Americans for Middle East Understanding

Gideon Levy speaks plainly: NYC is finally done with the charade of its unquestioning embrace of Israel.

Why New York's walk of shame still salutes Israel in 2026? | Opinion Whom Are You Saluting? How Can You Continue Parading as if Nothing Happened, as if Israel Has Not Committed Crimes, as if It Hasn't Turned Into a Pariah State Across the World and Only in New York You March, Waving Its Flag? Are You Not Ashamed?

Nick Kristof's article on Israel's systematic use of sexual violence on Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

This was a hard article to write and it's a hard article to read, but I hope you'll do so. I've been reporting in the West Bank on r**e and other sexual violence of Palestinian male and female prisoners by Israeli authorities, and I find that it's widespread. As one Israeli lawyer told me, the authorities grant "permission to r**e." (The Israeli authorities deny that). The article is now published.

The assault victims were warned not to give speak of what they endured -- they were sometimes told they would be killed or r**ed if they gave interviews -- but they reluctantly did so. I'm very grateful to them for their courage. One man described being r**ed three times in a single day in Israeli prison, the third time after he tried to protest. A young woman said the guards would come in at the beginning of each shift and strip her naked and abuse her. Another reported that she was shown photos of herself being r**ed and warned they would be released unless she cooperated with Israeli intelligence.

Look, whatever our position on the Middle East, we should be able to agree on being anti-r**e. Sexual assaults were horrific when Israeli women were targeted on Oct. 7, and they're equally horrific when Israeli authorities use them against Palestinians day after day after day. We should be able to find common ground in opposing r**e.

Here's a gift link to the article; I hope you'll consider sharing: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/opinion/israel-palestinians-sexual-violence.html?unlocked_article_code=1.hlA.kfgZ.ZMP5yQa7u9k7&smid=url-share

Nicholas Kristof is one of American journalism's leading lights, especially in matters of ethics and human rights. His recent column in the NY Times cannot be ignored.

‘Blood libel’: Israel rejects NYT column alleging widespread r**e of Palestinian inmates After Nicholas Kristof cites report by Euro-Med Monitor as evidence, Israeli Ambassador to US Leiter highlights its leaders' photos with Hamas officials

Four years ago today, the shining light of democracy in the Middle East murdered this American.

The Biden Administration was mute. The Trump Administration is muter.

Begging the question: how do American citizens view the "special relationship" between the two countries...?

https://www.jvphealth.org/events/npn5cdj2zk7yhn9g72pe28cbb3dw1r-p4wdc

May 17th at 1pm EST... SAVE the DATE!

AMEU Board Member Alice Rothchild and the JVP Health Advisory Council sponsor:

FRAGILE CROSSINGS: The Pathways, Barriers, and Cost of Pediatric Medical Evacuations From Gaza

With Dr. Zeena Salman
Pediatric Oncologist
HEAL Palestine cofounder

No more words.

Jonathan Cook, one of AMEU's longstanding contributors, continues to provide essential commentary, including about the rapidly-evolving outlook from Downing Street.

There's something inherently implausible about any British Jew – the kind the BBC always finds on tap – who claims to feel so unsafe in the UK they're planning to head to the "safety" of Israel.

Their problem isn't with security. It's with a sense of narrative control. They've lost the victim-narrative trump card. Israel is the place where they can regain it, even at the price of living in an expansionist military fortress state oppressing the native population and provoking permanent war with its neighbours.

Hundreds of Lebanese were killed by Israel today.

All to scuttle a ceasefire.

40 years ago, Alex Odeh was murdered in California.
His was an object lesson of the uneven pursuit of justice in America.