Israel’s Communications Ministry has decided to cancel its support for left-leaning media organization Israel Social TV because it “undermines the foundations of the state and provides a platform to delegitimize the Israeli soldiers.”

Israel’s Communications Ministry appears to have its crosshairs on“Israel Social TV,” one of a very small number of independent media outlets providing on-the-ground coverage of social and political struggles in Israel and Palestine.

Five radio journalists operating in the Palestinian city of Hebron have been arrested for inciting violence against Israelis, amid growing concerns that the offence is being used to crack down on Palestinian freedom of the press and freedom of expression online.

“If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on defying the US president and building a new West Bank settlement, Barack Obama could respond by abstaining in a UN Security Council vote on Palestinian Statehood,” writes Akiva Eldar.

“Netanyahu knows there will be no price to be paid for bad behavior. But Obama still has a chance to take a harder line, to create consequences for the Israeli leadership’s self-destructive behavior,” writes Jim Zogby.

“The very symbols of the efforts to unify and “Israelise” Jerusalem have become the spots of violence and death,” writes Meron Rappaport.

A 20-year-old Palestinian was shot and killed by Israeli forces Tuesday night during clashes that erupted in the town of Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem just south of the Old City, amid ongoing police raids in the Jerusalem area.

Forthcoming FIFA council meeting will examine complaints about football clubs based in Israeli settlements.

Salafi groups have adopted the tactic of firing rockets at Israel in an attempt to weaken Hamas by pushing it into a military confrontation with Israel.