Daniel Estrin Profile picture
@NPR International Correspondent, usually around Jerusalem. Got a tip? DM me for my Signal.
Mar 16, 2023 7 tweets 3 min read
1/ Israel stands before the abyss, Israel’s president said in a televised address to his country last night.

He warned of civil war if there is no resolution to months of protest over the government’s plan to weaken the judiciary.

Listen, or read thread

npr.org/2023/03/16/116… 2/ He published a detailed proposal for compromise. His proposal would limit the judiciary somewhat, and also propose a Bill of Rights to cement basic freedoms in Israel as it reaches its 75th independence day in May.

Proposal in English: mitve-haam.org/_files/ugd/f35…
Jun 1, 2022 12 tweets 4 min read
1/ What compelled a young Palestinian man to open fire on a Tel Aviv bar on April 7th?

It was one of several deadly attacks that helped fuel the ongoing Israeli military crackdown in the West Bank.

I met his uncle, Amin Khazem, in the Jenin refugee camp... 2/ Amin's rooftop porch overlooks the whole camp. It's where he would barbecue with his nephew Raad. It's where he grows oranges, cactus and flowers, and where he raises two small parrots.
May 15, 2021 5 tweets 2 min read
1/ @NPR interviewed @MarkRegev, senior advisor to @netanyahu, about why Israeli warplanes destroyed the @AP bureau's building in Gaza. Israel said it Hamas military intelligence used the building, but provided no evidence to back the claim. Partial transcript below: 2/ NPR: Why did Israel never tell AP or any media there that Hamas was allegedly in the building?

REGEV: We ensured there would not be innocent people being caught up in the crossfire, by giving adequate warning.
Jan 20, 2021 8 tweets 2 min read
1/ As Biden takes over, the US Ambassador to Israel's Twitter account quickly changed to include Palestinian territories. From "Ambassador to Israel" to "Ambassador to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza." No immediate comment yet from US Embassy or State Dept to clarify the change. 2/ This could be a symbolic change to reflect the Biden Administration's more inclusive approach toward Palestinians. Trump's ambassador dismissed the separate US envoy for the Palestinians and took over the West Bank/Gaza portfolio, but he never called himself Amb. to WB/Gaza.
Jan 19, 2021 5 tweets 2 min read
1/ In a farewell speech to @usembassyjlm staff shared with @NPR, US ambassador to Israel @USAmbIsrael David Friedman said “the fundamentals of the Middle East haven’t been better” and the Trump Administration was leaving the region “in a relatively stable manner.” 2/ Friedman urged the Biden administration not to alter the historic Mideast policies he helped bring about. “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Everything’s going fine here,” Friedman said. "I hope the new administration devotes its attention to domestic issues...hope they succeed"
Apr 18, 2019 9 tweets 3 min read
Under orders from the Trump administration, #USAID is preparing to lay off most of its #Palestinian aid workers in its West Bank & Gaza mission, according to U.S. government communications reviewed by @NPR. 1/ It's the latest step toward shrinking a decades-long aid mission to build the capacity for a future Palestinian state. USAID told NPR it has "begun to take steps to reduce our staffing footprint” since Palestinian aid projects ended this year. 2/