US to pitch alternative plans for Rafah op * Schumer unrepentant in meet with Jewish leaders * Canada to end arms exports to Israel * Are Jewish kids safe at US colleges?

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Wednesday, March 20, 2024 Inside story Jacob Magid [US to pitch Israel on securing Egypt-Gaza border as alternative to ‘smashing into Rafah’]( US officials tell ToI next week’s meeting with visiting Israeli delegation will be used to advance viable options other than massive ground offensive in packed south Gaza city [Netanyahu says he made clear to Biden Rafah ground op crucial to destroying Hamas]( By Lazar Berman Live updates [LIVE - Global index: Israel out of liberal democracy category for first time in over 50 years]( By ToI Staff IDF says some 90 gunmen killed so far in Shifa hospital raid, 160 detained * Protesters block Tel Aviv highway calling for hostage deal * Blinken adds Israel stop to Mideast tour Op-ed: Day 166 of the war David Horovitz [Never mind Chuck Schumer’s hopes and fears, what Israel do Israelis want?]( Senate majority leader fears pariah status looms for Israel and urges elections, but would voters choose a less divisive leadership? * Retaining US support to tackle Hamas in Rafah [Schumer defends call for Israel to replace Netanyahu in meet with US Jewish leaders]( By Jacob Magid Top Democrat also gives interview to NYT in which he reveals that he mulled calling on PM to resign in lightning rod speech but decided against it, not wanting to lecture Israel [After non-binding motion, Canada to halt arms exports to Israel]( By ToI Staff FM slams Ottawa for ‘step that undermines Israel’s right to self-defense in the face of Hamas murderers,’ as Trudeau takes increasingly critical stance toward Jewish state [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Mar. 20: Day 166 – As Canada halts arms to Israel, who could follow?]( By ToI Staff [South Africa: Israel undermining World Court with campaign of ‘starvation’ in Gaza]( By AFP and ToI Staff Interview [Prof. Eitan Hersh answers the $64,000 question: Are Jewish kids safe at US colleges?]( By Jordana Horn The political scientist at Tufts began a far-reaching student survey in 2022 amid rising antisemitism. After October 7, his data-driven mission has become pivotal for American Jews [NYU urges dismissal of antisemitism lawsuit, says it acted ‘decisively’]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [Calling for hostage release deal, families and supporters block Tel Aviv highway]( By ToI Staff Protesters standing in Ayalon Highway unfurl banner depicting three members of war cabinet and declaring that reaching an agreement ‘is on you’ [Mossad chief said to brief war cabinet on Qatar talks; officials pessimistic]( By ToI Staff Top Ops Chavi Feldman [Canada’s refusal to sell arms to Israel harms its legacy as a protector of Jews]( My grandparents wouldn’t recognize the country that offered them a safe haven after the Holocaust Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll [5 steps to save Jewish marriage]( When the community takes matters into its own hands to free chained women awaiting divorce, the rabbis follow suit Interview [Relatives of 21-year-old family breadwinner Bar Kupershtein call for his release]( By Diana Bletter Over five months since their son’s abduction from the Supernova festival as he tried to rescue fellow attendees, the young Holon native’s family still has no word on his condition [Leading English-language government spokesman said suspended for irking UK’s Cameron]( By ToI Staff Eylon Levy, whom Sara Netanyahu has reportedly been pushing to oust, said suspended after British government complained about social media post challenging its FM [Israel drops one place to 5th in global happiness list; Finland retains top spot]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [CRM]( [Britain’s deputy PM defends Israel but calls for humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza]( By Agencies and ToI Staff Oliver Dowden says truce will enable aid to enter enclave and ‘crucially, hostages to come out’; UK’s foreign minister says lasting truce only possible if Hamas leaders exit Strip [Analysis / In Ireland, Israel-Palestinian conflict serves as stand-in for fight against British]( By Ron Kampeas [Likud lawmaker screams at relative of October 7 victims during Knesset hearing]( By Sam Sokol ‘You don’t talk like that’ about Netanyahu, Tally Gotliv yells at man who lost four family members at Kibbutz Be’eri; Labor MK Kariv calls her behavior ‘unthinkable’ [President Herzog to honor three hostages mistakenly shot by IDF]( By ToI Staff and Emanuel Fabian [Those We Have Lost]( [Those We Have Lost]( [Civilians and soldiers who have fallen since Oct. 7]( [Read Here]( [Palestinian clans and factions step in to protect Gaza aid, sources say]( By Reuters and ToI Staff Palestinian officials say Hamas’s ability to rally such groups behind it over security shows it retains influence despite Israeli troops in Gaza [IDF troops kill over 50 Hamas gunmen during ongoing raid in Gaza’s Shifa Hospital]( By Emanuel Fabian and ToI Staff [Two Shin Bet officers hurt, one seriously, in West Bank shooting; attacker shot]( By Emanuel Fabian Assailant opens fire at pair carrying out routine operations near Gush Etzion junction [Air travel costs soar amid war, as foreign carriers sluggishly renew Israel flights]( By Sharon Wrobel Industry experts urge government to incentivize airlines to resume services and flight frequencies as part of a postwar recovery plan for the tourism industry [Eilat Port to lay off half its staff due to Houthi attacks stymieing shipping trade]( By Agencies and ToI Staff [Analysis / Double whammy of high rates and no workers leaves Israeli builders with high debt]( By Shoshanna Solomon [In first, IDF confirms Houthi cruise missile hit open area near Eilat on Monday]( By Emanuel Fabian, ToI Staff and Agencies Iran-backed group also claims to target a Marshall-Islands flagged fuel tanker headed for Saudi Arabia as it passed through the Red Sea shipping route [UN nuclear watchdog chief visits Syria for first time since 2011 to restart talks]( By Reuters and ToI Staff [Those We Are Missing]( [The hostages and victims whose fate is still unknown]( [Read Here]( [Delayed by war, a rescheduled Jerusalem Biennale beats sheep into swords of iron]( By Jessica Steinberg Originally planned around the theme of cultural assets — ‘iron sheep’ in Hebrew parlance — the 7-week art exhibit spread throughout Jerusalem is now shaded by October 7’s horrors [No more peeing on a stick: New saliva-based pregnancy test now available in Israel]( By Renee Ghert-Zand After launching Salistick in the UK, Ireland and Sweden last year, Israeli company Salignostics is selling the product at home and eyeing the US market [Day 166 – As Canada halts arms to Israel, who could follow?]( [listen to the podcast]( More Headlines [UN warns planet ‘on the brink’ after data confirms 2023 was hottest year on record]( By Nina Larson [Kushner notes value of Gaza ‘waterfront property’ if people would focus on livelihood]( By MEG KINNARD [Woman found stabbed to death in south Tel Aviv]( By ToI Staff [MKs protest halt to government vouchers for immigrants’ Hebrew-language classes]( By Sam Sokol [Israel Prize for heroism goes to two civilians who rescued dozens at Kibbutz Be’eri]( By ToI Staff [Trump urges US Supreme Court to rule that ex-presidents have ‘absolute immunity’]( By John Kruzel and Andrew Chung [UN mission probing ISIS crimes in Iraq forced to shut down early]( By Timour Azhari [Brazil’s Bolsonaro indicted for allegedly falsifying his own vaccination data]( By Mauricio SAVARESE [The daily edition]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? 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