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President of oldest US pro-Israel group salutes ‘new sane era’ as Trump’s views underscore divisions among Jews and influence of evangelical Christians

2016 began with a bang: French telecommunications giant Orange announced in early January it was dumping its Israel affiliate. Meanwhile, churches, student unions and local activists continued to organize strong boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaigns that caused panic among Israeli leaders.

The passage of UNSC 2334 marks the first occasion since 1980 that the Security Council has censured Israel's settler-colonialist practices, primarily because the United States had consistently threatened to use or exercised its veto power against similar initiatives for the past thirty-six years. On this occasion, Washington once again refused to support the resolution-but on account of its abstention, the Security Council was able to unanimously adopt the draft text.

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What possessed me to travel 6,000 miles from L.A. and my family in order to brave the Mediterranean Sea in what is now beginning to look like the smallest vessel on the docks? Why join another effort to break the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza? I am here for the women-the extraordinary women of Gaza as well as the amazing women I'm proud to call my shipmates. I'm concerned about the war and blockade on the women, as schools, hospitals, and homes have been destroyed

U.S. generosity, which costs every American taxpayers $300 a year, is detrimental to Israel and will only push it toward more acts of aggression. Hundreds of Israeli intellectuals appeal to world Jewry: `End Occupation for Israel's Sake'. Signatories of letter include seven high-ranking IDF officers, 20 former ambassadors, authors David Grossman, Amos Oz. As long as U.S. aid isn't in question, Israeli settlements are here to stay.

The defiant display of Palestinian flags in Glasgow last week by Scottish fans of the Celtic soccer team raised over $200,000 in donations online, all marked for two Palestinian charitable groups. Activist fans of Scotland's Celtics soccer team - the working-class, historically progressive community already facing punishment for flying Palestinian flags at a recent game against Israel to protest the Occupation - have launched the fundraiser.

Critics of solidarity between the Movements for Black Lives and the Palestinian struggle miss how concepts like apartheid are not meant to apply only when there is perfect equivalence between two situations. They also apply when the experiences of two oppressed groups share common features.

Those who previously claimed to be allies of the Black lives matter movement have shown us that they are comfortable with our resistance so long as it fits within particular confines. It is convenient to endorse black lives matter when it benefits you. And as long as we stay silent about Israeli apartheid, they will "stand" with Black liberation in the US. Now that our movement has taken a stand against all forms of white supremacy...Black lives no longer matter.