Israel to approve 1,400 new settler homes in East Jerusalem

What We’re Reading

Occupation/Human rights

Report: With Trump in Power, Israel to Resume Construction of Thousands of “Frozen” Settlement Units,

Israel intends to approve the construction of 1,400 new homes in Ramat Shlomo, a Jewish settlement neighborhood in East Jerusalem that lies beyond the so-called “Green Line,” Israel’s Channel Two News reported on

Demolition of Bedouin village delayed after protest, appeal,

Joint List politicians say rally at Umm al-Hiran led to postponement, vow to continue ‘struggle’ to keep bulldozers away; police say court must still decide on case.

Israel slammed over its 'war on NGOs',

Instances of permit confiscation and lengthy interrogation by Israeli security are on the rise, says UN official.

Palestinian shot dead in West Bank, say Israeli police,

The incident happened at the Qalandia checkpoint, a hated symbol of Israeli occupation for Palestinians.

High Court considers home demolition for Jewish extremists,

The High Court of Justice held discussions on Monday on whether the policy of home demolition should be extend to Jewish murders of Arabs. The talks took place on the heels of a petition submitted by the family of Mohammed Abu Khdeir ,16—who was kidnapped and brutally murdered by Jewish terrorists in July 2014—calling for the homes of the culprits to be destroyed.

US-Israel relations

Opinion: Israel should be very worried about President Trump,

“Given Israel’s dependence on the United States, I’d understand diplomatic caution — even though this was never part of Netanyahu’s relationship with the Barack Obama. But at an absolute minimum, Netanyahu should be publicly voicing concern about anti-Semitic incidents in the United States before and after the election,” writes Gershom Gorenberg.

James Mattis, Possible Trump Pick for Defense Post, Sees Israel Turning Into Apartheid State,

Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, who was known as ‘Mad Dog,’ also has said that the United States pays a ‘price’ for its support of Israel.

Bennett met Trump aides, urged alternative to two-state plan,

Education Minister Naftali Bennett met with members of US President-elect Donald Trump’s team, likely prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to issue his ban on ministers directly contacting the incoming president’s staff, sources said Tuesday.

Israeli politics

Liberman urges PM to seek new settlement deal with Trump,

Defense minister back-pedals on previous idea of building only within West Bank blocs, freezing other construction.

Has Israel's finance minister lost his fans?,

“Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon’s supporters are disappointed, as they believed he would fight for the rule of law and the new public broadcasting corporation but now see him abandoning political battles that might mark him as a leftist, guided primarily by political survival,” writes Mazal Mualem.

Hamas

Hamas official says Trump may be a Jew,

A senior Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip recently voiced his suspicion that US President-elect Donald Trump is secretly Jewish.