with younger Jews." The level of condescension is quite remarkable

The elimination of USAID was an unforgivable moral atrocity that should haunt Trump, Elon Musk and Marco Rubio for the rest of their days and beyond

RT @jeremykonyndyk.bsky.social : “Please, please, please take 20 minute to watch this incredibly powerful film about the fatal recklessness of Elon Musk and Marco Rubio’s aid cuts. Children are dying from these cuts. This is one of the many, many stories - a South Sudanese refugee child in Uganda.”

On Israel-Palestine, Mamdani's coalition of anti-Zionists and liberal Zionists represents the future of the Democratic Party

If you're a Jewish New Yorker who can't understand why people in your city voted for @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social , ask your children. They probably did too.

Because he's more interested in defending Israel's impunity to commit war crimes than in defending American democracy

I wonder if the folks attacking @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social for singling out Israel have noticed that Hindu nationalists loathe him too. Why? Because his opposition to religious, ethnic + racial supremacy is NOT confined to Israel. He's a principled opponent of ethnonationalism, including in India

The attacks on Mamdani show that Jewish leaders will sacrifice almost anything to preserve Israeli impunity. They'll support a sexual harasser + an anti-Muslim bigot. They care more about preserving Jewish supremacy in Israel than defending legal equality in the US

One might think that after Amnesty, B'Tselem, the UN and the International Association of Genocide Scholars have accused Israel of genocide, rabbis would feel some need to answer their arguments. Instead, they simply waive them away.

The US isn't giving Sudan+Syria weapons to commit those crimes. If Michael Oren is concerned about Sudan, he should urge Israel to impose sanctions on the UAE, which is arming genocidal militias there. But he couldn't care less about Sudan. It's a transparent effort to deflect criticism of Israel.

I wonder if Chaim Steinmetz of KJ and the other rabbis endorsing Cuomo have considered the message they are sending their congregants by endorsing a man who, according to the Department of Justice, sexually harassed 13 separate women.

In his speech on living openly and proudly as a Muslim in New York, Zohran Mamdani captured the ethos that has made this city such a remarkable home for Jews. He described the city in which I want to live

I disagree with much of what Senator Rand Paul believes. But he believes in something beyond his own ambition. And he's willing to risk something for his beliefs. Unlike most of his Republican colleagues, he's not a coward. He's a patriot.

"We will not satisfy the world because it measures with a double standard"--P.W. Botha, 1985

If Amit Segal thinks @haaretzcom.bsky.social is too critical of what Israel's doing in Gaza, how about letting journalists from around the world go there and travel freely? Surely they'll report that Israel did nothing wrong.

"Seem" is generally a tipoff the author wants to believe something but won't do the work to find out if it's true. Mamdani constantly frames his criticism of Israel as part of his commitment to human rights everywhere.

Always remember this about politicians willing to spew anti-Muslim bigotry for political gain. When they decide it's in their political interest to spew antisemitism, they'll do that too.

"They immigrate, they set up shop, and then you work for them. Welcome to 2025..." These words sound more like 1925.

Rutgers professor Mark Bray is author of "Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook," which explores the history and tactics of anti-fascist movements. He recently fled the U.S. after receiving death threats over his scholarship. https://www.democracynow.org/2025/10/15/mark_bray

“Kids”

Why is Israel declaring "victory" in Gaza when many of its aims were not met? @peterbeinart.bsky.social writes that the real goal is the same as it has been for decades: maximum land, minimum Palestinians. Trump's ceasefire plan is another step in that direction. jewishcurrents.org/what-israeli...

‘Thank God the Israeli Hostages Are Coming Home’ But Don't Ask Palestinians to Celebrate a Ceasefire that Deepens Their Oppression open.substack.com/pub/peterbei... @peterbeinart.bsky.social @3-weeks-plan.bsky.social

The Trump plan is likely to create an equivalent of Area C of the West Bank-- a largely Palestinian-free zone-- on roughly half of Gaza. Settlements aren't inevitable but given the US track record on settlements, it's easy to see why Smotrich is confident jewishcurrents.org/what-israeli...

I'm overjoyed the hostages were released. But the reality of the Trump plan is roughly half of Gaza will become like Area C of the W. Bank, largely off limits to Palestinians. Gaza was already one of most overcrowded places on earth. jewishcurrents.org/what-israeli...

If the bombs stop, and the hostages go home, that will be a tremendous blessing. Thank goodness. But there will never be real peace--Palestinians and Israelis will never enjoy real safety--until Palestinians are free.

Why don’t Jewish groups who go on and on about Jewish safety demand David Adler’s release? Because when Jews defy Israel, their safety no longer matters. They stop being Jews because for the American Jewish establishment, "Jew" means "pro-Israel." This is what happens when you make a state your god.

Good for Van Jones for apologizing. Most public figures who dehumanize Palestinians never do. I hope he'll also rethink his claim that it's antisemitic to protest Israel if you don’t spend equal time on Sudan. Morally, it's entirely appropriate to give more attention to a genocide we arm and fund.

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Actually @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social has a much better claim to represent Jewish New Yorkers than Jonathan Greenblatt. Several mayoral polls show that Mamdani enjoys majority-or at least plurality-support among New York Jews. The only Jews who voted for Greenblatt are the donors on the ADL board.

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Loomer illustrates the absurdity of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which includes comparing Israel's actions to the Nazis. But there's nothing about being Jewish that makes you immune from speaking-and even acting--like a Nazi. Recognizing that is part of recognizing Jews as fully human.

Don't fool yourself Megyn Kelly. You--and any right-wing talk show host--could be next if you step out of line. Trump already raided Bolton's house.