2 of 8,604 Likes, shares… and shifts on Israel 📲 Inbox Jewish Insider Daily Kickoff Unsubscribe 4:33 AM (4 hours ago) to me Read the online version of the Daily Kickoff August 11th, 2025 Good Monday morning. In today’s Daily Kickoff, we report on Israel’s new war plan following its adoption by Israel’s Security Cabinet and the backlash Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing. We have the scoop on New Jersey GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli’s trip to Israel this week, and report on the condemnation of recent anti-Israel rhetoric from a top Virginia lawmaker by Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Ghazala Hashmi. Also in today’s Daily Kickoff: CENTCOM head Adm. Brad Cooper, Tal Shalev and Jonathan Greenblatt. Spread the word! Invite your friends to sign up.👇 SHARE WITH A FRIEND 🔓 Still reading JI like you always have? You’ll continue getting the Daily Kickoff — no changes there. But to read articles on our website, you’ll now need a free login. 👉 Set up your login » What We're Watching Palantir cofounder and CEO Alex Karp is slated to address House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) two-day donor retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyo., which kicks off today. In Washington, President Donald Trump is holding a press conference this morning on crime in the nation’s capital. The deputy head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is in Tehran today for meetings with Iranian officials aimed at restarting the nuclear watchdog’s inspections in the country. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that no inspections would take place during this week’s visit, the first after the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June. What You Should Know A QUICK WORD WITH JI'S JOSH KRAUSHAAR One of the biggest slurs coming from anti-Israel influencers and other crankish extremists is that outside pro-Israel advocacy groups, such as AIPAC, somehow play an inordinate role in the reason so many lawmakers support a close U.S.-Israel alliance. Their misguided belief is that the donations from pro-Israel donors drive lawmakers’ behavior. The reality is that such financial support has reflected the strong public support Israel has long enjoyed — within both parties. But as that public support drops within the Democratic Party (and to a lesser extent, among independents), all the resources in the world won’t be able to prevent progressive-minded elected officials from putting their finger in the wind and reneging on their past backing for the Jewish state. We’re already seeing the consequences of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to expand the war in Gaza by taking control of Gaza City — a decision that has limited support in Israel, and has been drawing criticism even from some of Israel’s stalwart Democratic party supporters at home. But what should be doubly concerning to the Jewish state and its supporters is that several of the Democrats championed by AIPAC’s super PAC in the last two congressional elections — Reps. Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), and Robert Garcia (D-CA) — have lately become more hostile to Israel, with the former two calling for a cutoff in military aid. And as we documented last Friday, Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL), whose initial candidacy was boosted by commitments he made to Jewish leaders amid skepticism about his record on Israel, is now reneging on many of those promises, joining a handful of progressives in calling for a Palestinian state. Some important context: All these Democrats represent some of the most progressive turf in the country, with deep-blue constituencies in Portland, Ore.; Durham, N.C.; and Long Beach, Calif. AIPAC’s engagement in these primaries, electing more mainstream Democratic candidates, was a key marker of the group’s success, given the sizable anti-Israel constituency in all these districts. But ultimately, the overall progressive turn against Israel proved more consequential than these lawmakers’ relationships with AIPAC or the amount of financial support they received in their primaries. It’s hard enough for mainstream Democrats to run against the left-wing tide that’s been gaining ground in their party. In these activist-minded districts, it’s become nearly impossible. Read the rest of 'What You Should Know' here. 🕔 Catch up before the day is over. Upgrade now and get access to our new Daily Overtime afternoon briefing — available only to premium subscribers. 👉 UNLOCK YOUR ACCESS NOW » GAZA GAMBIT Facing criticism from all sides, Netanyahu claims new Gaza plan will ‘end the war speedily’ GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Israel’s decision to take control of Gaza City is meant to prevent further prolonging the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday. The prime minister’s comments come as elements of the Israeli right and nearly all of the left have railed against the decision, further destabilizing the prime minister’s hold on Israel’s leadership. In a video statement on Saturday night, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he had “lost trust that the prime minister can and wants to lead the IDF to a decisive victory.” At the same time, tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv to protest against the Cabinet’s decision, calling for an immediate hostage deal, Jewish Insider’s Lahav Harkov reports. Defending the decision: Speaking Sunday at a press conference for foreign media in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said that “Hamas still has thousands of terrorists in Gaza … Hamas is refusing to lay down its arms, so Israel has no choice but to finish the job. Contrary to false claims,” the prime minister argued, “this is the best way to end the war and to end it speedily.” As to whether Israel’s new plan puts hostages in further danger, Netanyahu said that “the option of just doing a war of attrition from a defensive position has not proved itself. It won’t bring [the hostages] out … [It will lead to a] protracted conflict that won’t bring the war to an end.” Read the full story here. POLICY FLIP Two AIPAC-backed Dems announce support for ban on offensive weapons for Israel MELISSA SUE GERRITS/GETTY IMAGES/BILL CLARK/CQ-ROLL CALL, INC VIA GETTY IMAGES Reps. Maxine Dexter (D-OR) and Valerie Foushee (D-NC), two House Democrats who received significant backing from the AIPAC-aligned United Democracy Project super PAC in their primary races against far-left opponents, announced this week that they would support efforts to block offensive weapons to Israel, Jewish Insider’s Marc Rod reports. State of play: They join a third UDP-supported Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), who indicated his support for such a policy more than a year ago. The latest moves highlight the growing anger among Democrats with Israel’s continued war operations in Gaza — and the limited efficacy in advocating for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship towards liberals at a time when public support for the Jewish state within the Democratic party is declining. Read the full story here.